You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace
unless he has his freedom.
Malcolm X (1925-65), U.S. Muslim leader. "Prospects for
Freedom in 1965," speech, 7 Jan. 1965, New York City
(published in Malcolm X Speaks, ch. 12, 1965).
Sitting at the table doesn't make you a diner,
unless you eat some of what's on that plate. Being here in
America doesn't make you an American. Being born here in America
doesn't make you an American.
Malcolm X (1925-1965), U.S. Muslim leader. "The Ballot or
the Bullet," speech, 3 April 1964, Cleveland, Ohio
(published in Malcolm X Speaks, ch. 3, 1965).
I believe in the brotherhood of man, all men, but I don't believe
in brotherhood with anybody who doesn't want brotherhood with me.
I believe in treating people right, but I'm not going to waste my
time trying to treat somebody right who doesn't know how to
return the treatment.
Malcolm X (1925-65), U.S. Muslim leader. Speech, 12 Dec. 1964,
New York City.
It's just like when you've got some coffee
that's too black, which means it's too strong. What do you do?
You integrate it with cream, you make it weak. But if you pour
too much cream in it, you won't even know you ever had coffee. It
used to be hot, it becomes cool. It used to be strong, it becomes
weak. It used to wake you up, now it puts you to sleep.
Malcolm X (1925-65), U.S. Muslim leader. "Message to the
Grass Roots," speech, Nov. 1963, Detroit (published in
Malcolm X Speaks, ch. 1, 1965).
There
is nothing in our book, the Koran, that teaches us to suffer
peacefully. Our religion teaches us to be intelligent. Be
peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if
someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery. That's a
good religion.
Malcolm X (1925-65), U.S. Muslim leader. "Message to the
Grass Roots," speech, Nov. 1963, Detroit (published in
Malcolm X Speaks, ch. 1, 1965).
The common goal of 22 million Afro-Americans is
respect as human beings, the God-given right to be a human being.
Our common goal is to obtain the human rights that America has
been denying us. We can never get civil rights in America until
our human rights are first restored. We will never be recognized
as citizens there until we are first recognized as humans.
Malcolm X (1925-65), U.S. Muslim leader. "Racism: the Cancer
that is Destroying America," in Egyptian Gazette (25 Aug.
1964).
The Negro revolution is controlled by foxy white
liberals, by the Government itself. But the Black Revolution is
controlled only by God.
Malcolm X (1925-65), U.S. Muslim leader. Speech, 1 Dec. 1963, New
York City.
Malcolm X and his "by any means
necessary" quote: They called me 'a teacher,
a fomentor of violence.' I would say point blank, 'That is a
lie. I'm not for wanton violence, I'm for justice. I feel that if
white people were attacked by Negroes-if the forces of law prove
unable, or inadequate, or reluctant to protect those whites from
those Negroes-then those white people should protect and defend
themselves from those Negroes, using arms if necessary. And I
feel that when the law fails to protect Negroes from whites'
attack then those Negroes should use arms, if necessary, to
defend themselves.'...'I am speaking against and my fight is
against white racists. I firmly believe that Negroes have
the right to fight against these racists, by any means that are
necessary.' from The Autobiography of Malcolm X, pgs. 373-374.
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