Talk:Malcolm X
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"El-hajj"
Regarding "Shabazz" comment: To say that Muslims do not add "el-hajj" to their names because it is "no longer a symbol of prestige as it used to be" is not true. Most pilgrims do not add the name because the intention for the holy pilgrimage is marred with a sense of gaining worldy recognition; and for Americans it is simply to cumbersome to be practical.
"Shabazz"
There seems to be some confusion here -- Malcolm adopted the name "Malik Shabazz" long before he ventured to Africa or the Middle East. It seems he started using the name "Malachi Shabazz" for his correspondence, starting as early as his prison time (I may be wrong on the timing), but then Elijah Muhammad later gave him the name "Malik."
He added the el-Hajj and the "el-" prefix to the Shabazz after his hajj (those additions are largely superficial though, nowadays most Muslims who perform the hajj don't bother putting the "hajji" or "el-hajji" or "el-hajj" prefix before there names because it's no longer a symbol of prestige as it used to be). But he did have the name Malik Shabazz long before that.
Wife's name
Autobiography, page 231, the maiden name of his wife is given as Betty X. Malcolm (and Betty) changed their family name to Shabazz after Malcolm's hajj and tour of Africa, perhaps to signify that he had "recovered" his African heritage.
Her maiden name was Sanders...Malcolm used the name Shabazz in correspondence in 1953...Betty joined NOI NY Temple 7 in 1957... See Malcolm's FBI FOIA (http://foia.fbi.gov/foiaindex/malcolmx.htm) HTH --Nazikiwe 08:54, 3 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Remembered as "militant"
From reading his autobiography, he doesn't seem to be militant at all. Where does this come from? Is this NPOV?
- I'll double that this doesn't seem NPOV to me at all. "He is most remembered for his anti-white speeches"??? Would a man "most remembered for his anti-white speeches" be standard reading for high school and college students everywhere? It seems to me that he is most remembered for his remarkable oratory, for the self-transformation recounted in his autobiography, and for being one of the great black leaders of the 20th century. I think he certainly could be accurately labelled a "militant" but I wouldn't call this NPOV. I'll come back to this and try to neutralize it a bit myself, but I'm not sure I'm the best person for the job -- we definitely could use someone to fix this page up. -- User:Thomas Mills Hinkle
- I think the article is pretty accurate as it stands. When most people think of him, they remember him as the black leader that advocated violence and black supremacy (in contrast to Martin Luther King Jr). Even if he realized the error of his views, that is the lasting impression of Malcolm X to most people. I don't know about your claim about 'standard reading', I think that's an exagerration.
"Speaking as a black man from America, which is a racist society. No matter how much you hear it talk about democracy it's as racist as South Africa or as racist as Portugal or as racist as any other racialist society on this earth. The only difference between it and South Africa: South Africa preaches separation and practices separation. America preaches integration and practices segregation. This is the only difference. They don't practice what they preach. Or as South Africa preaches and practices the same thing. I have more respect for a man who let me know where he stands, even if he's wrong, then one who comes up like an angel and is nothing but a devil."
-Our Holy Brother, Frater X:.
Despite his change of view, he was most remembered for his anti-White speeches, which were emulated by other black nationalist organizations such as the Black Panthers.
I wouldn't really consider the Black Panther Party to be anti-White (certainly not in the way Malcom X was during his NOI years), they had much more in common with X's post-NOI views. Saul Taylor 10:13, 6 Jan 2004 (UTC)
There are sections for X's prison term and the Hajj, but nothing appears to occur between them. If this isn't the most important time in his life, it's one of the two most important. Note to self: create section named "Spokesman for the Nation of Islam" or something along those lines.
Wife?
I see no mention here whatsoever of his wife? --Golbez 03:24, Sep 28, 2004 (UTC)
There is no link to the wikipedia article on "Betty Shabazz" yet.
Meaning of X?
Does the X signify something in particular? I assumed it didn't, until I saw the names "Norman 3X Butler, and Thomas 15X Johnson" in this article. I'm curious what the X's (and the numbers) mean.
Back in the beginnings of the creation of the Black Muslims, they tended to use "X" instead of a last name because they claimed that their true African names had been stolen via slavery, and so they had no name to use. When there were several people in the same mosque with a name, they'd be John 2X, etc. As for the 3X Butler, etc., I can't answer that one. Nowadays, Black Muslims tend to take Arabic names and don't use the "X" so much any more. RickK 08:23, Oct 18, 2004 (UTC)
Black Legion
Link in article to Black Legion is wrong as far i can judge. -Svdmolen 20:46, 22 Dec 2004 (UTC)
Created a disambiguation page for Black Legion and added a stub page for the Black Legion (murder cult). Read the FBI FOIA (http://foia.fbi.gov/foiaindex/blackleg.htm) on the Black Legion and add to it if you can. --Nazikiwe 21:52, 2 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Umrah or Hajj?
Was Malcolm's Mecca experience a Hajj or an Umrah? (In other words, did it take place during Dhu Al-Hijjah, or some other time of year?) An anon altered the Umrah reference to Hajj, but I'm not sure which is correct. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 02:34, 27 Feb 2005 (UTC)
Pronunciation of X
John X, Stephen X, Gregory X, Leo X, Innocent X, Clement X, and Pius X were popes, and when reading their names aloud, the X is pronounced "the tenth." Someone might say "Leo Eks excommunicated Martin Luther" as a mnemonic device, but usually, prononuncing the X in a pope's name as "Eks" is irreverent or derisory. With Malcolm X, the case is reversed: pronouncing his name as "Malcolm the tenth" is mockery. Since this article may be read for those who are learning of Malcolm X from reference material rather than oral tradition, and who might even be living during the reign of a future Boniface X, the article should make the correct pronunciation of Malcolm X's name explicit. -- Eustace Tilley
Malcolm X's Positions
Right now, the article covers the events of Malcolm X's life, but only touches on what he advocated. I think we should have a section describing the positions he took during his life, with excerpts from his writings and speeches.
- Good idea. Go for it. -Willmcw 21:51, Mar 15, 2005 (UTC)
Boston link
The Boston link could do with updating to point to the appropriate Boston article, but I'm not sure which it is. --John 23:06, 11 May 2005 (UTC)
Publication Date for "Autobiography of Malcolm X"
The article says that the "Autobiography of Malcolm X" was published in 1972, but this cannot be true. This was on our reading list when I was a Junior in High School in 1969-70 and, at that point, it was available in paperback. The NY Times reported today (14-May) that it was published in 1965, which seems likely to be correct.
Civil rights activist
Now was he really a civil rights activist? I see very little if any similarities with X and say Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu etc. —mikko (speak) 14:48, 23 May 2005 (UTC)
- Malcom X is very definitely in the Civil Rights movement. His politics were very different from King's, but he was recognized as a militant voice in the same movement, particularly after he left the NOI. His parents were supporters of Marcus Garvey, whose work strongly influenced him (as well as influencing the Nation of Islam). His emphasis on self-defence harkens back to the anti-lynching movement of the early 20th century and to organizations like the African Blood Brotherhood. He's considered to be an originator of the Black Power movement. DJ Silverfish 15:43, 23 May 2005 (UTC)
- He was most certainly a civil rights activist. It might seem a bit muddled at first, esp. during the NOI period, but he clearly advocated full rights for "Afro-Americans." After his pilgrimage, he took on a different, softer stance, advocating that people of all colors and walks of life work together to promote equality and brotherhood. — JorgeMacD
Assassination
"Angry on-lookers in the crowd caught and beat the assassins as they attempted to flee the Ballroom" - they caught them and beat them, and they were never charged for the murder? Not even their identity is mentioned in the article. (clem 11:46, 19 Jun 2005 (UTC))
Spike Lee joint
Hmmm, no mention of the Spike Lee film... Should i put the poster of the movie somewhere in the article or create a sepeate article? Project2501a 23:50, 19 Jun 2005 (UTC)
- There is currently a sentence under "Biographies" that reads:
- The film Malcolm X (movie) was released in 1992, directed by Spike Lee. Based on the autobiography, it starred Denzel Washington as Malcolm with Angela Bassett as Betty and Al Freeman Jr. as Elijah Muhammad.
- And there is a significant article on the movie. Is there much more to say about it here? -Willmcw 01:29, Jun 20, 2005 (UTC)
It would appear i need better spectacles, appologies ^_^ Project2501a 01:45, 20 Jun 2005 (UTC)
- No prob. I've done the same thing. Cheers, -Willmcw 04:38, Jun 20, 2005 (UTC)