This wonderful Eulogy of Malcom X, that you can read and listen to here, took place in the Faith Temple Church of God, Harlem.
This church was the place where the Harlem community, friends and family of Malcolm X came to see him for the last time, at his funeral. This was the last chance to show love to his body, but the beginning of a long legacy that was going to be carried by this people whenever his name was mentioned. This church is located at 206 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York which was named after the death of Malcolm X.
The man who had the pleasure of presenting this eulogy was Ossie Davis, a man who shared many beliefs with Malcolm X, and also a wonderful friendship. They were like family because they came up from Harlem and came up for Harlem .
A quote that stood out to me was “for Harlem is where he worked and where he struggled and fought – his home of home, where his heart was, and where his people are – and it is, therefore, most fitting that we meet once again to -in harlem – to share these last moments with him.
Hearing this quote made me realize that Malcolm X was a man loved and respected for his community because that’s one major thing he offered Harlem. He was respected not only because of his accomplishments but because no matter how much power or richness he gained, he remained humble and true to where he came from and his people. He was dedicated to being a motivation in the most humble and favorable way he could.
Another quote that stuck out to me from Malcolm X funeral eulogy by Ossie Davis was: “Afro – American Malcolm, who was a master, who was the most meticulous in his use of words. Nobody knew better than he the power words have over the minds of man. Malcolm stopped being a ‘Negro’ years ago.”
Seeing this quote again, I see how Malcolm was a man with leadership and admired by his people because these feelings carry on to me while reading this. He wasn’t arrogant, he wasn’t trying to be the best Afro-American for himself, he became better to make his community better.
It opens my eyes because this quote is saying that Malcolm had become an Afro-American and he wanted – so desperately – that we, that all his people, would become Afro-Americans too.“
He educated himself and then went out to educate his people. Malcolm was looking for the best for his community.
He educated us because that was the key to freedom. He had the power and courage to be a leader to motivate others to take leadership in their lives as well.
Another quote that surprised me was something his good friend Ossie Davis had said. This surprised me because it’s like Malcolm knew his life had a purpose. It’s like he knew that after life his name was going to carry so much of a legacy due to his actions.
It really shows how he was teaching people his purpose and helping them find their own in life .
“My journey,” he said, “is almost ended, and I have a much broader scope that when I started out, which I believe will add new life and dimension to our struggle for freedom and honor and dignity in the state.“
