The spirit of Malcolm X lived on at Marquette Monday, some 40 years after his assassination. Black history month culminated in the speech "Malcolm X: The Man, The Muslim and The Movement," sponsored by the Muslim Student Association as part of their Islam Awareness week.
The speech, given in the Alumni Memorial Union by Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, was attended by more than 40 students, faculty and community members. Abdul-Malik made it clear at the beginning of the speech that he was not there to simply recite Malcolm X's life story. Abdul-Malik believes everyone, no matter what their race or ethnic background, can appreciate the man and what he stood for.
"I believe with all sincerity that the life of Malcolm X can teach us a profound set of lessons that we can benefit from, whether we are Muslim or not," he said.
Abdul-Malik currently serves as the Muslim Chaplain at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He was the first Muslim officially installed as a chaplain in higher education at the school.
During his speech, Abdul-Malik gave a little of his own background. He grew up in a broken home in Brooklyn, N.Y., and drew inspiration from Malcolm X.
"I think of Malcolm X as my own spiritual father," he said. "Malcolm X still stands as a father figure for all African-American males, a man who was just so uncompromising in his devotion."
Abdul-Malik began his speech listing four themes in Malcolm X's life: think — be aware and absorb information, study — learn from the observations you make and gain understanding, grow — apply what you've learned into your practice, and change — let the change inside of you impact the society you live in. Abdul-Malik believes these are themes we all can learn from and apply to our own lives and experiences.
Malcolm X was not about fame and popularity, but about the movement. Abdul-Malik said Malcolm X was a new type of leader, a man who said a lot with few words. The obstacles in his life allowed him to think, learn, grow and lead a movement to inspire change.
Abdul-Malik's speech highlighted several key events in Malcolm X's life, including his troubled childhood, imprisonment and later his trip to Egypt where he made an "iconic shift" and realized the true meaning of the Islamic faith.
Who was Malcolm X? Abdul-Malik characterized him as everything from a "messianic leader" to an "icon" to a "father figure." Whatever the case, students who attended the speech each took away something different.
"What did I learn about Malcolm X that I didn't know before? Well, a lot," said College of Nursing freshman Rawda Abdeljaber. "I learned so much more about the offshoot of Islam that Malcolm X was a part of that just focused on racial inequality and ignored the real motives of what the nation of Islam truly is."
College of Arts & Sciences junior Karl Bolter came to the speech to learn more about Malcolm X.
"I ended up learning more about Malcolm X in this hour speech then I ever knew coming in," he said. "Abdul-Malik made Malcolm X's life easy to remember and fascinating to listen to."
Toward the end of the speech, Abdul-Malik said he believes Malcolm X's life will live on through history because of his radical devotion to his beliefs.
"Malcolm X was a man willing to challenge the status quo in America. He went from being a pariah to now having people celebrate his legacy. His uncompromising commitment in the quest for truth and social justice will make sure his life will never become stagnant," he said.
This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Mar. 1 2005.
