About On The Dig
2009
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Let me just jump right into it: a Facebook friend posted an update that read Malcolm is Bisexual. Get Over It. After I blinked and then squinted, I clicked on the link and I was directed to the Guardian where Peter Tatchell wrote a piece about Malcolm and the "history of his same-sex relations". You know, in honor of the UK's Black History Month, of course. Let me provide a sample of Tatchell's thoughts on our beloved icon:
"Perhaps it is unintentional but Black History Month sometimes feels like Straight Black History Month. Famous black LGBT people are not acknowledged and celebrated. Either their contribution to black history and culture is ignored or their sexuality is airbrushed out of their biographies.
A good example of this neglect is the denialism surrounding the bisexuality of one of the greatest modern black liberation heroes: Malcolm X. The lack of recognition is perhaps not surprising, given that some of his family and many black activists have made strenuous efforts to deny his same-sex relationships and suppress recognition of the full spectrum of his sexuality."
I'm not sure what to think. I certainly believe and advocate for the truth of people. I believe that men and women all fall under the category of complicated and layered human beings looking for balance and explanation and primal satisfaction, or not. I guess I'm saying that Malcolm could have had a life layered with a bisexual past. But I'm not so sure we should acknowledge him as a bisexual icon. One, Malcolm chose to marry a woman and have a traditional Nation of Islam family. He chose that. Two, Malcolm never, to my knowledge, mentioned a bisexual past to the public: The Nation of Islam doesn't condone pansexuality. Three, I think a person should be alive on the planet to determine or defend how they'd like to be defined, sexually. It's about self-definition, not the imposition of communal definition. No? I know, I'm a big fat idealist.
Most of Tatchell's outcry is inspired by Bruce Perry's 1991 biography, Malcolm - The Life of A Man Who Changed Black America. Many feel Perry's biography trumps the Alex Haley-scribed autobiography which Malcolm allegedly controlled content. Perry allegedly interviewed 420 people who knew Malcolm at some point in his life and revealed his layered past. In fact, Malcolm allegedly worked as a male sex worker some time in his teens, according to Perry's book. Mmm, I didn't know teenage sex workers were considered inspiring sexual icons. Look, I'm certainly not condoning the un-truth of people. I'm also not denying the possibility of a bisexual past in the phenomenal life of Malcolm X, but bisexual icon? Not so much. Maybe Tatchell should honor the UK's Black History Month by writing a piece on the fear of male sexuality in the black community?
Comments
tbw:
how many serial criminal, long-term incarcerated, street hustlers like "detroit red" do you know that have never had sex with men?
yes, i have read both classic tomes
have u?
both document malcolm's friendship with homosexuals and do not include any gaybashing on his behalf...
so?
see more at:
eloquent fury
http://aliciabanks.vox.com/
fyi,
ab
...Have U even READ dat book?
Or ARE U jus' repeatin' da SAME UNSUBSTANTIATED "author"-generated speculation dat dat guy did 2 sell a book?
We HAFTA wonder whether or not U read it b'cuz it IZ NOT "superbly documented" az U stated in yer blog entry.
It'z THIS kinda INNUENDO-mongering by people who TEND NOT 2 do their homework dat createz da problem K.J.A. referred 2 'bout Malcolm (or ANYone else NO LONGER ALIVE) NOT bein' here 2 represent hizself (themselvez) nor defend hiz (her)own hizstory/(herstory)!
Next thang U know Malcolm will end up bein' "appropriated" by people who NEVER bother'd 2 read HIZ wordz nor Alex Haley'z!
...ALL b'cuz a' some twit brit wantin' 2 make a buck...n' otha people wantin' 2 "create" gay heroes or sheroes...EVEN where there IZ NO PROOF!
It'z irresponsible writin', journalism, n' bloggin'. = \
N', Yes, We KNOW 'bout Eleanor Roosevelt n' OTHA document'd bi-/homosexualz...MANY a' whom HAVE BEEN Our S/heroez 4 QUITE SOME time!
http://theblackwhole.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/didnt-we-promise-u-102/
THINK about IT!
http://theblackwhole.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/26-good-hair-i-thought-chr...
Ain't hatin'...Jus' sayin'...
--TBW
P.S. U can follow Our FLOW n' BE in da KNOW @ Our New Twitter account @ www.twitter.com/theblackwhole69
the truth is its own defense...
What legacy would change if Malcolm was bisexual? What great speech would be suddenly silenced? How would Malcolm’s homosexuality have made Elijah Muhammad’s heterosexual hedonism wound Malcolm any less? Why can’t we gay blacks become and behold gay black heroes too?
We may never know if Malcolm was bisexual/gay/heterosexual. What we do know is that Malcolm adored and revered his regal and ebony skinned wife, Dr. Betty Shabazz. We know he was loving and faithful. We know that he doted on all of his daughters and never lamented not having a son. We also know that he was FAR more masculine, monogamous, fierce, brilliant, and brave than any of the trifling and insecure macho men who dare to bash him now.
see more:
http://aliciabanks.vox.com/library/post/malcolm-x-will-always-be-my-hero...
"Many feel Perry's biography trumps the Alex Haley-scribed autobiography which Malcolm allegedly controlled content."
I, a well read individual, never heard of the book before. I have always heard that Haley's novel was THE seminal work on Malcom X. Could you provide ANY CREDIBLE sources for this statement?
"Three, I think a person should be alive on the planet to determine or defend how they'd like to be defined, sexually."
And you're just reporting what you heard huh? Keith I'm not homophobic but as of lately it seems that The Root is pushing a pro-gay agenda. Nothing wrong with that but be upfront and honest with it.
About the Picture. When WNV hit the US I was living in NJ (It hit in NY) and was part of a team that started bleeding chickens to test fot the virus.
I am kind of found of them - they helped us track the disease
Our Sincere THANKZ 2 J.K.A.
We NEVER thought We'd EVER get a chance 2 address Our misgivingz about dat "book" inna public forum.
We REALLY LUV this site!
http://theblackwhole.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/26-good-hair-i-thought-chr...
http://theblackwhole.wordpress.com/2009/04/10/special-entry-sweet-52-my-...
= )
--TBW
P.S. We jus' happen 2 be wearin' a SPECIAL Malcolm X shirt We haven't worn in a ouple yearz dat haz reproductionz a' numerous notable quotez a' hiz n' famous photoz a' him (n' othaz...ike Muhammad Ali = ).
So We 'spoze this wuz MEANT 2 happen today!{ ( 8K
...n' made da MISTAKE a' purchasin' it (b'cuz da store wuz closin') when We SHOULD'VE jus' left it n' finish'd readin' it @ Border's on anotha day.
N' THIS iz comin' from someone who would have NO PROBLEM w/ Malcolm bein' bisexual...IF dat had REALLY been da case.
We WEREN'T EVEN CLOSE 2 bein' convinced.
It wuz filled w/ sooooo much UNSUBSTANTIATED speculation SOLELY on the part of the whiter (white "writer")...n' NOT jus' on Malcolm'z supposed bisexuality but ALSO on the firebombing of hiz home AND even hiz father'z murder at the hands of white supremacists...dat it jus' duzn't stand up 2 scrutiny.
NO thoughtfully critical reader could take it seriously.
It might az well have been written by the same loser who did dat biographical hatchet job on John Lennon a number a' yearz back.
We STILL mad dat We EVER put Our hard-earn'd $ in dat so-call'd "author's" grubby little pocket. = (
Prior 2 hiz work w/ NOI, Malcolm'z hustle wuz B&E/robbery...ABSOLUTELY NO RECORD of even bein' a male prostitute 2 make endz meet in them leaner dayz.
FYI: Ev'ryone who'z done a bid in prison DUZN'T engage in homosexual sex.
N' We can ASSURE U dat if he HAD been bisexual after joinin' forcez w/ da Nation, then dat gay boy j. smegma hoover and his goons in the f.b.i. would've attempt'd 2 TAR AND BESMIRCH dat Black man...jus' like they ATTEMPT'd 2 do w/ MLK, Jr. n' hiz NUMEROUS affairz w/ women otha than hiz wife.
U can find direct quotes from those g(oon)-men dat state dat Malcolm lived like a monk or ascetic...especially compared 2 Martin.
Soooo...We AIN'T buyin' into ANY a' this nonsense!
Again...this comez from someone who LIVEZ in da Oakland/Berkeley/sf Bay area...n' DEEPLY BELIEVEZ/KNOWZ dat da LGBT community haz EV'RY legal n' moral right 2 marry in this country!
No matter what nonsense some silly brit is tryin' 2 peddle now...Malcolm AIN'T ur man.
Get over it.
--TBW
P.S. U can follow Our FLOW n' Help SPREAD Da LUV'n TRUTH @ Our New Twitter account @ www.twitter.com/theblackwhole69
For an explaination into why figures in UK's Black history month are covered in homosexual rhetoric you must refer to the list of White people likes: #101 Being Offended , #88 Having Gay Friends, #17 Hating their Parents, and #14 Having Black Friends (see the full list)http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/
Because nobody was more offended, and hated White peoples parents more than Malcolm X. So in turn the logic is he would make a good friend and the best friend a White person can have; is gay!
KChristian's avatar reminds me of balut. Yum, yum!:http://www.slashfood.com/2009/02/03/interesting-things-i-have-eaten-balut/#
Never explored this so-called rumor since I thought it was pipe dreamin' or revisionist. I'd rather hear it from the horse's mouth or at least from the pasture first than some UK blogger, who already has an agenda.
...and yeah, these ads need to get deleted. I understand folks got to get paid somehow, but most of these articles have nothing to do with imitation fashion...LMAO!!!
PS
Apparently there are lots of great deals out there - but it does get tiresome having to get past these post to get to the real post.