Breakdown:
- Introduction:
- Malcolm X was, to the speaker, the most important spokesperson for Black people in America.
- The speaker passionately agrees with everything Malcolm X stood for and believes his influence remains unmatched.
- The Irreplaceable Loss:
- The speaker is still deeply affected by Malcolm X’s death, feeling an overwhelming sense of loss and frustration that he is no longer here to lead and speak for the Black community.
- The pain of his absence is compounded by the belief that his death could have been prevented.
- Accountability and Blame:
- The speaker holds Black people partly responsible for Malcolm X’s death, as well as for the death of Martin Luther King Jr.
- The criticism lies in the lack of protection provided to these leaders. The speaker argues that while people followed Malcolm and Dr. King, they failed to protect them adequately, leaving them vulnerable.
- Willingness to Die but Not to Kill:
- The speaker highlights a troubling dynamic: many were willing to die for these leaders and their causes but were not willing to take the necessary steps to protect them from harm, including confronting those who threatened their lives.
- This inaction, according to the speaker, contributed to their assassinations.
- Frustration and Anger:
- Reflecting on the deaths of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. deeply upsets the speaker, invoking feelings of frustration and anger toward the Black community for not doing enough to protect them.
- The speaker’s disillusionment is so strong that it has influenced their decision not to live in the U.S., citing a lack of protection for Black leaders and figures.
- Conclusion:
- Malcolm X was a vital figure whose death represents a deep failure in the eyes of the speaker—a failure by the community to protect one of its greatest voices.
- The speaker’s emotional reflection calls for a recognition of the responsibility to safeguard those who fight for justice and equality, and laments the loss of leaders who were left vulnerable to violent opposition.