Why Malcolm X is even more significant 60 years post his assassination

Malcolm X was the controversial yet magnetic visage of Black Nationalism and an advocate for the Nation of Islam before he was shot at an event in New York City on Feb. 21, 1965, after parting ways with the organization.

In a recently released book, “The Afterlife of Malcolm X: An Outcast Turned Icon’s Enduring Impact on America” (2025), journalist Mark Whitaker ’79 investigates how the contentious Civil Rights figure’s importance and cultural legacy have only intensified since his passing.

With stunning verbal elegance, Malcolm X’s promotion of Black self-determination and racial pride inspired many of his peers, including Muhammad Ali, John Coltrane, Maya Angelou, and the founders of the Black Panther Party, whilst also helping to ignite the Black Arts Movement and the innovative genre known as “Free Jazz.”

Whitaker indicates that even decades later, Malcolm X’s words and philosophies continue to inspire new generations of artists and activists, including NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, playwright August Wilson, filmmaker Spike Lee, pop star Beyoncé, and rappers Tupac Shakur and Kendrick Lamar, among others.

Whitaker recently conversed with the Gazette regarding why Malcolm X continues to influence American culture. The dialogue has been refined for clarity and brevity.

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You assert that Malcolm X’s cultural impact is now even more profound than during his lifetime. What accounts for this?

It begins with “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” [co-written with Alex Haley]. Many more individuals, even in the ’60s but certainly afterward, became acquainted with him through “The Autobiography” rather than any other source. It’s a remarkable book. There’s a reason it’s one of the most read and impactful texts of the past fifty years. Few books by public figures of his caliber allow you to experience the extraordinary personal journey he undertook, from the loss of his parents at an early age to his life as a street hustler and his time in prison, eventually transforming his existence through the Nation of Islam, becoming a national figure, but later growing disillusioned with the Nation and Elijah Muhammad, striking out independently, making a pilgrimage to Mecca, traversing the globe, reevaluating all of his thoughts and beliefs regarding white individuals and segregation and more. That is truly remarkable.

One of the intriguing aspects is that he consistently gets rediscovered by successive generations of youth. I believe he resonated with young individuals for numerous reasons. One is that the reality of race he articulated was nearer to what they were observing compared to the “I Have a Dream” address.

There was a pragmatic realism in his interpretation of racial dynamics that resonated with young people. Before even addressing politics, he emphasized psychology, pride, self-belief, and culture. The conviction that Black individuals needed to begin by commemorating themselves, their culture, and their history was tremendously appealing to later generations.

I also think there was something unique about his manner of expression. There’s a reason that hip-hop pioneers found that snippets of his speeches could be woven into their raps seamlessly. There was a level of directness, incisiveness, and authenticity in his communication.

Combining these factors — his pragmatic analysis, his focus on culture, self-belief, and pride, along with his exceptional communication skills — each new generation discovers and recognizes the potency of these elements.

Many significant Black artists, writers, musicians, and activists from that era either had a personal connection with Malcolm X or claimed to have a revelation of sorts after hearing him speak. What do you think contributes to this?

A part of it was his strong conviction that politics is a reflection of culture. That was a principle he ardently believed in and preached.

Interestingly, his parents were Black nationalists from the Marcus Garvey era. Followers of Marcus Garvey from their time essentially argued that conditions for Black people in America were so dire that they needed to relocate, whether to Africa or the Caribbean. There was this notion of a Black homeland that everyone would embark on ships to reach.

Malcolm explicitly stated, “We are a nation, but we belong here.” In his perspective, the manner in which Black individuals should practice nationalism is by remaining in America while demanding their own culture, which initiates with learning about their own history. During his era of separatism, it was essential to establish our own support networks. He was a strong advocate for Black-owned businesses by and for Black people. This was as much a cultural initiative as it was a political one.

He lived during a time when much of Black culture, despite being distinct from white culture, sought to mimic white culture. Many of the societies and rituals were merely Black interpretations of white customs. He asserted, “That’s a form of brainwashing. We shouldn’t aspire to be like white people. We ought to create our own culture.”

So,
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Commencing with the Black Arts Movement and the “Free Jazz” movement in the ’60s, followed by the hip-hop generation and contemporary artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé, all the remarkable talents who continue to evoke his legacy, that is the essence they are resonating with in addition to his political stance.

There exists an undeniable self-assuredness about him that resonates with individuals. He was unapologetically his true self. He advocated for Black pride and related themes with such profound grace, confidence, and wit. That is perpetually enticing.

One section examines Malcolm X as an icon for both the political left and right. President Barack Obama has mentioned how impactful the autobiography was for him during his youth, while Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has articulated his admiration for Malcolm X and his message of self-determination during his college years. Few political or cultural figures in contemporary times possess that level of allure. What do you believe accounts for that?

Individuals on the left who hold Malcolm X in high esteem were aghast that Clarence Thomas would declare him a hero as well, feeling that Thomas selectively highlighted the aspects of his message that suit him — focusing on Black entrepreneurship, skepticism toward integration, and so on. I invested a considerable amount of time researching that chapter, engaging not with Thomas directly, but with his clerks and those who have written about his fascination with Malcolm X, and I believe it was genuine.

Malcolm X was an advocate for truth. I’m not convinced he aimed to be an icon for white individuals. He often expressed sentiments such as, “I would rather confront the white racist who is transparent about his views than the white liberal who is untrustworthy.” And as we observe today, individuals gravitate toward those who oppose their adversaries.

Would Malcolm X be astonished to find that his influence endures?

It’s a complex task for biographers to speculate on what he might have thought. It’s somewhat presumptuous, yet one noteworthy point is that those who followed him at the time proclaimed that his message and impact would transcend his lifetime. Actor Ossie Davis expressed this in his eulogy, stating, “What we place into the ground now is merely a seed that will rise to greet us.”

Sociologist Harry Edwards, when coordinating a Malcolm X day at San Jose State — this followed a year after King’s assassination — encountered skepticism: “Why all this commotion about Malcolm X instead of King?” To which Harry Edwards responded, the essence of Malcolm X lies not just in his actions during his life, but in the inspiration he ignited in others, which will persist. There’s an enduring quality to Malcolm that still resonates through his influence on countless individuals.

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