What is the difference between the “black revolution” and the “Negro revolution”?
“I would like to make a few comments concerning the difference between the black revolution and the Negro revolution. Are they both the same? And if they are not, what is the difference?
What is the difference between the black revolution and the Negro revolution? First, what is a revolution? Sometimes I’m inclined to believe that many of our people are using the word “revolution” loosely, without taking careful consideration of what this word actually means, and what its historic characteristics are. When you study the historic nature of revolutions, the motive of the revolution, the object of the revolution, and the methods used in a revolution you may change words. You may devise another program, you may change your goal and you may change your mind.
Look at the American revolution in 1776. That revolution was for what? For land. Why did they want land? Independence. How was it carried out? Bloodshed. Number one, it was based on land, the basis of independence. And the only way they could get it was bloodshed. The French Revolution - what was it based on? The landless against the landlord. What was it for? Land. How did they get it? Bloodshed.
Was no love lost, was no compromise, was no negotiation. I’m telling you - you don’t know what a revolution is. Because when you find out what it is, you’ll get back in the alley, you’ll get out the way.
The Russian revolution - what was it based on? Land; the landless against the landlord. How did they bring it about? Bloodshed. You haven’t hot a revolution that doesn’t involve bloodshed. And you’re afraid to bleed. I said, you’re afraid to bleed.
Of all our studies, history is best qualified to reward research. And when you see that you’ve got problems, all you have to do is examine the historic method used all over the world by other who have problems similar to yours. Once you see how they got theirs straight, then you know how you can get yours straight...
...So, I cite these various revolutions, brothers and sisters, to show you that you don’t have a peaceful revolution. You don't have a turn-the-other-cheek revolution. There’s no such thing as a nonviolent revolution. The only kind of revolution that is nonviolent is the Negro revolution. It’s the only revolution in which the goal is a desegregated park, and a desegregated public toilet; you can sit down next to white folk - on the toilet. Thats no revolution. Revolution is based on land. Land is the basis of freedom, justice, and equality."
Malcolm X - Message to the Grassroots
Reflections: An Anthology of African American Philosophy
Montmarquet, J. A., & Hardy, W. H. (2000). Reflections An Anthology of African American Philosophy. http://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BA65356223
-Yogabrofessor
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