Mason Galemore
ContributingWriter
mgalemore@murraystate.edu

Imagine what Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X would think if they were alive today. Think of the pain they would have felt at the news of the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Then envision what they would do.

On Monday, Feb. 22, guest speaker Odell Bizzell II gave a virtual presentation on racial inequality in America. He discussed  the teachings of civil rights leaders King and Malcolm X. He discussed how they would handle racism today.

Bizzell cited King for his pacifist approach during the civil rights era and how he worked within the system of the U.S. government. He then explored Malcolm X and his more militant and radical technique, thus showing the contrast between the two iconic figures.

“Although they had very different means, they had the same end,” Bizzell said

Bizzell explained how both leaders wanted African-Americans to be treated as human beings and how they also wanted African-Americans to be compensated for slavery. A 1964 interview of King was shown where he explained the ongoing disparity of African-Americans that is rooted in slavery.

The interview was held prior to the Civil Rights March on Washington D.C. in 1964. King said when the march would arrive in Washington, African-Americans would “Get their check.”

King continued by saying the majority of white Americans were given large amounts of money and support to develop farmland and businesses in middle America. This was a vast amount of government support which African-Americans never received after slavery.  

“These are the same people that tell African-Americans to lift themselves up by their bootstraps,” King said. “This is what we are faced with and this is the reality.” 

“Both men wanted to pay reparations for slavery,” Bizzell said. “The ‘I have a dream speech’ is wonderful but there is not a lot of discussion around reparations.”

Bizzell talked about the importance of activism and how governments do not care about the wants of an individual, but the organized effort of groups toward a common goal. He also said his plan is to heal the wounds of the past and create a better future.

 “My solutions are simple,” Bizzell said. “Organize better to move towards giving reparations to African-Americans in the form of money and land, be patient and celebrate progress.”

 Bizzell said many people would disagree with his plan, but the Civil Rights Movement along with other movements thrived to alleviate racial inequality.

“All skinfolk ain’t kinfolk,” Bizzell said. “Your people aren’t the people that look like you or think like you, but they are the people that want the same things as you. Before we can change the world we have to understand this and we have to change ourselves. This is the change that takes the most work.”

Bizzell ended on a high note and gave advice as to how change can be brought in today’s society. He said we have to learn from our past to move forward into the future. He said it is important that he teaches the philosophies of King and Malcolm X.

“It was important for me to bring their philosophies back to light to help college students better frame their activism or lack thereof,” Bizzell said. “In other words, King and Malcolm X were both radical. If you want to make change you must be radical also, just do it your own way.”  

For more information on how to register for Bizzell’s tour visit odellbizzell.com/mlk-tour. There is also information on celebrating Black History Month at murraystate.edu/oma.