Breaking Dichotomies Are Civil Rights and Black Na8onalism - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Breaking Dichotomies

Are Civil Rights and Black Na8onalism Mutually Exclusive?

*Dr. Devyn Spence Benson Professor of Africana & La8n American Studies TwiIer @bensondevyn

Who said it?

• “It is a historical fact that privileged groups

seldom give up their privileges voluntarily! . . . We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the

• ppressor, it must be demanded by the
• ppressed. . .”

• “It is a historical fact that privileged groups

seldom give up their privileges voluntarily! . . . We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the

• ppressor, it must be demanded by the
• ppressed. . .” (p. 3-MLK)

• “Give it to us now, Don’t wait for the next
• year. Give it to us yesterday and that’s not fast

enough.”

• “Give it to us now, Don’t wait for the next
• year. Give it to us yesterday and that’s not fast

enough.” (p. 5, Malcolm X)

• “I must confess that over the past few years I

have been disappointed with the white moderate.” I have almost reached the regreIable conclusion that the Negro’s greatest stumbling block in his stride to freedom is not the White Ci8zens Councilor or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than jus8ce!”

• “I must confess that over the past few years I

have been disappointed with the white moderate.” I have almost reached the regreIable conclusion that the Negro’s greatest stumbling block in his stride to freedom is not the White Ci8zens Councilor or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than jus8ce!” (p. 5, MLK)

• “So, where do we go from here? First, we

need some new friends. We need some new

• allies. The en8re civil rights struggle needs a

new interpreta8on, a broader interpreta8on. We need to look at this civil rights thing from another angle.”

• “So, where do we go from here? First, we

need some new friends. We need some new

• allies. The en8re civil rights struggle needs a

new interpreta8on, a broader interpreta8on. We need to look at this civil rights thing from another angle.” (p. 4, Malcolm X)

SNL Opener about MLK

• hIps://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=UZ_jp11WxC8&feature=youtu.be

Images of and inspired by Malcolm X

Boogie Down Produc8ons Album Cover for By All Means

• Necessary. The group’s second album, released in 1988,
• n Jive Records. The first was Criminal Minded.

By Any Means Necessary, by DamnedInk 2008-2012 Zombie Malcolm X MP, 2013

Even Colin K.

More Sims than Diffs???

• April 3, 1964: Malcolm X’s

gives “The Ballot or the Bullet” speech in Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio In jail in Birmingham, Alabama, MLK writes the April 16, 1963 “LeIer from a Birmingham Jail” (later reprinted in King’s book, Why We Can’t Wait).

Ac8on-Oriented Ideologies:

Civil Rights &Black Na8onalism

MLK

• “Non-violent direct ac8ons seeks to create such a

crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to nego8ate is forced to confront the issue. . . .My ci8ng the crea8on of tension as a part of the work for the non-violent resister may sound shocking. But I must confess that I am not afraid of the word

• tension. I have earnestly opposed violent

tension, but there are construc8ve, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth.”

“MLK and BLM Extremism”: From the Providence Forum

Malcolm X

• “I must say this concerning the great

controversy over rifles and shotguns. The only thing that I’ve ever said is that in the areas where the government has proven itself either unwilling or unable to defend the lives and property of Negroes, its Eme for Negroes to defend themselves. Ar8cle two of the cons8tu8onal amendments provides you and me the right to own a rifle or a shotgun. It is consEtuEonally legal . . .” (5, 10)

Black Na8onalism

• Poli8cal Philosophy: Control poli8cs in black

communi8es

• Economic Philosophy: Buy black
• Social Philosophy: Uplio black communi8es

through social reform

Like-minded Urgency:

We will not wait!/Figh8ng Unjust Laws

MLK

• “We know through painful experience that freedom is

never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in direct ac8on campaign that was “well- 8med” in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segrega8on. For years now I have heard the word “wait!” It rings true in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This “Wait” has almost always meant “Never.” . . . There comes a 8me when the cup of endurance runs over and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair. I hope sirs you can understand our legi8mate and unavoidable impa8ence.” (3)

Malcolm X Answers

• “Civil rights, for those us whose philosophy is

black na8onalism means: “Give it to us now. Don’t wait unEl next year. Give it to us yesterday and that’s not fast

• enough. . .” [There will be a] “new strategy

coming in. It’ll be the Moltov cocktail this month, hand grenades next month, and something else next month. It’ll be ballots or it’ll be bullets. It’ll be liberty or it will be death.” (5)

MLK on White Moderates

• “I have been gravely disappointed with the white
• moderate. I have almost reached the regreIable

conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride to freedom is not the White Ci8zens Councilor or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to jus8ce; who prefers a nega8ve peace which is the absence of tension to a posi8ve peace which is the presence of jus8ce; who constantly says, “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can’t agree with your methods of direct ac8on”; who paternalis8cally feels that he can advise the Negro to wait un8l a “more convenient season.”

Malcolm X on Unjust Laws

“. . . And this was pointed out by the Supreme Court decision. It outlawed segrega8on. Which means segrega8on is against the law. Which means segrega8onist are breaking the law. A segregaEonist is a criminal. You can’t label him anything other than that. And when you demonstrate against segrega8on, the law is on your side. The Supreme Court is on your side.”

Human Rights instead of Civil Rights

“. . . Human rights are something you were born

• with. Human rights are your God-given rights.

Human rights are the rights that are recognized by all the naEons of this earth. And anyEme anyone violates your human rights, you can take them to the world court . . . Let the world know how bloody his [Uncle Sam’s] hands are. Let the world know he hypocrisy that’s prac8ced over

• here. Let it be the ballot or the bullet. Let him

know it must be the ballot or the bullet.” (6)

Human Rights instead of Civil Rights

“By the ballot I only mean freedom. Don’t you know—that the ballot is more important than the dollar? . . . Look in the UN. There are poor na8ons in the UN; yet those poor na8ons can get together with their vo8ng power and keep the rich na8ons from making a move. . . . And when those brothers from Asia and Africa and the darker parts of this earth get together, their vo8ng power is sufficient to hold Sam in check. Or Russia in check. Or some

• ther sec8on of the earth in check. So, the ballot is

most important.” (6)

• “America is in a unique posi8on. She’s the
• nly country in history in a posiEon to

actually become involved in a blood-less

• revoluEon. . . But today this country can

become involved in a revolu8on that won’t take bloodshed. All she’s got to do is give the black man in this country everything that’s due him, everything.”

So why the enduring dichotomies?

Consequences

• Discourages Black Self-Defense
• Discourages Class Struggles and Buy Black

Campaigns

• Pins strategies for equality on colorblind

na8onalism