Malcolm XMalcolm X

Sacred discontent?Sacred discontent?

ChronologyChronology Early life: born 1925Early life: born 1925

Father killed in 1931Father killed in 1931 Mother institutionalized in 1937Mother institutionalized in 1937 Went to Boston ca. 1940, then NY in 1943Went to Boston ca. 1940, then NY in 1943

Prison (1946-52)Prison (1946-52) Converted to Nation of Islam in 1948Converted to Nation of Islam in 1948

Minister for Nation of Islam (1953-64)Minister for Nation of Islam (1953-64) Broke from Nation (1964)Broke from Nation (1964)

Hajj to Mecca (1964)Hajj to Mecca (1964) Assassinated 1965Assassinated 1965

Compare to MLKCompare to MLK

Lived 1929-68Lived 1929-68 1948: graduated from Morehouse 1948: graduated from Morehouse

CollegeCollege 1951: received M.Div. from seminary1951: received M.Div. from seminary 1953: accepted first pastoral 1953: accepted first pastoral

positionposition

QuestionsQuestions

How and why does Malcolm critique How and why does Malcolm critique Christianity?Christianity?

How does the Nation of Islam promote How does the Nation of Islam promote justice, according to Malcolm?justice, according to Malcolm?

Why does Malcolm embrace global Why does Malcolm embrace global Islam and reject the Nation of Islam? Islam and reject the Nation of Islam?

How does global Islam develop How does global Islam develop Malcolm’s beliefs about race and Malcolm’s beliefs about race and justice?justice?

Critique of ChristianityCritique of Christianity

Why do people different from Malcolm Why do people different from Malcolm (Anglos, African American Christians) (Anglos, African American Christians) want to hear his critique?want to hear his critique? Doctrines vs. deedsDoctrines vs. deeds

Unity in Christ vs. Unity in Christ vs. Support for status quoSupport for status quo Enculturation: How was Christianity adapted Enculturation: How was Christianity adapted

to Euro-American culture?to Euro-American culture? Visual imageryVisual imagery Role of experience in theologyRole of experience in theology Religion always requires contemporary interpretationReligion always requires contemporary interpretation

JusticeJustice

What is Malcolm’s vision of justice?What is Malcolm’s vision of justice? Cone’s words: strict, sternCone’s words: strict, stern Biblical basis “Lex talionis”Biblical basis “Lex talionis”

How does this compare to MLK?How does this compare to MLK?

Global (authentic) IslamGlobal (authentic) Islam

Why did Malcolm embrace Islam? Why did Malcolm embrace Islam? How does he describe its vision of justice and race? How does he describe its vision of justice and race? Why, according to him, does it provide the solution?Why, according to him, does it provide the solution?

What is the grounding within Islam for What is the grounding within Islam for promoting racial equality?promoting racial equality? Quran 49:13: “O mankind! We created you from a Quran 49:13: “O mankind! We created you from a

single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other).”other (not that ye may despise (each other).”

HistoryHistory

Martin and Malcolm: Martin and Malcolm: Correctives?Correctives?

What is the difference between a What is the difference between a corrective and a complement?corrective and a complement?

Cone: in context of white oppression of Cone: in context of white oppression of blacks for 400 years in America, the blacks for 400 years in America, the idea that God is black is “a necessary idea that God is black is “a necessary corrective against the powers of corrective against the powers of domination” (160).domination” (160).

How is Malcolm X a corrective to MLK?How is Malcolm X a corrective to MLK? How is MLK a corrective to Malcolm X?How is MLK a corrective to Malcolm X?

““Faith doing justice”Faith doing justice” Jesuit principle, esp. in their universitiesJesuit principle, esp. in their universities How do Malcolm’s and Martin’s How do Malcolm’s and Martin’s

approaches to justice suggest:approaches to justice suggest: A “sacred discontent” (A “sacred discontent” (Davita’s HarpDavita’s Harp)) A course of actionA course of action A critique of actionA critique of action

What place should nonviolence have?What place should nonviolence have? Cone’s conclusion: what remains to be Cone’s conclusion: what remains to be

done, for those who in faith seek justice? done, for those who in faith seek justice?