Malcolm X is arguably one of the most controversial figures in the last 100 years. Some say he was a racist. A terrorist. An instigator. A hero. A villain. And just about any other descriptor there is in the English language.Well, I just got done reading his Autobiography and I have come away with one descriptor - admiration. Now don't get me wrong, I don't agree with him on issues or religion or other matters that interest most people. But I can't help but have tons of admiration for the guy. He was a tireless fighter for whatever cause he was involved in at the time.
Obviously, there's no way I can do justice to the massive topic that is Malcolm X. There have been books written about all aspects of his life not to mention his own autobiography, which I have read. But below are a few things that I have I took away from the reading.
1. This first thing you might not pick up from reading through the autobiography. It really came to light from the epilogue that was written by Alex Haley, who was the collaborator for the writing. Haley notes that Malcolm, once they had engaged the writing agreement, only had time to come over and tell his story late at night. He would go to Haley's apartment at around 9pm, Malcolm would tell the story and Haley would take notes. Then, Malcolm would leave at 2 or 3am and be back up at 7 or 8am. This man was tireless!
I wish that I had only half the energy he had. Throughout his life, no matter what his goal was, be it being the best hustler, best burglar, best Nation of Islam minister, or being the leader of his own Muslim Mosque, Inc., he threw himself entirely into his cause.
2. Throughout a lot of his life, he made no bones about it - Malcolm X did not like Christians. Now, towards the end of his life, he did start warming up to us Jesus followers but before that, no way. And after reading the book, I can totally empathize with him.
Throughout most of his life, when he was building his disdain for white people, what faith did all those cruel white folks profess? You guessed it - Christianity. They were all Bible carrying Christian folk who also just happened to be violent racists (not all of them, of course).
The lesson I take away from this is that people only partly judge us by our beliefs. Mostly, they judge us by our actions. What we do. How we handle ourselves. The words that we say. Christians who are out there need to take note of this. As Jesus said, "they will know you are my disciples if you love one another" (John 13:35)
3. This guy was not afraid to change his mind. As he learned new things, he changed the way he acted and what he was doing. Honestly, I think it was from his distinct desire to never be a hypocrite.
You remember him mostly as being the anti-white people minister for the Nation of Islam, which is not bad, as that was how he spent a good portion of his life. However, once he broke with the NOI, he took a pilgrimage to Mecca, where he learned that all people, no matter what color, were equal. Racism, the way he knew it, was unique to the United States.
So what did he do? He changed his plan. He changed himself to reflect this new found revelation. Yes, it cost him in many ways, but at the end of the day, what does that matter? How can you live a life as a hypocrite?
4. Finally, I walk away with inspiration. Mostly with I noted above. If I could live a life like it was my last day, be a Christian that people see through my actions, and not be afraid to change myself with new information, I would be an immensely better person.
I recommend to anyone and everyone who happens to read this to check out the book. And I challenge you to not walk away and be inspired or challenged to change the way you live life.
Peace,
The Rev.
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