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Medal winners holding up fists at ceremony October 16, 1968. Tommy Smith (center) and John Carlos (right) raise their fists on the awards platform during the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. The gestures reverberated around the world.
Things moved very fast for John Carlos and Tommy Smith on Oct. 16, 1968, in Mexico City.
In the span of less than an hour, the star sprinters for the USA men's track team etched their names in blazing speed into Olympic history, and to a greater degree the history of race relations in America.
Smith took the gold medal in the 200-meters with a new world record in the thin air of the Mexican highlands with a clocking of 19.83 seconds. Carlos, who made the cardinal error of turning his head to check his position late in the race, was passed by Australia's Peter Norman in the stretch and finished third (20.10). Norman took second with a time of 20.06.
On the awards stand during the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner," Smith bowed his head and thrust a black-gloved right fist into the night air as more than 10 million people around the world watched on television. Carlos, head also down, extended a gloved left fist skyward. With the small gestures, now commonly referred to as black-power salutes, Smith and Carlos made a political statement about decades of dissatisfaction black Americans harbored on racial conditions in America.
Activism
.......is my rent for living on this planet!
Activism is an integral part of bringing about awareness and curtailing blatant and equivocal prejudices. Nothing can ever be learned passively. Activism is one of the most important ways to bring about change and gives people the chance to really know that their contribution is truly making a difference. The chairs of Activism aim to make the greater community more proactive. Inter cultural awareness is an opportunity that strives to bring about awareness in all aspects of culture. So many times we have limited ourselves to narrow definitions of culture.
"If you're not ready to die for it, put the word 'freedom' out of your vocabulary."
Malcolm X
BIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X
March 10, 1964
Photo by Truman Moore/Time Warner, Inc. Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. His mother, Louise Norton Little, was a homemaker occupied with the family's eight children. His father, Earl Little, was an outspoken Baptist minister and avid supporter of Black Nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. Earl's civil rights activism prompted death threats from the white supremacist organization Black Legion, forcing the family to relocate twice before Malcolm's fourth birthday. Regardless of the Little's efforts to elude the Legion, in 1929 their Lansing, Michigan home was burned to the ground, and two years later Earl's mutilated body was found lying across the town's trolley tracks. Police ruled both accidents, but the Little's were certain that members of the Black Legion were responsible. Louise had an emotional breakdown several years after the death of her husband and was committed to a mental institution. Her children were split up amongst various foster homes and orphanages.
Malcolm was a smart, focused student and graduated from junior high at the top of his class. However, when a favorite teacher told Malcolm his dream of becoming a lawyer was "no realistic goal for a nigger," Malcolm lost interest in school. He dropped out, spent some time in Boston, Massachusetts working various odd jobs, and then traveled to Harlem, New York where he committed petty crimes. By 1942 Malcolm was coordinating various narcotic, prostitution and gambling rings.
Eventually Malcolm and his buddy, Malcolm "Shorty" Jarvis, moved back to Boston, where they were arrested and convicted on burglary charges in 1946. Malcolm placated himself by using the seven-year prison sentence to further his education. It was during this period of self-enlightenment that Malcolm's brother Reginald visited and discussed his recent conversion to the Muslim religious organization the Nation of Islam. Intrigued, Malcolm studied the teachings of Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad. Muhammad taught that white society actively worked to keep African Americans from empowering themselves and achieving political, economic and social success. Among other goals, the Nation of Islam fought for a state of their own, separate from one inhabited by white people. By the time he was paroled in 1952, Malcolm was a devoted follower with the new surname "X." He considered "Little" a slave name and chose the "X" to signify his lost tribal name.
Feb. 18, 1965
Photo by Robert L. Haggins Intelligent and articulate, Malcolm was appointed a minister and national spokesman for the Nation of Islam. Elijah Muhammad also charged him with establishing new mosques in cities such as Detroit, Michigan and Harlem, New York. Malcolm utilized newspaper columns, radio and television to communicate the Nation of Islam's message across the United States. His charisma, drive and conviction attracted an astounding number of new members. Malcolm was largely credited with increasing membership in the Nation of Islam from 500 in 1952 to 30,000 in 1963.
The crowds and controversy surrounding Malcolm made him a media magnet. He was featured in a week-long television special with Mike Wallace in 1959, The Hate That Hate Produced, that explored fundamentals of the Nation of Islam and Malcolm's emergence as one of its most important leaders. After the special, Malcolm was faced with the uncomfortable reality that his fame had eclipsed that of his mentor Elijah Muhammad.
Racial tensions ran increasingly high during the early 1960s. In addition to the media, Malcolm's vivid personality had captured the government's attention. As membership in the Nation of Islam continued to grow, FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) agents infiltrated the organization (one even acted at Malcolm's bodyguard) and secretly placed bugs, wiretaps and cameras surveillance equipment to monitor the group's activities.
Malcolm's faith was dealt a crushing blow at the height of the civil rights movement in 1963. He learned that Elijah Muhammad was secretly having relations with as many as six women in the Nation of Islam, some of which had resulted in children. Since his conversion Malcolm had strictly adhered to the teachings of Muhammad, including remaining celibate until his marriage to Betty Shabazz in 1958. Malcolm refused Muhammad's request to keep the matter quiet. He was deeply hurt by the deception of Muhammad, whom he had considered a prophet, and felt guilty about the masses he had led into what he now felt was a fraudulent organization.
Cairo mosque, Sept. 1964
Photo by John Launois/Black Star
When Malcolm received criticism after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy for saying, "[Kennedy] never foresaw that the chickens would come home to roost so soon," Muhammad "silenced" him for 90 days. Malcolm suspected he was silenced for another reason. In March 1964 he terminated his relationship with the Nation of Islam and founded the Muslim Mosque, Inc.
That same year, Malcolm went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The trip proved life altering, as Malcolm met "blonde-haired, blued-eyed men I could call my brothers." He returned to the United States with a new outlook on integration. This time, instead of just preaching to African-Americans, he had a message for all races.
Relations between Malcolm and the Nation of Islam had become volatile after he renounced Elijah Muhammad. Informants working in the Nation of Islam warned that Malcolm had been marked for assassination (one man had even been ordered to help plant a bomb in his car). After repeated attempts on his life, Malcolm rarely traveled anywhere without bodyguards. On February 14, 1965 the home where Malcolm, Betty and their four daughters lived in East Elmhurst, New York was firebombed (the family escaped physical injury).
At a speaking engagement in the Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom on February 21, 1965 three gunmen rushed Malcolm onstage and shot him 15 times at close range. The 39-year-old was pronounced dead on arrival at New York's Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Fifteen hundred people attended Malcolm's funeral in Harlem on February 27, 1965 at the Faith Temple Church of God in Christ (now Child's Memorial Temple Church of God in Christ). After the ceremony, friends took the shovels from the gravediggers and buried Malcolm themselves. Later that year, Betty gave birth to their twin daughters.
Malcolm's assassins, Talmadge Hayer, Norman 3X Butler and Thomas 15X Johnson were convicted of first-degree murder in March 1966. The three men were all members of the Nation of Islam.
The legacy of Malcolm X has moved through generations as the subject of numerous documentaries, books and movies. A tremendous resurgence of interest occurred in 1992 when director Spike Lee released the acclaimed Malcolm X movie. The film received Oscar nominations for Best Actor (Denzel Washington) and Best Costume Design.
Malcolm X is buried at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.
Anti Racist Action Network
Coalition of individuals and organizations dedicated to halting the rise of
the racist right. Chapters and events all over North America.
http://www.aranet.org
Blackpower Today
Chat rooms, discussion groups, a newsletter, articles on the issues, Kwanzaa
guide and links to various radical and Socialist sites.
http://www.blackpower.com/
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International
The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International is dedicated to the conservation
and protection of the endangered mountain gorilla and its habitat in East
Central Africa.
http://www.gorillafund.org/
Global Volunteers
English development, Community infrastructure, Health care.
http://www.globalvolunteers.org/intrnprg.htm
Habitat for Humanity Global Village Program - Africa
1 - 3 week trips around the globe to build houses for the poor.
http://www.habitat.org/intl/
International Humana People to People Movement
14 month program with language training in Europe or USA. Jobs in social
work, teaching, construction and health.
http://www.humana.org/
NAACP
Website of NAACP founded by W.E.B. DuBois, includes links to programs, the
Supreme Court and news.
http://www.naacp.org
National Urban League
Write to your Congressperson via the Urban League's Homepage, virtual
bookstore, links on economic self-sufficiency, racial inclusion, education
and youth.
http://www.nul.org/
Oct. 22nd Coalition against Police Brutality/CORE
National day to protest Police Brutality. Also supports gang truce. Has info
on how to get involved and events in your city.
http://www.unstoppable.com/22/
One World Volunteer Institute, Africa
14 month volunteer program with 2 months training in Europe.
http://www.peopleinaction.org/
http://www.gn.apc.org/peopleinaction
Refuse and Resist!
Covers police brutality, gay & lesbian rights, censorship, anti-racism,
immigrant rights, reproductive freedom, justice for Mumia Abu-Jamal,
artist's network and news. Links to other activist resources.
http://www.walrus.com/~resist/altindex.html
The Rainbow/PUSH Organization
Describes programs of the Rainbow/PUSH Organization, resume of Jesse
Jackson, links to other Civil Rights and labor organizations, US Government
sites (White House, Congress, etc.) and the Africa News Service.
http://www.rainbowpush.org/
Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League
Website of UNIA (founded by Marcus Garvey) with archives, info on chapters
and links to Garvey-related sites.
http://www.unia-acl.org/
Volunteers for Peace International Workcamps and Voluntary Service
Grass roots international volunteer program, extremely cheap way to travel
for 2-3 weeks and make a difference.
http://www.vfp.org/
Autobiography as Activism
Three Black Women of the Sixties
A study of three Black Power narratives as instruments for radical social change
Angela Davis, Assata Shakur (a.k.a. JoAnne Chesimard), and Elaine Brown are the only women activists of the Black Power movement who have published book-length autobiographies. In bearing witness to that era, these militant newsmakers wrote in part to educate and to mobilize their anticipated readers.
In this way, Davis's Angela Davis: An Autobiography (1974), Shakur's Assata (1987), and Brown's A Taste of Power: A Black Woman's Story (1992) can all be read as extensions of the writers' political activism during the 1960s.
Margo V. Perkins's critical analysis of their books is less a history of the movement (or of women's involvement in it) than an exploration of the politics of storytelling for activists who choose to write their lives. Perkins examines how activists use autobiography to connect their lives to those of other activists across historical periods, to emphasize the link between the personal and the political, and to construct an alternative history that challenges dominant or conventional ways of knowing.
The histories constructed by these three women call attention to the experiences of women in revolutionary struggle, particularly to the ways their experiences have differed from men's. The women's stories are told from different perspectives and provide different insights into a movement that has been much studied from the masculine perspective. At times they fill in, complement, challenge, or converse with the stories told by their male counterparts, and in doing so, hint at how the present and future can be made less catastrophic because of women's involvement.
The multiple complexities of the Black Power movement become evident in reading these women's narratives against each other as well as against the sometimes strikingly different accounts of their male counterparts.
As Davis, Shakur, and Brown recount events in their lives, they dispute mainstream assumptions about race, class, and gender and reveal how the Black Power struggle profoundly shaped their respective identities. |
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