Image Courtesy of Getty Images/MPI
One of my favorite quotes from Malcolm X is "I am not educated, nor am I an expert in any particular field...but I am sincere and my sincerity is my credential."
Outspoken, honest and seemingly fearless, Malcolm X instilled pride in African-Americans through his personal story of transcendence, his speeches and his published works. Although his philosophy was different the Martin Luther King, their desires were the same: equality for African-Americans.
When I think of Malcolm X, I instantly think about the power of evolution.
Throughout X's life, he endured many tragedies--the murder of his father and being placed in foster care when his mother could not care for him or his siblings, to being imprisoned for robbery as a young man.But I also think of all his triumphs. Malcolm X learned to not only read while imprisoned, but also be critical of a society that had oppressed African-Americans since enslavement. He used the power of literacy to become a man who could speak and encourage people to change society. He used the power of literacy to become a man who would be admired long after his assassination.
Today would have been Malcolm X's 87th birthday. He was killed on February 19, 1965 because of his candor. However, his legacy as a fearless fighter for people of African descent lives on.
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