Malcolm X did not play when it came to educating our children, and he didn’t hold back when he described how Black people are left out of history as downright criminal! What was his vision for our schools?
#1: Black Educators & Administrators
“We want Afro-American principals to head these schools. We want Afro-American teachers in these schools. Meaning we want [B]lack principals and [B]lack teachers with some textbooks about [B]lack people.”
#2: Controlling Our Education
“We must establish all over the country schools of our own to train our own children to become scientists, to become mathematicians. We must realize the need for adult education and for job retraining programs…”
#3: Self-Determination
“We must unite our efforts and spread our program of self improvement through education to every Afro-American community in America.”
Malcolm X’s words remind us of one thing: We can't be content with our oppressors educating us and our children. Education is crucial to Black liberation. Like Malcolm X, we have to reject white supremacist teachings and educate our communities through our own efforts!