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“Learning to Read” excerpt from The Autobiography of Malcolm X

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Re: “Learning to Read” excerpt from The Autobiography of Malcolm X

#151

Post by VLM »

parasight wrote: post #21

If I only could read all the books I want to read. I can't count the books I bought and only read half or not at all. The stack of to-be-read-next books grows and grows. And now after reading this text I just ordered Malcolm X's biography.

"I just ordered Malcolm X's biography."

Not on a Kindle, I'm sure. I checked. Aside from the main story, this is another example of the problems of copyright. The most recent release is from the mid 80s (admittedly on the bazzilionth printing) and for political or whatever reasons it'll probably never be released again, including in electronic format. Which is too bad.

Just another 68 years until the copyright expires on the 80's version paperback, and then people will be able to read this again. Assuming they're allowed to, and the copyright laws aren't changed again (LOL)

Its a pity, its a good book.

Re: “Learning to Read” excerpt from The Autobiography of Malcolm X

#152

Post by netnichols »

beloch wrote: post #50
tomjen3 wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it still worth reading for somebody who despise the man? Both what he was (a robber) and what he became?

Malcolm X was one of the very rare individuals who charted his own course through life. Most deviate only the tiniest fraction from what is dictated by their background and mentors. Not Malcolm X. At the same time, he seemed to tragically lurch from one master to the next, although always seeking a more benign one. I like to think he would have rebelled against organized religion next, if he'd had time to do so. Many…

That's a great point. It's fascinating to think where he would have ended up after 20 or 40 more years of study and contemplation.

Re: “Learning to Read” excerpt from The Autobiography of Malcolm X

#153

Post by wpietri »

tim333 wrote: post #81
tesq wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you despise the man?

I'm not tomjen3 or even that up on Malcolm X but note from Wikipedia that when that when with the Nation of Islam he taught that "white people are 'devils' that blacks are superior to whites, and that the demise of the white race is imminent." and that he split with the Nation of Islam over saying the Kennedy assassination was 'chickens coming home to roost' while they sent condolences to the family. All seems a bit…

Given that whites of the era were teaching that whites were superior to blacks (and using that belief to justify all sorts of mistreatment) I can entirely forgive someone promoting the opposite view.

Re: “Learning to Read” excerpt from The Autobiography of Malcolm X

#154

Post by wpietri »

aurelian wrote: post #57
dwolfson20 wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Conking is one example.

Was conking necessary to succeed, or was it done because many blacks preferred the appearance of straight hair? Sidney Poitier played a doctor in No Way Out in 1950, and his hair doesn't appear to have been straightened.

You might find this helpful: http://tressiemc.com/2013/10/29/the-logic-of-stupid-poor-peo...

Re: “Learning to Read” excerpt from The Autobiography of Malcolm X

#155

Post by wpietri »

phaus wrote: post #51
stuart78 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We are fairly quick to erase, forget or forgive the racism of white leaders, but seem to have a harder time doing so for those who oppose the majority's cultural status quo. I fear this has been used historically as a way to marginalize certain voices. Certainly X is a complicated, difficult and contradictory figure, but also one who, through the autobiography, is able to capture a particular time and experience amaz…

>We are fairly quick to erase, forget or forgive the racism of white leaders You are in no position to assume what oldmanjay has forgotten and forgiven. You are basically implying that all white people think and act the same. Either that or you are simply saying that oldmanjay is personally responsible for what other people think. Personally, I despise racism no matter who the perpetrator may be. However, even racist…

"The wicked flee when no man pursueth [...]"

Re: “Learning to Read” excerpt from The Autobiography of Malcolm X

#156

Post by wpietri »

aurelian wrote: post #65
moo wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Novacole is not saying violence and hatred toward white people is okay. The poster is distinguishing between prejudice and the term racism. Racism has a power component. Powerless people cannot make another race face racism as a group because they do not have the societal power to effect laws, police, institutional behavior.

Your definition of racism is at odds with common dictionary definitions of the word. Leftist academics have tried to redefine the word.

There are many useful things to be talked about. Individual prejudices, individual behaviors, and self-reinforcing societal power systems all get called "racism". Quibbling over which arbitrary word is bound to which concept looks like an avoidance of actually grappling with the issues.

Re: “Learning to Read” excerpt from The Autobiography of Malcolm X

#157

Post by jmaygarden »

novaomnidev wrote: post #135
jmaygarden wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have examples of recent "mainstream" right-wing rallies that call for racial violence? That sounds absurd. I'd like to know more about it.

Malcolm x never called for racial violence. Ever.

In the context of the previous two comments, it was stated that present-day mainstream right-wing speeches call for violence. If so, I must have missed it. I did not intend for my statement to reflect on the actions of Malcolm X.

Re: “Learning to Read” excerpt from The Autobiography of Malcolm X

#158

Post by jmaygarden »

wpietri wrote: post #156
aurelian wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your definition of racism is at odds with common dictionary definitions of the word. Leftist academics have tried to redefine the word.

There are many useful things to be talked about. Individual prejudices, individual behaviors, and self-reinforcing societal power systems all get called "racism". Quibbling over which arbitrary word is bound to which concept looks like an avoidance of actually grappling with the issues.

The issue at hand is that claiming that only white people can be racist is itself a racist statement according to the traditional definition of racism. Even with moo's definition of racism, the statement cannot be true in states where non-whites are the majority and hold power.

Again, I am not claiming that whites face racial oppression across the US. That's silly. This is whole thread only exists because of people twisting the definition of words to suit a purpose.

The same behavior is recorded in the political histories of Ancient Greece. It's nothing new. I'm just calling it out as the political trick that it is.

Re: “Learning to Read” excerpt from The Autobiography of Malcolm X

#159

Post by Natsu »

moo wrote: post #119
phaus wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nobody said that white people are oppressed. There is some kind of communication breakdown going on because you keep accusing myself and other individuals of claiming that we as white men are afraid of being oppressed. No one under my comment you responded to said that, so please stop acting like we did.

Why are you not seeing the word "subordinates" in the US Civil Rights Commission definition of racism. People are subordinated when the law fails to protect them. The law can fail to protect you due to corruption, bad management, or institutional racism. If you are white and the law fails you I'm saying it is not institutional racism.

The difference here is one of degree, not kind, as institutional racism is built out of a whole lot of individual racism.

Anyone who mistreats someone because of the color of their skin or defends the practice is doing wrong and I see no value in defending that. Standing against individual racism is a necessary part of standing against institutional racism and I don't think a reasonable person can condemn one but not the other.

Re: “Learning to Read” excerpt from The Autobiography of Malcolm X

#160

Post by dwolfson20 »

Bulkington wrote: post #133
dwolfson20 wrote: post #2

Everyone should really just read the entire Autobiography. http://www.amazon.com/The-Autobiography-Malcolm-Told-Haley/d... Also, they should spell "Malcolm" correctly. :)

Agreed, mainly because the period is so alien to many sub-40s Americans today. Also resonant: Islam, race, ugly American politics. It's an easy read, written by Alex Haley, who also wrote Roots. (Don't read the book (Roots) if you can find the more culturally significant mini-series. LeVar Burton was an icon in the US in the late 70s, well before he boarded the Enterprise.) The Spike Lee movie on Maclolm X is interes…

I actually disagree that you shouldn't read "Roots." I just finished it myself, and it's about as close as you can get to experiencing what it would be like to be taken away from your home in chains.
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