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' • :'<s' ?»>' • -w *L . * % • • Malcolm X, King: Both Appealed For Loyalty I A* we celebrate the birthday of another great American, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it would •wve our interest if those of us {who lived through his era, who Jknow best the socio-political dy ! namics that contributed to the sue JceM of the dvil rights movement ► which he led, if we would pause | and reflect on the realities of | that time. The fact of the matter is that there were two distinct move menu that reached their tenith [ among our people in the decades | of the fifties and sixties. One [ movement can best be described | as militant inUgrationist, the ; other as militant separatist. Mar ! tin was the central figure in the ! leadership of the former, while ! the latter was headed by the Na j tion of Islam, under the spiritual | leadership of Elijah Muhammad. I There were many local, regional, land national spokesmen for the [ two movemenU, and Malcolm X |wa* the unquestioned exponent for separatism. So we had two eloquent orators, Malcolm and Martin, both ap pealing for the loyalty of our peo ple to their opposing political di rections. The call of the separat ists was to manhood, womanhood, strong families, and nationhood, while the call of the integration ists was to economical, social, and political equality within the American system. The Ameri can government, caught between a rock and a hard place, decided ' to tilt towards Martin Luther King and the integration!sts. This wasn't decided on the basis of their good heartedness, but on the basis of cold pragmatic politics. The government reasoned that if integration was made to appear as By Abu Hass an a winning cause, we would rally to it and take the wind out of the sail of the separatists whom it feared because the basjs of their appeal was national liberation. The government gambled that we would support the apparent win ner even though the prise was less than the moet desirable. The gov ernment won. In reality, our hard fought-for gains of that turbulent era was fa cilitated because, from the point of view of the government, they were the lesser of two evils. We had a choice, and we chose the easy course. We forgot that nothing worthwhile and lasting comes easy. We can now see that what the government gave it now takes away. This was their plan all along. The word they used to de scribe the political strategy of giv ing for the purpose of taking away at a later time is temporizing. Government chose between Mar tin and Malcolm, between the panting of civil rights and fac ing a revolution, and during the period of temporiration conspired to rid itself of both men, and did. The lesson we must learn from this bit of history is that we must have one movement, and every one in it must be its leading force. That the responsibility for a suc cessful struggle rests with each and every one of us. Our first battle as a movement must be to make this a struggle of equals equal in rights, equal in duty, and equal in reward. All for one and one for all. When one ceases to speak, two must speak instead, when one lays down the pen, two must write the words, when one stops to pray, two must watch, and when one drops the sword, two must pick it up. In this way, we will all serve to hold our banner high, so high that if need be, our children will grasp it in their *tum. When we are committed to this, we will not fail. On this reso lution, I am certain beyond doubt, we will have the blessings of both Martin and Malcolm. And now as we move to the execu tion of our strategy to deal with the Howard Beach incident, and be yond, towards the development of a mass organization and move ment, let us, each and every one, resolve to be committed to the suc cessful achievement of our high est aspirations, the establishment of our independence, territory, sovereignty and reparations. One-On-One Looking Back At King’s Birthday Martin Luther King's birthday. Did it bring us together? Many white people will still tell you that it just a holiday for black people. They will tell you that it wasn't their idea—and that if it weren't for politicians courting the black vote we wouldn't have the holiday at all. These comments and the don NMt debate about the- holiday remind us that it is too early for King's birthday to be a time to cel ebrate a victory of justice and harmony over racial prejudice. That battle is still being fought in the hearts of all people—black and white. So King's birthday should be marked as the real beginning— but only the beginning-of the fight for a just and open society for all of us. It must also be a reminder that there is much more to do. There is something most of us don't like to admit. Many of us won't admit it. But it is true. The ugly confrontations in New York and Georgia remind us even when we would like to forget. Our racial peace is very fra gile. Are we still afraid of each oth er? Are blacks still afraid of whites? Are whites still afraid of blacks? Yes. The fears and resentments of many years have been moderated and concealed. But they are still there. We should not be surprised. Moot nations with people of differ ent races or different religions have a tough time keeping the dif ferent groups at peace with each other. Fifteen years ago we thought that Lebanon "proved" that Mus lems and Christians could work and live together in peace and mutual proeperlty. Today that same country has shown that such Enter Scholarship Award Program John Barringer of the Little Profeeeor Book Center will honor high school students who possess critical thinking and writing skills by participating in the Na tional Little Professor Book Cen ter Third Annual Scholarship Award Program. Awards of $100 to $5,000 will be presented to students who demon strate thinking and writing skills in 1,000 word reviews of one of these novels: All Quiet On The Front, Cold Sassy Tree, Cry The Beloved Country, The DoQ maker and Song Of Solomon. Applications are available at the Little Professor Book Center at Park Road Shopping Center. The deadline for entries is Feb ruary 15. '% v.7 , , D.G. Martin accommodations are not always permanent. They can completely break down into civil war. Could it happen to us? Could it all break down here? What can we do to hold our selves together? First, we should admit that it is tough to build and keep a commu nity in which blacks and whites trust each other and live in peace. And then go to work to make it work. If we don't, we could leave our children less than we have now. Our legacy could be another Leba non or South Africa or Northern Ireland-and a confrontation be tween the races. But with tough love and patience and iiard work’ we can leave them Dr. King's dream—and growing progress and commitment to its fulfill ment. Next year, on Martin Luther King's birthday, I won't celebrate a victory that hasn't come yet. I will celebrate the challenge that people like Dr. King gave us -the chance to work for a commu nity and country where equal op portunity and mutual and genu ine respect are more than dreams. DEMOCRACY ™ APARTE In South Africa, There Is Only One Solution. . . Your Support of The Freedom Fighters Will Hasten the Day of Victory for Democracy, One man - One vote. Give as if the absence of Liberty there diminishes all of us. in truth, it does. Enclosed is my check/M O. for $r_as my contribution to the Freedom Fighters in the South African struggle for One man - One vote Send Contribution to: Democracy Vs Apartheid Committee P O Box 644 Adeiphi Station Brooklyn, New York 11238 SOME VERY GOOD REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHARLOTTE 4 POST TODAY! • ENTERTAINMENT • COMMUNITY EVENTS • SHOPPER SPECIALS • CHURCH NEWS • SPORTS ...AND SO MUCH MORE. EVERY WEEK IN THE CHARLOTTE POST, DON’T MISS A SINGLE ISSUE. SUBSCRIBE TODAY SIMPLY PILL OUT THE FORM BELOW AND MAIL TO: ™E cfin«rc.f«4posT CHARLOTTE, N.C. 28230 PAYMENT OF $17:85 ENCLOSED . COPYRIGHT 1987 WINN-DIXIE CHARLOTTE, INC. America’s Supermaket. Quantity rights reserved Save Big During Winn-Dixie’s Gigantic... (u^s. choIceJ iW-D Brand U.S. Choice 1 Boneless !Rib Eye Steaks U.S.D.A. 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The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Jan. 29, 1987, edition 1
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