Quotes From Malcolm:
Concerning non-violence, it is
crimminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of
brutel attacks.
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.
"Racism: the Cancer that is Destroying America," in Egyptian
Gazette (25 Aug. 1964).
You can’t separate peace from
freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.
"Prospects for Freedom in 1965," speech, 7 Jan. 1965, New York City
(published in Malcolm X Speaks, ch. 12, 1965).
The Negro revolution is
controlled by foxy white liberals, by the Government itself. But the Black
Revolution is controlled only by God.
Speech, 1 Dec. 1963, New York City.
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.
Speech, 12 Dec. 1964, New York City.
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.
"Message to the Grass Roots," speech, Nov. 1963, Detroit (published in
Malcolm X Speaks, ch. 1, 1965).
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.
"Message to the Grass Roots," speech, Nov. 1963, Detroit (published in
Malcolm X Speaks, ch. 1, 1965).
Sitting at the table doesn’t make
you a diner. You must be eating 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.
"The Ballot or the Bullet," speech, 3 April 1964, Cleveland, Ohio
(published in Malcolm X Speaks, ch. 3, 1965).
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.
Speech, Nov. 1963, New York City.