In this very important video, Malcolm X is talking about the importance of owning black businesses. Due to the legacy and history of African Americans being trained to work for whites, we are stuck in a cycle within which we’re taught to believe that our purpose for education or any other training is to get a white-owned company to hire us.

The challenge with this line of thinking is that it can easily lead our community down a path of treacherous dependence on white Americans to feed us, clothe us and take care of our children. We also shouldn’t be surprised when we find out that African Americans have the highest unemployment rate.

Malcolm X’s message hasn’t been promoted as much as that of Dr. King, but he’s equally important. In this speech, Malcolm begins by remininding African Americans of the importance of supporting black business. He also says that black people should teach themselves and their children to go into business as well, as a form of security for the African American community.

He says that by having our own businesses, we can create black employment rather than hoping that whites will do it for us. He says that we can then avoid “acting ignorantly and disgracefully,” boycotting white owned businesses for the chance to get them to hire us. His message makes sense now more than ever, and perhaps it’s time that we take this message seriously.

“Anytime you have to depend on your enemy for a job, you’re in bad shape,” he says on the interview.

You have to listen to it. Please tell us what you think.

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James