Happy Birthday to the Late Great Malcolm X

Today Malcolm X would be 90 years old. Take a look at his life throughout the years.

“You don’t have a peaceful revolution. You don’t have a turn-the-cheek revolution. There’s no such thing as a nonviolent revolution.”

—Malcolm X

Malcolm X Civil Rights Activist, Minister (1925–1965)

THE 50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MALCOLM X'S DEATH

NEW YORK (Source: AP) — Activists, actors and politicians gathered Saturday in New York City to honor civil rights leader Malcolm X with a ceremony at the Harlem site where he was killed 50 years ago.

About 300 people converged to hear remarks from one of Malcolm X's six daughters, Ilyasah Shabazz, as well as elected officials. The ceremony was held at the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial andEducational Center, formerly known as the Audubon Ballroom.

A blue light shone onto the floor in the exact spot where he was killed. A mural with images of Malcolm X adorned a wall.

"He was just a young man who gave all that he possibly could," Shabazz said after a moment of silence marking the time of his death.

Malcolm X, whose full name was El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, was 39 when he was shot in the theater on Feb. 21, 1965, as he was preparing to address several hundred of his followers.

By the time he died, the Muslim leader had moderated his militant message of black separatism and pride but was still very much a passionate advocate of black unity, self-respect and self-reliance. Three members of the Nation of Islam were convicted of murder in his death. He had repudiated the Nation of Islam less than a year earlier.

In an interview with The Associated Press on the eve of the anniversary observance, Shabazz said she was pleased that the site is now a place for people to get a sense of empowerment.

"One of the great things about Malcolm is that he redefined the civil rights movement to include a human rights agenda," she said. "So while we are focusing on integrating schools, integrating housing and all these other things, Malcolm said that we demand our human rights 'by any means necessary.' And that means ... that we have to address these problems. That we have to identify them, and absolutely discuss them."

THE BLACK HISTORY MIXTAPE

THE BLACK HISTORY MIXTAPE

1.    SELF DESTRUCTION - #MALCOLMX   

2.    BLACK N PROUD - #BRANDNUBIAN

3.    DREAM FT MLK JR - COMMON

4.    YOU MUST LEARN - #KRS1

5.    WHO'S GONNA TAKE THE WEIGHT? - #GANGSTARR

6.    EMBRACE YOUR TRUE NAME - #TUPAC

7.    WORD TO THE MOTHERLAND - #BIGDADDYKANE

8.    VERBAL MILK - #XCLAN

9.    THE FEELING - KONCEPT

10. STILL I RISE - #MAYAANGELOU

11. BLACK WOMAN - #JUNGLEBROTHERS

12. AFRICA DREAM - #TALIBKWELI

13. GHETTOS OF THE MIND - #PETEROCKandCLSMOOTH

14. BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY - MALCOLM X

15. BY THE TIME I GET TO ARIZONA - #PUBLICENEMY

16. BLACK WISH - #THELASTPOETS

17. BE REAL BLACK FOR ME - #ROBERTAFLACK AND #DONNYHATHAWAY

18. I AM THE BLACK GOLD OF THE SUN - #ATRIBECALLEDQUEST

Happy Birthday Malcolm X

By Damion Boycott

49 years ago the world lost one of the best minds the 20th century had produced, Malcolm X. The trajectory of his life closely parallels that of many African Americans; it is the story of a journey that went from prison to prominence.

Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, was born on May 19th 1925 in  Omaha Nebraska. His parents, Earl and Louise Little were followers of Marcus Garvey and met at a Garvey event in Canada. As a result of being a Garveyite, Malcolms' father was murdered by white racists who were not keen on the idea of him spreading the ideology of Black Nationalism. Years later Malcolms' mother was committed to a psychiatric institution, after which, he became an orphan and lived in several different foster homes.

In 1946 he was sentenced to prison for larceny and breaking and entering at the age of 20. During his incarceration he discovered the teachings of another former Garveyite, Elijah Muhammad, and became a Black Muslim. After his release from prison he quickly rose in the ranks of The Nation Of Islam and soon became the face of the organization.

His impact as a public figure in The Nation of Islam began to rival that of his mentor, Elijah Muhammad. Although he gave Elijah Muhammad credit for everything he had learned, he was actually learning and receiving lessons on history from Dr. John Henrik Clarke.

Over time there was a great deal of animosity between Malcolm and members of the N.O.I. Tensions worsened after Malcolm publicly exposed Elijah Muhammad as adulterer. Although N.O.I. members murdered Malcolm on February 21st, 1965, many believe the FBI and the powers that be were involved as well. The idea that Malcolm was under surveillance and followed by agents working for the FBI, or whom ever, is very well documented.

At the time of his death, Malcolm, who had changed his name to El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, was in the process of starting two organizations, Muslim Mosque Inc and The Organization Of Afro American Unity (OAAU). Much can be said about his greatness, but it would be difficult to cover it all in one short term article. Watch Malcolm in action on Chicago's City Desk filmed in the 1960s'.

The 49th Anniversary Of The Execution Of Malcom X

By Damion Boycott

49 years ago today the world lost one of the best minds the 20th century had produced, Malcolm X. The trajectory of his life closely parallels that of many African Americans; it is the story of a journey that went from prison to prominence.

Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, was born on May 19th 1925 in  Omaha Nebraska. His parents, Earl and Louise Little were followers of Marcus Garvey and met at a Garvey event in Canada. As a result of being a Garveyite, Malcolms' father was murdered by white racists who were not keen on the idea of him spreading the ideology of Black Nationalism. Years later Malcolms' mother was committed to a psychiatric institution, after which, he became an orphan and lived in several different foster homes.

In 1946 he was sentenced to prison for larceny and breaking and entering at the age of 20. During his incarceration he discovered the teachings of another former Garveyite, Elijah Muhammad, and became a Black Muslim. After his release from prison he quickly rose in the ranks of The Nation Of Islam and soon became the face of the organization.

His impact as a public figure in The Nation of Islam began to rival that of his mentor, Elijah Muhammad. Although he gave Elijah Muhammad credit for everything he had learned, he was actually learning and receiving lessons on history from Dr. John Henrik Clarke.

Over time there was a great deal of animosity between Malcolm and members of the N.O.I. Tensions worsened after Malcolm publicly exposed Elijah Muhammad as adulterer. Although N.O.I. members murdered Malcolm on February 21st, 1965, many believe the FBI and the powers that be were involved as well. The idea that Malcolm was under surveillance and followed by agents working for the FBI, or whom ever, is very well documented.

At the time of his death, Malcolm, who had changed his name to El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, was in the process of starting two organizations, Muslim Mosque Inc and The Organization Of Afro American Unity (OAAU). Much can be said about his greatness, but it would be difficult to cover it all in one short term article. Watch former Malcolm X supporter and colleague, Adul Razzaq  explain the life and times of Minister Malcolm X.

Corner Buzz

Emmis Buys WBLS And WLIB
Amid the decline of black radio in New York City, black radio takes yet another hit. WBLS and WLIB, known for it's African American programming, has been sold to Emmis Communications for $131 million. Emmis is the same corporation that owns Hot 97 (WQHT).

Only time will tell if the program format is going to change. WBLS, which used to be owned by Percy Sutton, has always maintained a high level of decorum. Over the years WBLS has brought legends like Frankie Crocker and Vaughn Harper into black homes. WLIB on AM, brought us Imhotep Gary Bird, Tony Brown, Felipe Luciano and many others to speak their minds on their talk radio format.

Lets hope WBLS and WLIB don't become two more radio stations that portray black people as ignorant buffoons, like Hot 97has done for so long.

Teachers Tells Students That Malcolm X Is "Bad" 
Fourth grade students at P.S. 201 in Flushing Queens were told that they could not do a report on Malcolm X for Black History month because he was "violent" and "bad". Cleatress Brown, one outraged parent, confronted Principle Rebecca Lozada. Brown, 47, said “I’m outraged". “As a teacher, you’re imposing your opinion on a bunch of kids.” Brown encouraged her son to write about Malcolm X and turn in his paper anyway.

Malcolm X is only bad for people  who believe in the system of racism and white supremacy, and the only violence he was involved in was his own assassination.

Verdict In Dunn Trial
As the George Zimmerman trial did last year, Saturday’s verdict in the Michael Dunn trial has brought about deep soul-searching about race in America. Michael Dunn was charged in the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Jordan Davis, in what is being referred to the loud music trial.

Dunn fired 10 rounds into an SUV that was occupied by Davis and his friends after an argument about loud Rap music on November 23, 2012 in Florida. 3 of the 10 shots struck the 17 year old Davis, one of them cutting through his liver, a lung and his aorta. Dunn claimed he felt threatened by the teens and thought he saw  a shotgun in the vehicle when he opened fire. Dunn said he shot in self defense. No shotgun was ever found. This case is yet another example of how black life is devalued and seen as "less than".

A jury on Saturday night convicted Dunn of three charges of attempted murder.