Malcolm X's legacy a bit more complex

Submitted by Irving (Canada), Feb 22, 2015 at 07:18

I'm not by any means a specialist on Malcolm X, but he was very relevant to the domestic political scene during my university years. Sadly, his contact, early allegiance to, and final break with the Nation of Islam colored his life and death so much. However, he also spearheaded or supported the Black is beautiful and Black pride concepts in African-American society. In every political movement, supporters espousing more extreme political views on the opposite side of the spectrum helps the movement, just as Lehi was important in the achievement of the Israeli statehood. I remember when Martin Luther King appeared to many as extremist, despite being non-violent

I believe Malcolm X made MLK much more acceptable to the white establishment. I also recall, though perhaps not justifiably, that Malcolm was turning away from his Jew-hatred and his exhortations to violence in his final years.

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