Kings of Disruption: Malcolm, Martin, & Huey—Because Agitation Was Necessary

Malcolm X, Martin Luther king, Jr, and Huey P. Newton.  Three of the most respected and famous civil rights leaders of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, and three of the most boisterous people we will ever have knowledge of.  Boisterous, rambunctious, and forward thinking in their own individual ways.  Malcolm and his philosophy that freedom and justice were to be achieved “By any means necessary!”.  Martin, with boisterous rhetoric, speech, and action that were both radical yet reverent.  Huey, with an idea that sparked an organization and spawned in all of us a sense that we could protect ourselves. 

They were noted to be “agitators”, “trouble makers”, and “uppity negroes” by the system.  The system was right.  They were trouble makers and agitators indeed.  America needed to be agitated, confused, and uncomfortable (and still does).  These men answered the call to agitate an archaic system that’s only aim was (is) to keep those the powers that be felt inferior to or threatened by in bondage and oppression.  There are times when I’d like to think that each of them felt a responsibility to disturb the backwards social norms of their times. I often think that their spirits found each other at some point in space and time, designating freedom work to one or the other.    

Sometimes, I get creative, and think that The Most High designed them from the same mold but chose to give each of them a different message that would be unique to their personalities and life experiences.  A message that would indeed steer them in a way that they would further His Kingdom and promote His tenants of peace, love, freedom, righteousness, self-defense, self-preservation, brotherly love, community, and so on.  And—my, my, my—weren’t they obedient sons.  

Because agitation was necessary.  Because we needed equal pay (and still do).  Because we needed to be aware of unjust laws and law enforcement (and still do).  Because we needed a political party that would feed our own; our impoverished; our forgotten (and still do).  Oh, yes; agitation was necessary and remain so.  It will remain a mandate in our society as long as we are too comfortable with the status quo of systemic oppression, institutionalized bigotry, and unjust laws.  Thank you God for blessing us with some Royal disruption.