WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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Our opening song is “Brother Malcolm” by Archie Shepp, from his 1999 release Conversations. Archie Shepp, surely one of the great political philosophers of so-called Jazz, accompanies us throughout.
While preparing for this conversation another Black man, Jacob Blake, was shot in the back by police, this time in Kenosha, Wisconsin, but it could have been, likely has been, in any village, town, or city in what surely must be known as our American Dystopia.
Central to the political philosophy of Malcolm X is police brutality – this unaccountable violence undermines any claim that might be made to suggest progress has been made for Black residents in America – one can hardly suggest Black people are even considered citizens of the US in the eyes of white America.
In his new book, Black Minded, published by Pluto press, Michael Sawyer argues that the foundational concepts of Malcolm X’s political philosophy – economic and social justice, strident opposition to white supremacy and Black internationalism – are often obscured by an emphasis on biography. Black Minded demonstrates the way in which Malcolm X’s philosophy is an integral part of the revolutionary politics formed to alleviate the plight of people of African descent globally.
Today we’ll highlight some of Malcolm X’s appearances and speaking engagements throughout. These have been edited for concision.
We begin with Malcolm X on Black Nationalism – this is a selection from the well-known speech ”The Ballot or the Bullet” delivered in Detroit on April 12, 1964. It is distinct from the speech given in Cleveland on April 3.
GUEST
Michael Sawyer is assistant professor of Race, Ethnicity, and Migration Studies in the Department of English at Colorado College.
RELATED
Malcolm X: 2020 Edition by Michael Sawyer
BAR Book Forum: Michael Sawyer’s “Black Minded”
Malcolm Speeches and Appearances (YouTube)
Music under audio: “Malcolm, Malcolm – Semper Malcolm” by Archie Shepp (Fire Music)
City Desk, 1963
“The Harlem ‘Hate Gang’ Scare”
“The Ballot or the Bullet”
“The Black Revolution”
Poem – “Malcolm X” by Sonia Sanchez
Music for Poem – “Malcolm’s Gone” by Leon Thomas
MUSIC – Archie Shepp
“Brother Malcolm” – Conversations (1999)
“Call Me By My Rightful Name” – New Thing at Newport (recorded in 1965)
“New Africa” – The Way Ahead (1969)
“Th Cry of My People” – The Cry of My People (1973)
CREDITS
Producer & Host: Doug Storm
Executive Producer: Kade Young
