Honouring Malcolm X on the 100th anniversary of his birth
AS we mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Malcolm X, born on May 19, 1925, we pause not only to honour his legacy but also to reflect on the enduring power of his message.
Malcolm X was a bold voice for black dignity, justice, and self-determination — one whose words still resonate in our ongoing struggle for racial equality.
Often misunderstood or mischaracterised, Malcolm X was more than just a fierce critic of white supremacy. He was also a thinker deeply rooted in the black radical tradition and whose philosophy shared striking similarities with that of Marcus Garvey. Both men believed that the liberation of black people required a powerful affirmation of racial identity — one that transcended religious differences.
TRAORÉ… has reignited the spirit of sovereignty and dignity that Garvey and Malcolm championed (Photo: AFP)
GARVEY… built a global movement around the idea of Pan-Africanism and black pride,
While Garvey, a Christian, built a global movement around the idea of Pan-Africanism and black pride, Malcolm X, a Muslim, called for black unity and self-reliance in the face of systemic oppression. For both leaders, racial identity was not secondary to faith — it was foundational. They recognised that in a world that dehumanised black people across continents and creeds, race had become the unifying force of resistance and empowerment.
Their messages were clear: Before we are anything else, we are black — and we must love, protect, and uplift ourselves as such.
Today, Burkina Faso’s young revolutionary leader Ibrahim Traoré stands in that tradition. As Africa continues to resist neocolonialism Traoré has reignited the spirit of sovereignty and dignity that Garvey and Malcolm championed. He speaks not just as a president, but as a Pan-Africanist, rejecting foreign exploitation and calling for African solutions to African problems.
Malcolm X’s centennial is not just a remembrance, it is a call to action. As Traoré and others pick up the mantle, the legacy of black pride, unity, and global solidarity lives on, proving that the struggle continues — and so does the vision.
Africans for Africans, at home and abroad — then, now, and always.
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