DEMOCRACY IS HYPOCRISY Speech-MALCOLM X скачать в хорошем качестве

DEMOCRACY IS HYPOCRISY Speech-MALCOLM X

I wanted to archive and share with you Malcolm X’s speech, in which he criticized U.S. government policies toward African Americans, and where the phraseplay “democracy is hypocrisy” later became a slogan for broader critiques of democracy. As an important figure in American political culture and the Black civil rights struggle, Malcolm X’s remarks remain significant. Although the speech focused primarily on discrimination against African Americans, it also provides crucial evidence for a broader argument that appears in diverse political perspectives: namely, the claim that democracy functions as a mask for ensuring the hegemony of certain groups (be they based on class, race, or interest). At this point, I would also like to briefly include Malcolm X’s life story, to highlight the identity of the speaker. Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little) was born on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska. He was the son of Earl Little, an African American activist involved in Marcus Garvey’s Pan-Africanist movement. Before Malcolm reached the age of nine, his father was killed in a racist attack and his mother was institutionalized due to psychological trauma, forcing Malcolm into a difficult early adulthood. He was subsequently placed in foster care. At a young age, Malcolm entered the world of crime and, in 1946, was sentenced to prison for burglary. His seven years in prison proved transformative, sparking an intellectual awakening. Through an intense commitment to reading, he adopted the name “X” to symbolize the loss of his ancestral African surname. As he explained to Alex Haley, his biographer, “X” embodied his rejection of old identities (“ex-slave,” “ex-thief,” “ex-Christian”). After his release in 1952, Malcolm joined the Nation of Islam and quickly rose to prominence due to his powerful oratory and charismatic presence. Between 1954 and 1960, he expanded the organization’s influence in Detroit, Boston, Philadelphia, and Harlem. By 1964, distancing himself from the Nation’s strict ideology, he converted to Sunni Islam, performed the Hajj, and changed his name to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. He then founded the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU), promoting unity and self-determination among African Americans. His political thought evolved toward a more inclusive advocacy for justice and equality within a composite American identity. However, on February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated in New York’s Audubon Ballroom; three members of the Nation of Islam were convicted for the killing. Malcolm X’s rhetorical power resonated worldwide, carrying messages of racial justice, freedom, and dignity. His autobiography, published posthumously in 1965, became a cornerstone text of Pan-Africanism and Black pride, cementing his role as a global symbol of resistance and liberation.