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.
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).
Malcolm X (1925-65), U.S. Muslim leader.
Speech, 1 Dec. 1963, New York City.
If violence is wrong in America, violence is wrong
abroad. If it is wrong to be violent defending black women and black
children and black babies and black men, then it is wrong for America to
draft us, and make us violent abroad in defense of her. And if it is
right for America to draft us, and teach us how to be violent in defense
of her, then it is right for you and me to do whatever is necessary to
defend our own people right here in this country.
Malcolm X
(1925-65), U.S. Muslim leader. Speech, Nov. 1963, New York
City.