Blood line of leadership the son of Louise and Earl Little (Pt 3)

“However far the stream flows, it never forgets its source.”
Yoruba Proverb
When we look back at Malcolm’s early schedule, we will notice that he accomplished goals that would have been deemed impossible for any regular Black man. Malcolm was simultaneously the head minister in New York, Philadelphia, and Boston; he successfully accomplished this by using public transportation. Malcolm traveled by bus or train because the Nation of Islam didn’t provide him with a car until 1956.
While fulfilling his regular assignments and duties in New York, Malcolm taught at Philadelphia’s temple on Wednesdays and in Hartford, Connecticut, on Thursdays. From 1954 to 1955, he also spearheaded temples in Springfield, Massachusetts; Buffalo, New York; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Atlantic City, New Jersey; Newark, Delaware; and Miami, Florida.
Studying the history of Malcolm’s pioneering efforts unveils that he strategized to consolidate an East Coast union but also focused his exploration into the South and Midwest geographical regions as well as Richmond, Virginia, and Cleveland, Ohio.
When reading this article, Malcolm’s efforts may not sound like much, but when we try to calculate and compute the actual mileage that he covered, it seems absolutely incredible.
When Malcolm received his car in 1956, he put 30,000 miles on it in less than five months, which means that our brother traveled an average of 200 miles per day, which included the actual actions of his daily leadership duties on the ground.
During his travel on the buses and trains, Malcolm continuously and intently studied the many disciplines that he would eventually teach to the Black masses. Within all of his traveling, Malcolm’s leadership responsibilities included organizing, mobilizing, nurturing, administering, innovating, pastoring, and training the F.O.I. (Fruit of Islam) which was the military wing of the Nation of Islam.
We also have to take into consideration that Malcolm visited Chicago at least once a month to give reports and monthly monetary collections to Elijah Muhammad.
History teaches us that in 1957, there were 27 temples. By 1959, there were 49 temples, an estimated 40,000 members, and countless supporters and sympathizers.
The similarities of dedication and commitment to uplifting our people between Malcolm and his parents, Louise and Earl Little, are incredible. Malcolm’s parents were true believers in the teachings of Marcus Garvey. They would work hard and diligently through the organization of the UNIA. Malcolm would eventually grasp and accept the teachings of Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm also worked hard to organize his people through the organization of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm was only six years old when his father Earl, was killed by a white racist mob in 1931. He would never forget the early teachings of Black Nationalism and spending time with the Garveyites with whom his parents were acquainted. Malcolm was 14 years old when he and his siblings parted with their mother, Louise, in 1939. She would be placed in a mental hospital for the next 24 years. On November 12, 1963, Malcolm’s mother would be released into the warm and extended arms of her son Philbert, his wife, and children.
Ten days after Louise’s release, in Dallas, Texas, John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was assassinated. Malcolm was 38 years old and at the pinnacle of his journey with the Nation of Islam. Concerning the assassination, he would make the public controversial statement about ‘chickens coming home to roost’ concerning karma.
Malcolm’s mother, Louise, was a very independent-thinking and proud Black woman. From her early days in the Caribbean, Canada, and throughout her entire adult life, she found it very difficult to ask people for help. She was determined to never become a burden, especially after her husband’s murder.
Malcolm and his siblings would be taught about Marcus Garvey and Black Nationalism for eight years in the Little household. Mamma Louise came face to face with the hardship of her husband Earl’s unexpected cold murder. After his death, the state of Michigan did not award Louise any compensation. The blatant lie of suicide rendered Louise and her family ineligible to receive any financial support. Even as she struggled as a widower, Louise continued to pour and teach the fundamental philosophy and opinions of Marcus Garvey to her children before they would become wards of the state. All of the Little children were equipped with the tools to deal with any challenges or adversity that would come upon them for the rest of their lives.
Long before he accepted the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm had within him a powerful Black nationalist constitution that he would refine and eventually project to the entire African world!
Khabyr Hadas is a teacher at Harambee Institute of Science and Technology Charter School, founded by Baba John Skeif in 1972. He is a graduate of Cheyney University, the author of numerous books on African history and culture, and the Director of the Marcus Garvey Archive and History Foundation (M.G.A.H.F.). khabyrhadas@gmail.com 267.531.8789