Malcolm Taught Us: 7 Quotes From Malcolm X

By L.G. Parker

Most of us remember the first time we read The Autobiography of Malcolm X and tripped off his brutal honesty, how it woke something up in us. If not that, we remember in 2007 when KanYe claimed on Graduation that he was “I’m like the fly Malcolm X/buy any jeans necessary/Detroit Red, all cleaned up.” On this fiftieth year anniversary of Malcolm X’s assassination, we celebrate his indistinguishable fire and passion for black liberation with these quotes.

 1.     “If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”

2.      “So early in my life, I had learned that if you want something, you had better make some noise.”

3.     The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman, the most unprotected person in America is the Black woman, the most neglected person in America is the Black woman.” 

4.     “America is Mississippi. There’s no such thing as a Mason-Dixon line. It’s America. There’s no such thing as the South. It’s America.”

5.     “Usually when people are sad, they don’t do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change.”

6.     “If you stick a knife in my back nine inches and pull it out six inches, there’s no progress. If you pull it all the way out that’s not progress. Progress is healing the wound that the blow made. And they haven’t even pulled the knife out much less heal the wound. They won’t even admit the knife is there.”

7.     “If not now then when, if not me then who?”