Make It Plain - The Malcolm X Documentary

View the Malcolm X Documentary- Make It Plain

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I was considering posting this documentary before the Don Imus situation became a big issue. But now that the issue has come up, this video is even more important.

I do not agree with all (or even most) of Malcolm X’s positions on social and political issues. Although towards the end of his life he began to moderate some of his views.

However, what I admire about Malcolm was his presence as a man. It was his giant spirit and no nonsense attitude. He was a man who stood up for his beliefs and principles in a way that few others ever have, before or since. Where are these kinds of men today? Where have they gone? They certainly do not exist anymore, especially within the so-called African American community. People like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are lightweights in the shadows of giants like MLK, Malcolm, Du Bois, Bob Marley, Evers, Adam Clayton Powell and a few others.
These men were of a different breed….a breed of men who are unfortunately extinct.
That brings me to the issue of Don Imus. Well Angry Independent, what does Malcolm X have to do with the Don Imus situation?

This degeneration of Black culture has been allowed to happen under Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton’s watch. This is why they are lightweights, and failures when it comes to this issue. They have been timid- too scared to really confront (full force) the Rap community & the nonsense that they perpetuate, as well as the radio stations, record companies, etc that support them. Instead of getting a handle on this situation years ago, it has been allowed to fester into what we see today. The good Reverends Jesse and Al have been too afraid of making folks angry within their own community. They have bent over backwards to appease Rappers and to embrace their behavior. They put image and money over principle and integrity.

Only a very few strong black men have carried the real banner of black pride, responsibility and accountability. People like Dr. Cornel West, Bill Cosby, Juan Williams, & Carlton Ridenhour come to mind….but it’s a small few. The majority of these so-called “leaders” have not acted in the best interests of the masses. And here we are…we find ourselves in these kinds of positions over and over again. And instead of challenging Hip Hop culture, people like Al Sharpton and Michael Eric Dyson defend the behaviors of Rappers and literally make excuses for their behavior- suggesting that it is o.k. when Rappers do it (even though it's more frequent, more vile, and more damaging). According to the Dyson crowd, there should be two different standards….one for Don Imus because he’s a white man, and another standard for those within the Black community (Rap music in particular) who do even worse. The Dyson crowd says that Rappers deserve a pass....that Blacks should look the other way when it comes to Rap, just like they always have. Dyson and his cohorts are engaged in the kind of splitting of hairs game that people play when they want to avoid responsibility. But it's really a disgusting display of hypocrisy on their part that makes Black folks look bad in the end. They want to shield Black thugs from being held accountable... this has become Michael Eric Dyson's hustle.

How would Malcolm deal with the Imus situation? Yes, he would call for the resignation or firing of Don Imus. There is no doubt about that. But I also have no doubt whatsoever that Malcolm would be reaching for his mirror…. To hold it up to the Black Community. He would be working to fight against this kind of behavior within the Black community, from the rappers, the urban radio stations, and record companies, with the same determination that we see in the case of Don Imus. Malcolm would be pushing for the firings of those in urban America who put the same things over the airwaves on a daily basis….calling Black women B****, Whores, degrading our women on TV, etc.

Malcolm X would not tolerate this nonsense, and he definitely would not make excuses for ignorant rappers and urban radio stations within his own community that were doing the same thing that Imus is being punished for. Malcolm would not tolerate this hairsplitting, double standard bull. Malcolm always pushed introspection within the Black community... his core teachings centered around self respect, having a knowledge of self, and the idea of Blacks taking responsibility for their own communities. Therefore, Malcolm would have been smack dab in the middle of this internal debate about the treatment and image of Black women (and women in general) within the so-called Black community...particularly as it relates to Rap music.

You have these degenerate so-called Black intellectuals, such as Todd Boyd out of USC, Roland Martin, and Michael Eric Dyson (and others from this crowd) who have been supporting the behavior of the Rap Community and have been covering for this nonsense for years. Just within the past 2 days I have seen Michael Eric Dyson and Roland Martin on CNN defending/making excuses for elements within the so-called Black community who engage in far worse behavior on a daily basis, than that of Don Imus. I would love to see how Malcolm would deal with these lightweight bastards if he were here today.

Malcolm would be grabbing folks by their necks (figuratively and literally) within the so-called Black community, demanding that this nonsense stop. Radio stations, record labels and rappers that failed to comply would literally have hell to pay. BET? I'm not sure if Bull**** Entertainment Television would even exist in its current form. In fact, none of this would have gotten as bad as it has if it were Malcolm’s watch. Instead it has been Jesse’s watch…and Sharpton’s watch, and Andrew Young’s watch, and the modern NAACP’s watch…. Well, they have all FAILED miserably. You can’t send chumps to do a man’s job.

Malcolm, although I did not agree with some of his more radical views, was an example of the kind of Black man (in terms of presence, strength and integrity) that is missing in today’s society.