Malcolm X and the Politics of Race
Malcolm X’s life represents an extraordinary evolution and transformation from street hustler and ex-con to an intellectual visionary with a race and class analysis. He went from being a narrow nationalist to incorporating a broad global perspective. He articulated a strong challenge to the system of power and privilege. Consequently, the FBI wiretapped Malcolm, read his mail, and kept him under surveillance. A riveting orator, he gave talks throughout the country, including his famous Ballot or the Bullet Speech. On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was gunned down at the Audubon Ballroom in West Harlem. This special program marks the centenary of his birth.
Speaker
Michael Eric Dyson
Michael Eric Dyson, a globally renowned scholar of race, religion and contemporary culture, is the Centennial Chair and University Distinguished Professor of African American and Diaspora Studies at Vanderbilt University. A dynamic speaker, he lectures widely. Among his many books are April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King’s Death and How it Changed America, Tears We Cannot Stop, Holler If You Hear Me: Searching for Tupac Shakur, Jay-Z: Made in America, Entertaining Race: Performing Blackness in America and Represent: The Unfinished Fight for the Vote.
thomas e shelanskey –
WOW. First, as a speaker, he is very entertaining. I was busy at work, and couldn’t stop listening. Second, the topic was amazingly insightful.
chris maciel –
I only heard part of this lecture but I have to say how good this speaker is: Thank You Michael Eric Dyson!
There are so many ideas expressed I could point to but I’ll have to listen to it again to get it straight.
What I want to emphasize is how great it is to hear a person of color express his ideas from his own perspective so that we can all hear what’s it like to be black in America.
We must have more of these conversation. We’ve been kept apart by fearmongering for too long.