The recent Netflix series Who Killed Malcolm X, renewed my interest in the death of Malcolm X (1925-1965) and the Nation of Islam (“NOI”) under the guidance of Elijah Muhammad (1897-1975). Malcolm’s death is still revisited as one of the darkest moments in the Civil Rights Movement. Muhammad and his star pupil had long fallen out of favor after Malcolm’s death, rumors swirled that the leader of the NOI had ordered the assassination. No proof ever surfaced of it and whatever Muhammad did know, he took with him to his grave. He left behind a trove of writings, speeches and statements from public appearances that shed light on his thoughts regarding Islam, race and the future of America. In 1965, this book was published as Muhammad’s message to the black men of the United States.
Although I am not Muslim, I was curious to see what Muhammad had to say and if it would be relevant to me being a black American. I am familiar with some of the rhetoric from the NOI which Malcolm later sought to distance himself from. But the fact remains that Malcolm did receive from Muhammad many of the teachings that guided him as his responsibilties in the NOI continued to increase and hecame its brightest star. If there was one thing I was sure before starting the book, it was that Muhammad would not mince words. In fact, no one in the NOI minced words and their belief in full freedom and equality for black people is well-known and documented. But this is Muhammad’s show and he waste no time in getting his points across.
From the start, Muhammad directs his attention to Christianity and its role during slavery in America. Those who are devout Christians may find this argument to be difficult to read but it is imperative to remember these are his thoughts only and it is up to you to decide which religion is right for you. Further, he is speaking from the point of view of a member of the Islamic faith and there is no doubt that he believes in Allah as the savior for black people. He does make compelling arguments and in fact, uses scriptures from both the bible and Quran to make his case. However, the rhetoric is strong and the use of the term “devils” for white Americans and Europeans will undoubtedly be unsettling. I had to remind myself that today we would not see anything like this but in Muhammad’s era, the United States was a very different and violatile place. And perhaps if I had been born at the same time as Muhammad, I myself may have felt the same way. In end, some who read the book might decide to convert to Islam while others accept his argument and continue on with their lives as things are.
By far, the part of the book which seemed the most outlandish is the section about a scientist named Yakub, who apparently “created” the white race. I have never seen any documented evidence of such a person or evidence of notes, test, etc. I am inclined to believe that the story of Yakub is nothing more than a myth that continues to endure. Followers of the NOI may feel differently and I say to each his own. However, this theory of Yakub, forms the base of Muhammad’s arguments about the nature of the “white devils”. Some readers will surely roll their eyes at this part of the book.
Muhammad was a very sharp thinker but it is apparent in the book, that his voice is also laced with fierce emotion. It is almost as if you can feel him raising his voice as the book progresses. At one point, he does bring up the issue of the black woman which I found to be interesting and mystifying considering Muhammad’s well-known philandering. Much of it has flown under the public radar but I recommend Manning Marable’s Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention for a thorough discussion of what exactly did happen between Muhammad and the multiple secretaries he procreated with that helped cause the eventuall split with Malcolm. I could not help but feel that it was quite hypocritical for Muhammad to preach about taking care of the black woman while stepping out on his own wife Clara Muhammad (1899-1972).
In spite of the heavy rhetoric that relies on shock value, Muhammad does make a very good argument in his belief of black people not waiting for help from anyone but instead, going out and doing. Of all of the topics in the book, I firmly agree with him on this one in particular. His message about self-sustainability and actual progress is spot on and can be used by anyone regardless of race. His words about changing the future of black people are still relevant today and many more people should hear this argument. It is clear that he truly wanted the best for all black people. However, I do not agree with his views on integration. But again, I did not live in America in 1965 and did not experience the racism that black people faced on a daily basis. If I had, perhaps I would agree with Muhammad.
Today we can see in hindsight that Elijah Muhammad was right about some things but wrong on others. His prediction of America meeting its doom did not come to pass. And his argument against interracial marriage is still believed by some but interracial marriage continues to increase as more people turn to online dating and long-distance romance. The world that he knew is far different today and will be even more different by the time I reach my senior years. But Muhammad has his view and explains his position. It is up to the reader to accept or deny the argument.
Overall, the book is a mixed bag. Within its pages is truth, rhetoric, religious arguments and even outlandish theories. But Muhammad was not just an ordinary person. The NOI remains today but its public presence is scaled down considerably. But at one time, it was the focus of many Americans, seen as a group of black Muslims who were no longer accepting any excuses for the advancement of black people and other minorities. These are the words of its most famous leader for audiences of all types.
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In August, 2019, a close friend lost her brother, who became yet another statistic in the ongoing crisis regarding opioid and other drug use in America. I had met him previously and his death seemed surreal at the time. In fact, it still does. His parents had never experienced anything like it and did what they could to get him the help that he needed. For them and thousands of other parents who have lost a child to drugs, they often wonder how did this happen? And what could we have done to stop it? There are many answers to both questions but in this eye-opening book, Sam Quinones tackles the first question and tells the story of the development of the opioid epidemic in America.
In the spring of 1846, a group of settlers left home in Springfield, Illinois en route to either Oregon or California. A popular destination for many was the City of Yerba Buena, known today as San Francisco. By the first week of may, the party had reached Independence Missouri and soon continued on their route. They soon learned of an apparent shortcut through what is known as the Hastings cut-off near Salt Lake City, Utah. The trail was named after Confederate General Lansford Hastings (1819-1870). It was believed that the shortcut would eliminate as much as three hundred miles off of their trip. The group separated and eighty-seven people continued on the trail. Instead of elminating travel time, their journey was extended by another month. Deeply behind schedule, their provisions began to run low and winter soon set in. By the time their ordeal was over, only forty-eight had survived. Some managed to survive by turning to cannibalism and that act has earned them a permanent place in American pop culture. We have come to know this group pf settlers as the Donner Party.
The past several years have given way to a rise in the number of opioid related deaths in the United States. Cities across America have struggled with a surge in drug overdoses and lack of proper facilities to handle the deceased. I knew several people who battled an addiction to opioids and all but one are now deceased. It is a soul crushing and life depleting addiction that cuts across all ethnic lines. Many of us know someone who is currently battling an addiction or once did in the past, whether it was opioids, alcohol or some other substance. And what we all know is that addicts do not get clean until they have realized there is no where else to go but in the ground. Dan Peres is a former Editor in Chief for Women’s Wear Daily Details and in this revealing memoir, he details his own struggle with a drug addcition that nearly took his life.
Discussions of the 1916 uprising in Ireland tend to focus on a select group of figures. The names of Patrick Pearse (1897-1916) and James Connolly (1868-1916) are legend in Irish history and their actions part of the narrative of the Republican fight for a united Ireland. In December, 1921, the British Government and Republican forces reached an agreement that officially partitioned Ireland into Unionist north and Republican south. The southern part was established as the Free Irish State, to be led by Michael Collins (1890-1922)who became Chairman of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State. Collins is well-known in Irish history for his unwavering support of the Republican cause. However, there was another figure who not only worked closely with Collins, but someone whose own story and actions are typically left out of the official narrative. Pictured to the left General Richard Mulcahy (1886-1971), one of the founding members of the Irish Free State and staunch supporter of Irish independence. When I saw this book for sale, I knew immediately that I had to read it and understand who the intriguing character on the cover of the book really was.
I saw this book in my list of recommendations on Amazon and decided to take a closer look. The cover caught my attention and after reading the full title, my interest peaked. On January 9, 1969 a group of students belonging to the Swarthmore Afro-American Students Society (SASS), took over the admissions office at Swarthmore College. In the months prior, a working paper regarding the recruitment and admission of black students had been released, resulting in immediately backlash from the university’s black students who felt their privacy had been violated and their experiences ignored. The animosity between the students and Dean Hargadon continued to increase and the students felt they had no option but to act. Joyce Frisby Baynes, Harold S. Buchanan, Jannette O. Domingo, Marilyn J. Holifield, Aundrea White Kelly, Marilyn Allman Maye, Myra E. Rose and Bridget Van Gronigen Warren moved into the admissions office and over the next few days, their resistance changed the course of history for Swarthmore College.
When I think back to my youth, I recall various automobiles that were own by my father, uncles and friends. Their cars were American made and typically products of General Motors. Buick, Pontiac and Cadillac were the cars of choice and hardly anyone then owned a foreign car. If you owned a Cadillac, it meant status and success in the America. Detroit became Motor City and its dominance over the U.S. auto industry remained in place for several decades until automakers from Japan and Germany stormed into the American market. The city has an extensive past, beginning with French explorer Antoine de Lamothe Cadillac (1658-1730) for whom the luxury automobile is named after. In 1701, he established what is now Detroit before eventually returning to France where he lived out the rest of his days. The evolution of Detroit is one of America’s greatest success stories and also one of its greatest tragedies. Throughout all, its black citizens have always remained firm in their dedication to seeing Detroit become a city to be envied. Herb Boyd takes another look at his city and the role of black men and women in the development of a famed city.
In 2019, streaming giant Netflix premiered “
History has many dark secrets that some have wished remained hidden from the official record so that the history that has been portrayed remains sanitized and above reproach. But it is also said that what you do in the dark always comes to light. In the wake of the coup that saw the overthrow of Chilean President Salvador Allende (1908-1973) on September 11, 1973, the country was placed in a vice grip by his successor, Augusto Pinochet (1915-2006), who commenced a program of retribution against enemies, activist and those “suspected” of being part of the opposition to the new government. His regime was marred by human rights violations for which he was arrested by British Police in England on October 17, 1998. Pinochet was extradited back to his native Chile but never stood trial for his actions. He died on December 10, 2006 of congestive heart failure and pulmonary edema. His death marked the end of legal action to bring him to justice but it did not stop the prosecution of others who were complicit in the horrific actions that took place in the aftermath of the coup. Researchers continued to investigate Pinochet’s actions and those of fellow dictators in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. During one such expedition in Paraguay, a trove of documents were uncovered that shed light on a joint program created by several neighboring countries to track down those deemed enemies of the state with the purpose of execution. The program is known as Operation Condor and here Charles River Editors provides a concise summary of how and why the program came into existence.
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