On this very day, 47 years ago, one of the most influential African-American leaders in our nation's history was brutally shot in front of a crowd that included his wife and children as they awaited his speech at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan.
Malcolm X had recently broken away from the Nation of Islam and had publicly feuded with its leader, Elijah Muhammad, creating a great deal of rage within the Nation of Islam's community.
The Nation of Islam was a religious movement with ideals of black supremacy that began in 1930. Even though he was a leader for many years, Malcolm X's decision to separate himself from the group was based on the fact that he believed its strict religious views would prevent it from experiencing any kind of success.
He also believed that working with other civil rights leaders would be beneficial, an action that Elijah Muhammad forbade. His open severance from the community enraged three of its members enough to transform ideas of revenge into actions as they ended his life on Feb. 21, 1965.
As a history nerd, it is sometimes hard to remember that not everyone appreciates historical texts, facts and knowledge like this quite as much as I do. Being the stubborn person that I am though, I refuse to give up on sharing the intrigue and importance that I find in studying history.
Perhaps you will be more accepting of one little piece of history if its events fall on the same day that you happen to be reading this paper. If not, I guess I'll just have to try some other way (it might involve costumes).
With February being Black History Month each, Americans get this similar opportunity simply because this timely motivation promotes our learning and appreciation of something we truly need to know and care about. Black History Month is meant to be a celebration and a reminder of the unthinkable struggles and remarkable achievements of African-Americans throughout our nation's history. Quite different from the Civil Rights Movement's stance, Malcolm X promoted segregation and black power. Instead of endorsing integration and equal rights, which would have been a courageous risk enough as it is, he developed his own solution to the inequality that he observed and experienced. He also took great risk in his decision to separate himself from the Nation of Islam: a risk that eventually resulted in his assassination.
Personally, I do not find the idea of the outcome to my actions as being shot to death too appealing, and I believe it is safe to say that nobody else really does either. However, Malcolm X's boldness, audacity and originality are all something we should aspire to demonstrate even in the slightest form.
Whether this means standing up for something you believe in or stepping away from something you don't, take action and speak up. Just as our recent Ubben Lecture speaker Leymah Gbowee stated: "No one leaves a legacy by being quiet, you have to risk being a troublemaker."
— Freestone is a sophomore from Brownsburg, Ind., studying biology and history. features@thedepauw.com
