Malcolm Little, a prominent, controversial human rights activist who was more widely known as Malcolm X, was remembered by TIME magazine following his assassination in 1965 as “a cocaine addict and a thief.” However, considering that last month was the 50th anniversary of his assassination, it is important that we consider why his legacy has undergone a dramatic historical change and why he is now accepted by many as one of the most influential African Americans to break ground on civil rights issues.

The change in Malcolm X’s legacy can be attributed to society’s tendency to perceive people as martyrs after death, regardless of how they were viewed during life. Despite this inherent flaw in society, it is important that Malcolm X is regarded in a way that is reflective of the positive impact he had on both American society and the civil rights movement, rather than being solely associated with the negative decisions he made during his life. However, despite being remembered more positively half a century after his assassination, his transformed legacy does not change the fact that inequality and discrimination both remain prevalent and are oftentimes widely dismissed topics of discussion in our country.

Although Malcolm X’s views were radically different from the principles of other influential civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. who sought for racial integration, his determination to make the world a better place for African Americans should not be considered any less significant. According to James H. Cone, author of “Martin & Malcolm & America: A Dream or a Nightmare,” “Many African Americans, especially those who lived in cities in the Northern and Western United States, felt that Malcolm X articulated their complaints concerning inequality better than the mainstream civil rights movement did.” Although I do not agree with Malcolm X’s opinions, such as his considered ineffectiveness of civil rights movements like the March on Washington, his philosophical views undoubtedly shaped life in America for many African Americans in the 20th century, and they continue to do so in the 21st century. Therefore, to dismiss his views would be to effectively ignore a culture and history of people who were searching for the opportunity to become less oppressed by following his guidance and ideologies.

Despite Malcolm X’s contribution to the progress of civil equality in the United States, racial inequality in particular still remains prevalent in our country. Therefore, by TIME magazine re-defining his legacy 50 years later and recalling his battle against prejudice and racial strife, TIME, as well as our country, is effectively continuing the spirit of his fight.

There are a number of ways that we can effectively keep his legacy alive for years to come and work to prevent further discrimination or oppression. The first way that we can not only remember his legacy, but also maintain and implement his important values in our society, is to remind ourselves that civil rights issues are not a distant struggle that were resolved in the 20th century. The mistake that people often make when discussing civil rights, as well as the roles that Malcolm X and other leaders played during this time, is that all racial inequality is solved and eradicated. However, racial inequality is still very much a presence in our society, thrust to the forefront most recently with the tragic deaths of Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown and Eric Garner. Although the circumstances of each death varied, race was seen by many as the catalyst for the events that took place, with claims of a lack of acceptance and accountability in regards to the viewed prejudicial nature of these murders.

The fact of the matter is that much of the lack of acceptance and accountability for events such as the aforementioned can be attributed to the misconception that racial inequality no longer exists due to the positive gains of the civil rights movement during the 20th century. In reality, while we may have redefined Malcolm X’s legacy, it has taken 50 years to gain the perspective needed in order to do so. Racism is a dark cloud that hangs over the United States and whether it is intentional or not, there are times where it is downplayed simply due to the horrific reality of what was allowed to occur.

The most effective way to solve the lack of awareness is to continue educating people that racism is still an inherent flaw in our society and, though it will hopefully be eradicated one day, that day has not yet arrived. Until that day, Malcolm X should be remembered based on all that he did to help work toward a world where African Americans would not be oppressed or thought of as anything less than any other human being.

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-- Online Editor-in-Chief Emeritus-- Digital Journalism

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