MALCOLM X - inaugural Organization Of Afro American Unity speech

[richardmurray]

Does the Black populace in the United States of America today, 2026, need an organization like what Malcolm suggested, the OAAU? What lessons would Malcolm learn from the Organization of African Unity that he didn't witness after his murder? 

#midnighthour 

 

[ProfD]

On 2/23/2026 at 7:21 PM, richardmurray said:

Does the Black populace in the United States of America today, 2026, need an organization like what Malcolm suggested, the OAAU?

Yes. It would give Black folks a platform. 

 

On 2/23/2026 at 7:21 PM, richardmurray said:

What lessons would Malcolm learn from the Organization of African Unity that he didn't witness after his murder? 

A whole lot of those young Black people to whom he was speaking back in the early 1960s grew up to 1) sell out, 2) live in fear & 3) take comfort under the system of racism white supremacy.

[richardmurray]

@ProfD 

1 hour ago, ProfD said:

Yes. It would give Black folks a platform. 

 

well ok, but what will be the goal? Malcolm cited the points. And from them, he states a number of goals. 

1) communication channel with africa, which makes sense cause chinese/dominicans/puerto ricans/jews with israel/indians/russians/ghanaians/agnlo saxon protestant whites.... all but one  immigrant group in the usa willingly came from another land they constantly communicated with. The problem is our forebears were enslaved, the link was cut. And as said non Black DOS  groups prove, the link is very grassroots, it isn't a grandiose. You leave china, your cousin and mom are still there. It isn't fancy.

2) becoming more learned about Africa, I argue this has been done. Can it be more? yes, but the goal can't be one hundred percent with over fifty million people. But libraries, private libraries still exist in the usa, they exist in NYC. 

3) Textbooks written by black folk, it is hilarious to me, I asked in this very forum, for us all to work together on a history book project and... I will not name names, but the interest wasn't present. if a set of black people online who all tout black empowerment can't... 

4) a bank, the freedmans bank existed but it failed, carver bank is still in existence but boutique. 

5)A self defense organization or culture needs to be made. 

 

Of the five goals, only one can make money on its own. The other four are all expenses.

1) Communication channels require money/resources. The usa has spent alot of money on underwater physical lines . Satellites are in themselves cheap but placing them and their upkeep is expensive. 

2) libraries are expensive. Through the self reliance this library will have to be private, which is not unheard of today but will be expensive. Location matters to. 

3)Textbooks are expensive. Ebooks people can is less expensive, but they forget the devices to read them are not inexpensive, and more likely to weaken/wither  over time than a book. 

5) weapons cost money, especially if you are to fabricate yourself.  yes mass market weapons are cheap cause the market is flooded, but to truly make a gun from scratch in bulk will be expensive. 

 

So of the plans he mentioned, 4 is the one, that can actually make money on its own and isn't a natural expense. 

The problem today is most of the banks in the usa of largest size all had corrupt origins. Chase is the rockefellers, who used it for various things. black people dont have a rockkefeller family to finance a bank. Bank of america was originally financed by the italian american mob. Black people don't have an illegal fiscal operating industry like that. Hang Seng banking corporation comes from hong kong which at one time was the opium capitol of the world, and had primary fiscal trafficking in and out of china. Big banks have very dirty histories. Small banks, rarely have the scale to do much. The only bank that went to jail/court  for the banking crisis was a small bank from new york city, a chinese american bank ,, whose main clients were the street vendors in chinatown. and by my recollection they never traded in the shadow crypto banks like goldman sachs and company who begged for a welfare check, far worse than any fiscally poor black woman ever did,  while not being demanded to change their operating procedures, or welfare to work. 

 

What do you think the goal should be?  And yes, a goal must be. 

I Argue, the goal should be one thing only. A black party of governance in the usa. My reason being is the reason I have supported this idea alone in the usa for black people for a while. When I look at the history of Black DOSers everything has been tried financially. Any financial goal is merely a repeat of something already tried and after two hundred and fifty years, I argue trying is being hard headed, not wise. But, doing something you never did before is even in failure a new experience, that will teach something you have no experience in. 

I say a black party of governance is the best goal for such an OAAU if existed.

 

1 hour ago, ProfD said:

A whole lot of those young Black people to whom he was speaking back in the early 1960s grew up to 1) sell out, 2) live in fear & 3) take comfort under the system of racism white supremacy.

hmmmm

your answer here generates many questions. I will take it in parts.

 

1) define selling out explicitly? I think selling out needs specific definition because non blacks live in the usa, they are not going away. What does selling out mean, exactly? buying from a non black store? going into business partnership with non blacks? marrying a non black? I think we blacks leave the definition of such things open, going back to that textbook malcolm talked about and it will lead to problems down the road. cause what happens when the head of human resources for the OAAU wants to marry a white woman? Sellig out being described explictly today , makes the scenarios tomorrow easier to handle. 

2) when you say fear what do you mean? I  have never been afraid among my own people. I have seen some blacks talk about the neighborhood in fear but in my mind, that isn't fear, that is dislike. It is complicated when you dislike your own people but you can't move away from them, it is easier then to tout dislike. 

3) well .. what defines comfort? It seems to me what you mean by comfort is black people who have reached a certain financial level who aren't engaging in the greater village. I have seen fiscally poor people in or out of the united sates of america and I have found no fiscal poor person anywhere to be comfortable. Living on the street is not comfortable. Living day to day is not comfortable. Now maybe I simply don't comprehend what you mean by comfort or what group you are talking about explicitly, but I will like to be enlightened. 

 

But based on your three points. 

The questions are, how does an OAAU, prevent members or exmembers or non members in the black populace in the usa from[ however you define the following] : selling out, living in fear, taking comfort while oppressed? 

 

[ProfD]

3 hours ago, richardmurray said:

well ok, but what will be the goal?

Black empowerment & reparations for the original sin of slavery.

 

3 hours ago, richardmurray said:

3) Textbooks written by black folk...

Technology changes the way information is stored & accessed.

 

Black folks are walking around with devices that provide immediate access to information & knowledge.

 

3 hours ago, richardmurray said:

4) a bank, the freedmans bank existed but it failed, carver bank is still in existence but boutique. 

I've always been a huge proponent of Black-owned banks.

 

3 hours ago, richardmurray said:

5)A self defense organization or culture needs to be made. 

Another very important institution of which I'm a huge proponent.

 

I also believe Black folks should be proficient in self-defense & weapons training.

 

Black folks don't seem to have a problem buying technology or weapons by any means necessary. 

 

3 hours ago, richardmurray said:

The problem today is most of the banks in the usa of largest size all had corrupt origins.

Black folks do not have to be corrupt in order to generate wealth.

 

We can use our natural gifts, talents, knowledge, skills & abilities to harvest wealth.

 

3 hours ago, richardmurray said:

 What do you think the goal should be?

Black empowerment, self-sufficiency & autonomy. 

 

3 hours ago, richardmurray said:

1) define selling out explicitly?

Undermining Black empowerment & promoting white supremacy.

 

3 hours ago, richardmurray said:

 2) when you say fear what do you mean?

Fear of dismantling the system of white supremacy.

 

3 hours ago, richardmurray said:

3) well .. what defines comfort?

An unwillingness to fight the system of white supremacy. 

3 hours ago, richardmurray said:

But based on your three points. 

The questions are, how does an OAAU, prevent members or exmembers or non members in the black populace in the usa from[ however you define the following] : selling out, living in fear, taking comfort while oppressed? 

An organization becomes like a fist. It is more powerful than individual fingers. The strength in numbers makes people stronger.

 

Collectively sharing gifts, talents, knowledge, skills & abilities & a willingness to fight leads to power.

 

Therein lies the reason a great deal of effort goes into discouraging Black unity. The enemy already knows the outcome.

[richardmurray]

@ProfD

1 hour ago, ProfD said:

Black empowerment & reparations for the original sin of slavery.

When  the OAAU finishes its job, what does black empowerment look like and what doesn't it look like? Or are you suggesting OAAU need be in perpetuity which is dysfunctional. 

When will you be satisfied reparations is given? A goal has to have a moment where it is realized and that means what is as well as what isn't. What isn't reparations in your view?

1 hour ago, ProfD said:

Technology changes the way information is stored & accessed.

 

Black folks are walking around with devices that provide immediate access to information & knowledge.

BAsed on malcolms points I argue those devices aren't what malcolm was talking about. Did black people make those devices? did black people make the ground lines and satellite networks to carry signals to and fro those devices? do black people own the data storage locations to create the apperance of seamless instant connection. Did black people design the protocol/rules system for the data? The black empowerment you mentioned first, where does that exist with black people using devices designed/created/manufactured by nonblacks?

1 hour ago, ProfD said:

I've always been a huge proponent of Black-owned banks.

 

Do you use one? Which is the best black bank in the usa in your opinion?

 

1 hour ago, ProfD said:

Another very important institution of which I'm a huge proponent.

 

I also believe Black folks should be proficient in self-defense & weapons training.

 

Black folks don't seem to have a problem buying technology or weapons by any means necessary. 

well... would weapons/training saved, abner louima? would weapons/training saved emitt till or trayvon martin? would weapons/training saved eric garner or randy evers or sandra bland or breonna taylor or sonya massey? Even the white militants don't fare well against law enforcement, so how can black people attacked by white law enforcers be better off with weapons or training? 

1 hour ago, ProfD said:

Black folks do not have to be corrupt in order to generate wealth.

 

We can use our natural gifts, talents, knowledge, skills & abilities to harvest wealth.

Certain levels of wealth can't be obtained absent cheating/ corruption/illegality/crime/ or whatever you want to call it. Again, the financial history of the usa is the proof. No one of a certain level of wealth in the usa didn't get there without a legal, I repeat legal crime./injuries to others. And the law can't protect from fiscal legal crimes, which can attack in the upper levels of finance. 

1 hour ago, ProfD said:

Black empowerment, self-sufficiency & autonomy. 

 

Self sufficiency defined as what? All the land in the usa is owned, and mostly owned by whites or owned by state governments who are dominated by whites. So, that means any idea of self sufficiency for circa fifty three million people will have a huge overhead cost that will undercut fiscal growth. It is going backwards to go forwards. Very expensive and taking into account random situations will be a very long term program which doesn't help. Autonomy? please define this. 

 

1 hour ago, ProfD said:

Undermining Black empowerment & promoting white supremacy.

 

 what actions can a black person do that do not undermine black empowerment? What actions can black people do that don't promote white supremacy? 

 

1 hour ago, ProfD said:

Fear of dismantling the system of white supremacy.

 

Does this fear apply to black people who don't feel afriad while don't feel the need to act in a way that your OAAU would deem fearful?

 

if a black man is married to a white woman and both own their own business, if she wants to invest in his business is he promoting white supremacy? If a black woman does a hostiel takeover over a black owned firmed, financed by whites, is she undermining black empowerment? If a black man owns a business and doesn't invest in any of the initiatives of the OAAU but enjoys his life, is he afraid of dismantling oppressive systems to blacks in the usa? 

 

2 hours ago, ProfD said:

An unwillingness to fight the system of white supremacy. 

6 hours ago, richardmurray said:

So if a black elected official is the mayor of a city and doesn't change the police department with a record of abuse towards blacks, said official is unwilling to fight white terror ?

2 hours ago, ProfD said:

An organization becomes like a fist. It is more powerful than individual fingers. The strength in numbers makes people stronger.

 

Collectively sharing gifts, talents, knowledge, skills & abilities & a willingness to fight leads to power.

 

Therein lies the reason a great deal of effort goes into discouraging Black unity. The enemy already knows the outcome.

yeah ok

[ProfD]

1 hour ago, richardmurray said:

 

When  the OAAU finishes its job, what does black empowerment look like and what doesn't it look like?

It looks like unity across the Black disaposa.

 

It doesn't look like the status quo.

 

1 hour ago, richardmurray said:

When will you be satisfied reparations is given?

When FBA/AfroAmericans have been provided with all of the resources fhat enable self-sufficiency & autonomy.

 

1 hour ago, richardmurray said:

What isn't reparations in your view?

An empty apology & non-tangibles.

 

 

1 hour ago, richardmurray said:

BAsed on malcolms points I argue those devices aren't what malcolm was talking about. Did black people make those devices?

Black folks didn't make the printing press either. That didn't stop us from printing books, newspapers & magazines. 

 

1 hour ago, richardmurray said:

The black empowerment you mentioned first, where does that exist with black people using devices designed/created/manufactured by nonblacks?

Black folks can use tools & technology manufactured by others to produce from ourselves.

 

1 hour ago, richardmurray said:

Do you use one? Which is the best black bank in the usa in your opinion?

Of couse I've been using a Black bank for well over 3 decades.

 

IMO, there's no such thing as a best bank considering the purposes it serves.

 

1 hour ago, richardmurray said:

...so how can black people attacked by white law enforcers be better off with weapons or training? 

Self-defense & weapons training is a deterrent against attack.

 

People are less inclined to attack those they believe are armed. Black folks should be allowed open & carry permits too.

 

1 hour ago, richardmurray said:

Certain levels of wealth can't be obtained absent cheating/ corruption/illegality/crime/ or whatever you want to call it.

Plenty folks have become wealthy without resorting to negativity.

 

Jay-Z & Beyonce have a combined net worth of billions of dollars.

 

1 hour ago, richardmurray said:

Self sufficiency defined as what?

 

Autonomy? please define this. 

Reparations would provide the resources enabling Black self-sufficiency & autonomy. 

 

Maybe one day I'll be generous enough to outline my idea of reparations. It's more than handing out cash checks.

 

1 hour ago, richardmurray said:

 what actions can a black person do that do not undermine black empowerment?

Avoid talking negatively about other Black folks in public.

 

1 hour ago, richardmurray said:

What actions can black people do that don't promote white supremacy? 

Stop giving the oppressors more ammunition to use against us.

1 hour ago, richardmurray said:

Does this fear apply to black people who don't feel afriad while don't feel the need to act in a way that your OAAU would deem fearful?

Fear applies to all Blacks who are unwilling to fight for Black empowerment. 

1 hour ago, richardmurray said:

if a black man is married to a white woman and both own their own business, if she wants to invest in his business is he promoting white supremacy?

No. That isn't promoting white supremacy. 

 

1 hour ago, richardmurray said:

If a black woman does a hostiel takeover over a black owned firmed, financed by whites, is she undermining black empowerment?

No. She's redistributing wealth if the firm truly becomes Black-owned.

 

1 hour ago, richardmurray said:

If a black man owns a business and doesn't invest in any of the initiatives of the OAAU but enjoys his life, is he afraid of dismantling oppressive systems to blacks in the usa? 

No. He's comfortable under the system of racism white supremacy.

 

1 hour ago, richardmurray said:

So if a black elected official is the mayor of a city and doesn't change the police department with a record of abuse towards blacks, said official is unwilling to fight white terror ?

Correct. Black elected officials have an obligation to serve & protect Black folks by any means necessary.