IANA Blog- May 2025

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Happy May,

Back in 2023, I did my July blog on Nelson Mandela. I figured in the month of May, as this is the month and year of his 100th Birthday, I think it’s only right to make this blog on another man that influenced me, another one of my favorite leaders, one of the most important African Americans to live, one of the greatest Black men to ever live, El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, also known as, Malcolm X.

Similar to Nelson Mandela, what does Malcolm X have to do with IANA or Nigeria? Especially considering that he’s African American…and Grenadian…

Well, he doesn’t have any Anioma blood, but when he traveled to multiple African countries, including Nigeria in 1964, he was given the Yoruba name “Omowale,” which translates to “the son who has come home.” The name was given to him when he was giving a speech at the University of Ibadan and carries symbolic significance of homecoming and connection to ancestral roots. That name solidified his connection to Africa and his advocacy for Pan Africanism.

First off, I’m pretty sure we all know who Malcolm X was, but for those that don’t know who he was…let me remind you who he was…he was a human rights activist…he was a Muslim minister…he was a Pan Africanist…he was a revolutionary. A prominent figure during the American Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. A spokesman for the Nation of Islam. A preacher of Black nationalism…which would eventually turn into Pan Africanism, especially once he left the Nation. Forming organizations such as Muslim Mosque, Inc. and the Organization of Afro American Unity. A vocal advocate for Black people here in America and around the world. Seen by others as “controversial,” just because he was very militant and believed in self-defense, but for many Black people and Muslims here in America, he will forever be celebrated and be seen as a figure for his pursuit of justice. In my opinion, he is the true definition of a freedom fighter. Like I said, we all know who Malcolm X is, so I’m going to talk about what he means to me.

Let me start off by saying that Malcolm X was someone that I wish I showed more respect for when I was a kid. I showed him much more respect as I got older. I remember the first time hearing about Malcolm X was in Elementary school. He was one of the many figures that was always mentioned during Black History Month, along with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman. I remember one of my classmates got to recite a poem about both Malcolm and Dr. King. I wish I could still remember how that poem went, because I felt it was really powerful. Unfortunately whenever I heard about Malcolm X, he was seen as an angry Black man who preached violence and hated White people. Although I was a fan of both Malcolm and Dr. King, I usually preferred Dr. King over Malcolm when I was younger, due to how Malcolm was depicted and because I preferred nonviolence, even though I got into plenty of fights as a kid. I also feel the media loved to depict Dr. King and Malcolm as rivals getting ready to fight in a huge boxing match like “Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier,” or “Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson.” Also, having plenty of friends of different races/colors, especially White, I found myself confused in a way. I just kept thinking, “wow, he really doesn’t like White people.” I also wasn’t a fan of how Malcolm would straight up criticize the Civil Rights movement, especially Dr. King, going far as to call people “uncle toms.” Of course, that all would change as I got older and had to do more learning for myself.

Reading more about Malcolm and learning about his past definitely made me understand where Malcolm was coming from or why he thought a certain way. Learning about how he and his family battled racism while living in Omaha, Nebraska, Lansing, Michigan and Boston made me understand why he felt a certain way, then learning about his criminal past as “Detroit Red,” and how he studied Islam while imprisoned, made me realized how he was able to get a second chance. Learning about how he got into the Nation of Islam and his relationship with the great, honorable Elijah Muhammad, who was the leader of the Nation of Islam, made me understand why he promoted Black nationalism and separatism. I also got to listen to more of his speeches and watch interviews that featured him. I really appreciated an interview he did where he explained why he changed his name from “Malcolm Little” to “Malcolm X,” and how he rejected his slave name and how a lot of Black American history was destroyed by slavery. Watching that interview made me realize, “Malcolm’s right.”

Another great speech I watched was one of his most famous ones where he says, “Who taught you how to hate yourself?” I remember the first time watching it and it really showed how much he cared about Black people and was doing all he could to convince us on how great Blackness is and how we must reject the European standards. Also, another part of his speech is how he mentions that “the most disrespected person in America is the Black woman, the most unprotected person in America is the Black woman, the most neglected person in America is the Black woman.” He definitely wasn’t lying, because even in 2025, it gets more relevant every year.

I also noticed how Malcolm X went to Mecca and noticed how there were different Muslims and his views changed, and he would eventually have no problem working with Civil Rights activists, including Dr. King. Learning about that made me realize he never hated them, he just strongly criticized them and Malcolm was right, especially since there were flaws in the movement.

I also appreciated his fight for Pan Africanism. He focused on wanting to unite Black people, especially uniting Black Americans with the Diaspora. As I mentioned a few blogs ago, he would never be on some “FBA/ADOS” bulls**t, he was proud of his African blood, and he had to remind Black Americans to be proud of their African blood. As he says before, “Our forefathers weren’t the pilgrims. We didn’t land on Plymouth Rock, that rock landed on us.”

As I got older, I pretty much at that point was more of a fan of Malcolm (not taking away from the great things I learned from Dr. King), but I tried to make sure I recognized the many great things Malcolm did and said. There’s a reason why the CIA/FBI had to assassinate him, along with many great leaders, because he was bringing change to the world.

As far as Malcolm being seen as an “Angry, Black militant,” there has never been any stories of Malcolm killing anyone White or harming anyone White. Those that accused him of doing such, have no proof of him being violent or “racist towards White people,” and are the same people who accuse the Black Panther Party of doing the same thing. Just because he believed in self-defense, compared to Dr. King’s act of nonviolence, doesn’t mean he was a violent person. Malcolm said it best, he didn’t call self-defense violence, he called it intelligence.

I think also reading parts of his autobiography and watching the film really helped me expand what I learned about Malcolm, which I loved and will always watch whenever I get the chance. (Denzel was robbed of an Oscar for his performance as Malcolm X). I also saw a video featuring political activist/freedom fighter Kwame Ture where he heavily critiqued the film, but I do remember him saying that you shouldn’t use the film to learn about Malcolm X, you should use the film to go out and learn about Malcolm X, which I totally agree with.

As years go on, while others look to some Black men like Tariq Nasheed and Charleston White, I will continue to look to Malcolm X as an influence, whether he speaks on the injustices within Black America, the fight for unity within Black people that he fought for, even speaking out on other injustices such as the injustices in Palestine or the injustices in Africa.

I also must remember not to trivialize his entire struggle or co-opt his legacy like many who do. Trust me, I saw so many people celebrate Malcolm X’s birthday, but also defend celebrities like Diddy and Tory Lanez, who harm Black women, even though Malcolm said that the most disrespected, most neglected person in the world is a Black women. I also see people on social media have Malcolm X as their profile picture of quite Malcolm, but will also get involved in Diaspora wars, disrespect Africans/Black Americans/Caribbeans, or say disrespectful things about Palestine, even though he has defended Palestine multiple times.

I think it’s important how he calls out hypocrisy from both Liberals and Conservatives, especially Neoliberals. I think it’s also important how he calls out Black celebrities for being “puppets” for the politicians instead of being actual leaders. The way I see a lot of “liberals,” the way I’ve seen

I Will also appreciate him for being a proud “Afro American,” as actor Ossie Davis mentions in his eulogy. I think we all definitely need to look to Malcolm X as an influence, especially when bringing change to the world. As Malcolm said before, “We declare our right on this earth...to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.”