Malcolm X

OK, I have to admit that I'm no expert on Malcolm X. But a few months ago I watched the movie Malcolm X and agree or disagree with his politics, you have to admit that Malcolm X was a great leader. Actually, after watching the movie I had something of a paradigm shift. In all of my history classes in school, Malcolm X was always mentioned merely as a radical counterpoint to the more "reasonable" Martin Luther King. This is beside the point, and I couldn't nearly give his legacy justice in just one blog article. So please visit The Official Web Site of Malcolm X for more information about the man.

Again, stripping aside all politics, we can learn much from Malcolm X's leadership.

First of all, he kept to a solid set of core values. He was a converted Muslim and stuck to a strict moral code. He had integrity. In the movie FBI agents monitoring Malcolm's hotel room made the off the cuff remark that he was like a monk compared to Martin Luther King (referencing King's extra-marital affairs vs. Malcolm's late nights spent reading).

He also had a significant purpose and clear picture of a future that he wanted. He turned ideas into a compelling vision that, combined with his personal charisma, attracted many people to his (and the Nation of Islam's) cause.

Malcolm X epitomized the servant leader. He surely was controversial in his ideas, but he worked first to educate his followers on why he felt his vision was the right one. He worked to give his followers what they needed (self knowledge, self respect, independence...) And he did this all without trying to line his pockets with the money of his followers, like other "leaders" in the Nation of Islam were.

It's just a shame that Malcolm's life was cut short, soon after he had changed his thoughts about racial integration. We will never know what his passion, integrity, and unyielding energy and commitment could have done for the benefit of race relations in America. We can only hope to take a small part of what we have learned from him and to use it to do our part to improve the world we live in.

Please, reserve comments on Malcolm X's politics for another forum, but all comments on leadership as always are welcome and appreciated.

Until Next Time,
-Jason