In preparation of the upcoming annual Omowale Malcolm X Observance on Umoja-day (Sun) 25th February from 1pm to 6pm at the Chestnuts Community Centre, 280 St. Anne’s Road, London, N15 5BN, we explore the last year of the Eminent Prophet and King’s life – woefully misunderstood, if not misrepresented – to identify what positions he was taking.
The theme on the 25th is Omowale: Waging the Cultural Revolution delivered by ShakaRa which will be part two of his tour de force message at Shumira (Omowale & The Vision of Freedom) earlier this month.
“Cultural Revolution” is exactly was Omowale Malcolm X proscribed through the charter of the Organization of Afro American Unity (OAAU), guided by the likes of Baba John Henrik Clarke. (1) This was founded on the principles of “Self-determination, National unity, Restoration (of communications with Africa), Reorientation, Education, Economic security and Self-defense”:
“Upon this establishment, the Afro-American people will launch a cultural revolution which will provide the means for restoring our identity that we might rejoin our brothers and sisters on the African continent, culturally, psychologically, economically, and share with them the sweet fruits of freedom from oppression and independence of racist governments.” (2)
Alas, the assassination of Prophet Omowale, meant that he was unable to see this agenda through, but the die was cast and the ideas of the OAAU and similar nationalist groups like Carlos Cooks’ African Nationalist Pioneer Movement (ANPM) and later Maulana Karenga’s Us organisation put what became known as ‘Cultural Nationalism’ in the public sphere. (3)
Not all activists were enamoured with this philosophy. The more left leaning groups like the Black Panther Party for Self-Defence dismissed cultural nationalism as “Black racism” and “pork chop nationalism,” suggesting that it is at best superficial and at worst counter-revolutionary. (4) This opposition was not restricted to the USA. In the UK it was characterised as “the small minority of blacks who believe in the ‘back-to-Africa’ idea, or nonsense like hating the white man. These elements represent the ass-hole end of black politics.” (5)
Presumably, the dissenter’s approach is to advocate alliances with others. The problem with this is that these others are becoming increasingly radicalised in their far-right ideology, with the tacit approval of populist governments and political parties with their so-called “anti-woke” agendas. (6)
Moreover, there’s every evidence they are initiating their children into the same worldview as we see from cases like the murder of 13 year-old Christopher Kapessa by a 14 year-old fellow pupil, the attack on Princess A by a gang of thugs outside Thomas Knyvett College or the thousands of recorded racist incidents in English schools, all indicating limited scope for ally-ship. (7)
It needs stating that what both the OAAU and the ANPM among others were trying to do was simply fulfill the legacy of the Most Eminent Prophet and King, His Excellency Marcus Mosiah Garvey who built the largest mass movement of its kind in history. (8) Yet this aspect of Malcolm X’s legacy receives rather less attention that it deserves, while Carlos Cooks remains unknown to most. This has left the way open for their detractors to advance their approach and now we must assess the progress they have made.
(1) A Peter Bailey (2013) Witnessing Brother Malcolm X:The Master Teacher – A Memoir. Llumina Press. p. 20-2
(2) Haki Kweli Shakur (28/06/16) Program of The Organization of Afro-American Unity. https://newafrikan77.wordpress.com/2016/06/28/program-of-the-organization-of-afro-american-unity/
(3) Nab Eddie Bobo (1995) Carlos Cooks: African Nationalism’s Missing Link in Klytus Smith and Abiola Sinclair (Eds) The Harlem Cultural/Political Movements 1960-1970: From Malcolm X to “Black is Beautiful” Gumbs & Thomas Publishers Inc. p. 23-4; Bayyinah S. Jeffries (20/11/20) Prioritizing Black Self-Determination: The Last Strident Voice of Twentieth-Century Black Nationalism. https://www.mdpi.com/2313-5778/4/4/110
(4) Seale, Bobby (1970) Seize The Time: The Story of The Black Panther Party and Huey P Newton. Black Classic Press, p 271; David Bliven and Alan Maass (03/11/16) The revolutionary legacy of the Black Panthers. http://socialistworker.org/2016/11/03/revolutionary-legacy-of-the-black-panthers
(5) Desmond Hunt (1981) An interview with Linton Kwesi Johnson, The Other Side ‘zine, https://standupandspit.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/linton-kwesi-johnson-1981/
(6) Searchlight Team (25/07/23) Far-right terror cases undermine Shawcross report. https://www.searchlightmagazine.com/2023/07/far-right-terror-cases-undermine-shawcross-report/; The artucle states that Far-right terrorist convictions have grown more than 15-fold since 2016, Nels Abbey (09/09/22) Liz Truss’s ‘diverse’ Cabinet will wage a culture war unlike any other. https://inews.co.uk/opinion/liz-truss-diverse-cabinet-culture-war-unlike-any-other-1836651; PA News Agency (10/02/23) Hostile environment policy review finds disproportionate impact on people of colour. https://www.saffronwaldenreporter.co.uk/news/national/23312967.hostile-environment-policy-review-finds-disproportionate-impact-people-colour/
(7) Philip Dewey (23/01/24) Coroner finds boy who drowned in river, Christopher Kapessa, was deliberately pushed. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/live-updates-family-christopher-kapessa-28407708; Sam Elliott-Gibbs, Melissa Sigodo & Richard Blackledge (11/02/23) Teachers who watched ‘racist attack’ outside Surrey school ‘should be sacked’, says victim’s relative. https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/teachers-who-watched-racist-attack-26205952; Saskia Rowlands (11/02/23) EXCLUSIVE: More than 7,000 pupils suspended over racist attacks, including N-word taunts. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/more-7000-pupils-suspended-over-29194306
(8) Tony Martin (1983) Marcus Garvey, Hero. The Majority Press. p. 161
we ask the question
What is a “Cultural Revolution”?
1) Is ‘Cultural Nationalism’ part of the “Cultural Revolution”
2) Is ‘Cultural Nationalism’ “Black racism”?
3) Is ally-ship the best approach for our liberation?
4) Why does the OAAU element of Malcolm X’s legacy receive so little attention?
5) Is there a connection between ‘Cultural Nationalism’ and Garveyism?
Our Special Guests:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of over 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.