Malcolm Little. "Detroit Red" (due to a Scots maternal grandfather). Malcolm X. El-Hajj Malik el Shabazz. A one-time pimp, felon, then a minister. First a Christian. Then a member of the Nation of Islam. Finally a Sunni Muslim. Initially self-absorbed then turning to a champion for Black America. Lastly a changed man and thinker. What a journey! Whatever you though of him, if you ever thought of him, you could not ignore him. Today exactly 51 years ago, on Sunday February 21, 1965 at Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom, his short 39 years of life were ended by assassins' bullets.
Much speculation as to how it came about. Were minions of a disgruntled Elijah Muhammad responsible? Hoover and COINTELPRO? Random shooters? This man, and the people who had been threatening him, had been WATCHED for YEARS. Just like King. Random shooter theory? No. There were no surprises. Just folk sitting back, letting things proceed. WATCHING it all unfold.
A tiny aside here, I laugh. Big belly laughs. And I am sure Malcolm does too. I laugh at Millennials who scream that Snowden is their hero. Please. Y'all think that you are NOT being spied on since he sang? In truth, y'all do not know what surveillance is unless you've lived under Hoover's FBI and COINTELPRO.. It has never stopped, is not going to ever stop and is bigger than any president. No matter who is in office. It is a monster all its own! Like the IRS. So, no Virginia it is NOT wise to spill your life on FB/Twitter 'cuz you believe "the gov't should respect my privacy. 'Cuz it's mine!" Fool, it's the government! That's what it does. It governs. At all costs. Psst! Millennials! Do not believe everything your parents told you. YOU AIN'T SPECIAL! You are human like the rest of us. And humans are capable of despicable ish. Just ask Malcolm. When he's done laughin.'
