Revolutionary Black Liberation Leader in the U.S.
1925-1965
“In this year, 1965, I am certain that more – and worse- riots are going to erupt, in yet more cities, in spite of the conscience-salving Civil Rights Bill. The reason is that the cause of these riots – racist malignancy in the America – has been too long unattended.
I believe that it would be almost impossible to find anywhere in America a black man who has lived deeper down in the mud of human society than I have; or a black man who has been more ignorant than I have been; or a black man who has suffered more anguish in during life than I have. But it is only after the deepest darkness that the greatest joy can come; it is only after slavery and prison that the sweetest appreciation of freedom can come.
For the freedom of my 22 million black brothers and sisters here in America, I do believe that I fought the best that I knew how, and the best that I could, with the shortcomings that I have had.”
- Autobiography of Malcolm X
