For anyone who grew up learning about MLK Jr and not Malcolm X -
I’d recommend a book called “The Sword and The Shield”! I thought it did a dope job comparing and contrasting the two figures. Importantly, MLK Jr was way more radical than many of us were taught in school, and by the end of his life he was changing his approach, having been forced to acknowledge that non-violence alone wasn’t going to cut it. In other words he became more aligned with Malcolm’s principles and beliefs as he watched the civil rights movement struggle and falter, and I believe this is ultimately why he was killed.
And then our lords and masters de-fanged his legacy, teaching generations of kids only the non-violence, giving millions the false idea that non-violence alone is enough, and not just enough, but the preferred and historically-proven method of achieving change.
It never has been and never will be, non-violence is only effective alongside credible threats of violence (at a minimum), and Martin and Malcolm both knew that to their core. That book helped me correct what was a confusing hole in my understanding of the world.
For anyone who grew up learning about MLK Jr and not Malcolm X -
I’d recommend a book called “The Sword and The Shield”! I thought it did a dope job comparing and contrasting the two figures. Importantly, MLK Jr was way more radical than many of us were taught in school, and by the end of his life he was changing his approach, having been forced to acknowledge that non-violence alone wasn’t going to cut it. In other words he became more aligned with Malcolm’s principles and beliefs as he watched the civil rights movement struggle and falter, and I believe this is ultimately why he was killed.
And then our lords and masters de-fanged his legacy, teaching generations of kids only the non-violence, giving millions the false idea that non-violence alone is enough, and not just enough, but the preferred and historically-proven method of achieving change.
It never has been and never will be, non-violence is only effective alongside credible threats of violence (at a minimum), and Martin and Malcolm both knew that to their core. That book helped me correct what was a confusing hole in my understanding of the world.
Thanks for the book recommendation!