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May 19, 1925—February 21, 1965

I wanted to take this time to acknowledge and celebrate the life of the late Malcolm X. I met him in 1988, at the Far Rockaway High School lunchroom. My boy Devon had a copy of his autobiography and schooled me like no teacher in the 9^th grade could. I was initially inspired by Malcolm’s defiance of white authority and his credo of self-defense. As I got older I read about his life, and in time learned from those who learned from him. I think many of us were drawn to his keen analysis of race and class, and ultimately his steadfast commitment to rebuild community through a fusion of spiritual and militant organizing. Over the last few years I’ve been thinking about the inner courage Malcolm possessed, a courage that made him fearless of change, beginning with himself. I guess at this age, I’m starting to pay more and more attention to the human soul and its ability to transgress. Throughout his life Malcolm transgressed on so many occasions, at times placing him at odds with the very same community he sought to defend. But he could never turn his back on the truth of humanity. And this is where his beauty as a man lies. The capacity to seek the truth through transparent change, no matter the stakes.