Quote

If you're born in America with a black skin, you're born in prison, and the masses of black people in America today are beginning to regard our plight or predicament in this society as one of a prison inmate.

Malcolm X

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Malcolm X
Age: 39 †
Born: 1925
Born: May 19
Died: 1965
Died: February 21
Autobiographer
Human Rights Activist
Muslim Minister
Political Activist
Politician
Omaha
Nebraska
Malcolm Little
El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz
Malcolm Shabazz
Malachi Shabazz
Born
Masses
Black
Skin
America
Skins
Today
Prison
Inmate
People
Regard
Predicament
Mass
Predicaments
Beginning
Inmates
Society
Plight

More quotes by Malcolm X

Image
Nobody should teach the black man in America to turn the other cheek, unless someone is teaching the white man in America to turn the other cheek.
Malcolm X
Image
As long as the factories are in the hands of the whites, the housing is in the hands of the whites, the school system is in the hands of the whites, you have a situation where the blacks are constantly begging the whites can they use this or can they use that. That's not any kind of equality of opportunity, nor does it lend toward one's dignity.
Malcolm X
Image
Until the white man in America sits down and talks with The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, he won't even know what the race problem - what makes the race problem what it is.
Malcolm X
Image
Of all our studies, history is best qualified to reward our research. And when you see that you've got problems, all you have to do is examine the historic method used all over the world by others who have problems similar to yours. And once you see how they got theirs straight, then you know how you can get yours straight.
Malcolm X
Image
The Honorable Elijah Muhammad says number one, [Negro] must know - have a knowledge of himself. And this gives him confidence in himself. He - he has been brainwashed by the educational system that exists here in America to the point where he feels he was a savage in the jungle when he was - before he was brought here. And this destroys his morale.
Malcolm X
Image
In my recent travels into African countries and others, I was impressed by the importance of having a working unity among all peoples, black as well as white.
Malcolm X
Image
Who taught you to hate the color of your skin? Who taught you to hate the texture of your hair? Who taught you to hate the shape of your nose and the shape of your lips? Who taught you to hate yourself from the top of your head to the soles of your feet?
Malcolm X
Image
Time is on the side of the oppressed today, it's against the oppressor. Truth is on the side of the oppressed today, it's against the oppressor. You don't need anything else.
Malcolm X
Image
If the ballot doesn't work, we'll try something else. But let us try the ballot.
Malcolm X
Image
The Chinese in this country aren't asking for integration.
Malcolm X
Image
It's easy. [Black man] is - he's separate already. The fact that you have Harlem, the fact that you have the Negro ghetto and the so-called Negro slum, he's already separate.
Malcolm X
Image
In America you have the mouse now trying to sit down on the elephant, thinking that he's going somewhere. And it's - and it's absurd.
Malcolm X
Image
The government is responsible for the violence, as long as they don't stop it. And if we have to get violent to protect ourselves, then it's the government that should be charged with the crime, because we're only upholding a law that they've been unable to uphold.
Malcolm X
Image
I don't think you can having an opportunity to ride either on the front or the back or in the middle of someone else's bus doesn't dignify you.
Malcolm X
Image
The only difference between [America] and South Africa, South Africa preaches separation and practices separation, America preaches integration and practices segregation. This is the only difference, they don't practice what they preach, whereas South Africa practices and preaches the same thing.
Malcolm X
Image
I could see from this, that perhaps if white Americans could accept the Oneness of God, then perhaps, too, they could accept in reality the Oneness of Man - and cease to measure, and hinder, and harm others in terms of their differences in color.
Malcolm X
Image
How can you thank a man for giving you what's already yours?
Malcolm X
Image
What does a black man look like begging for a cup of coffee in a white restaurant, and doesn't have a job to back up his - to pay for it when, when - when he does get the coffee? It's putting the cart before the horse.
Malcolm X
Image
Everything that came out of Europe, every blue-eyed thing, is already an American. And as long as you and I have been over here, we aren't Americans yet.
Malcolm X
Image
One day, may we all meet together in the light of understanding.
Malcolm X