Malcolm X daughter declares for Obama
February 23, 2008 5:18 PM
In an interview on SIRIUS radio's "Make It Plain" with host Mark Thompson, one of Malcolm X's daughters, Malaak Shabazz, declared her support for Barack Obama -- calling him and his wife Michelle the "present-day" version of her father and her mother Betty Shabazz.
The interview was held at the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Education Center located in the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem, where Malcolm X was fatally shot in 1965 after his falling out with Nation of Islam leader Elijah Mohammed.
Below is a partial transcript as released:
Dan Janison
SELECT QUOTES FROM THE SIRIUS INTERVIEW RECORDED LIVE THURSDAY AT THE AUDUBON BALLROOM, SITE OF MALCOLM X'S ASSASSINATION
MARK THOMPSON: I can't help but be in this space [Audubon Ballroom] and be somewhat spiritual, emotional even. What is it like being here in this space for you?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: I love it when I see [the] vast variety, the diverse group of people that encompass New York come in here and want to learn about him. The real Malcolm. The real Betty. That's what I like about it. It attracts people. This space.happened in a negative manner but we've transformed it with my mother's efforts.to turn it into something [where] people can learn. ..
.it's like Barack Obama. Don't talk about race.black or white. Let's talk about what we're going to do for the future and have everybody learn.
MALAAK SHABAZZ: I'm sorry. I had to throw in Barack Obama.I just have to.anywhere I go.I say Barack Obama. I like him, and I'm voting for him and that's it.
MARK THOMPSON:.that's a major endorsement.
MARK THOMPSON: The daughter of Malcolm X is endorsing Barack Obama.
MALAAK SHABAZZ: Since day one.
MARK THOMPSON: Have you talked to him? Does he know that?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: No I haven't, but we have mutual people who.we know.I'm sure it won't be.too long.
MARK THOMPSON: But now. here's the thing. And I respect Barack too. And I understand what is going on. I understand what his purpose is in the context.
What you represent, what your parents represent now through you, to a large extent, would be something that Barack's constituency may not quite be able to handle.
MALAAK SHABAZZ: I think so. He has opened the gamut -- from white, black, Republicans, [and] Hispanic. He's got Native Americans voting, and they wouldn't even vote before because they didn't think anything was going to be done for them.
MARK THOMPSON: True.
MALAAK SHABAZZ: The [people in the] 17-29 age group who didn't want to vote are voting. They're coming out in droves. It's the future, not the past. Not that old school.
MARK THOMPSON: You all heard it here first. That Malaak Shabazz has just endorsed [Obama]. Are you speaking on behalf of your family or is this just you in terms of endorsing Barack?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: I'm speaking for myself. I know my sisters.there's 6 of us.at least 4 of them are for Barack, but it doesn't really matter [because] I'm for Barack and I promote Barack Obama.
Malaak Shabazz says Michelle and Barack Obama are the present day Betty Shabazz and Malcolm X:
MARK THOMPSON: I feel we should pick up where your parents left off, where Dr. King left off.in terms of movement politics.
MALAAK SHABAZZ: Barack Obama.
MARK THOMPSON: Really? So that's it?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: That's it.
MARK THOMPSON: Is that right?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: Barack Obama.
MARK THOMPSON: That's enough?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: Actually, him and Michelle remind me of my parents, and what they have to face with children, and with the climate that we're dealing with politically. She's brilliant. My mother's brilliant. He's brilliant. My father was brilliant. And they're still sticking to the community. So, no, they are not Betty and Malcolm. But they are the present day Betty and Malcolm.
MARK THOMPSON: Wow. You all heard it here [on Make it Plain].[is] America ready to elect a black president. Will they vote?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: When are we supposed to be ready? We're ready right now.
MARK THOMPSON: Do you think whites are [going to] come through?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: They already have.
MARK THOMPSON: Even in November?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: They already have. He shocked the world, as Muhammad Ali said. He shocked the world in Iowa. He shocked them in Washington. He shocked them in predominately white states. They didn't see color. They saw the content of his character, of what he represents. And they didn't want the same old same old.
MARK THOMPSON: If Barack Obama would stand on stage with your family the way he stood on stage with the Kennedys that would be a powerful endorsement. That would send a signal that he understands the historical context of our movement. That ought to happen. Is that going to happen?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: I'm not sure. We'll see.
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Posted by Admin on February 23, 2008 5:18 PM | Permalink
February 23, 2008 5:18 PM
In an interview on SIRIUS radio's "Make It Plain" with host Mark Thompson, one of Malcolm X's daughters, Malaak Shabazz, declared her support for Barack Obama -- calling him and his wife Michelle the "present-day" version of her father and her mother Betty Shabazz.
The interview was held at the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Education Center located in the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem, where Malcolm X was fatally shot in 1965 after his falling out with Nation of Islam leader Elijah Mohammed.
Below is a partial transcript as released:
Dan Janison
SELECT QUOTES FROM THE SIRIUS INTERVIEW RECORDED LIVE THURSDAY AT THE AUDUBON BALLROOM, SITE OF MALCOLM X'S ASSASSINATION
MARK THOMPSON: I can't help but be in this space [Audubon Ballroom] and be somewhat spiritual, emotional even. What is it like being here in this space for you?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: I love it when I see [the] vast variety, the diverse group of people that encompass New York come in here and want to learn about him. The real Malcolm. The real Betty. That's what I like about it. It attracts people. This space.happened in a negative manner but we've transformed it with my mother's efforts.to turn it into something [where] people can learn. ..
.it's like Barack Obama. Don't talk about race.black or white. Let's talk about what we're going to do for the future and have everybody learn.
MALAAK SHABAZZ: I'm sorry. I had to throw in Barack Obama.I just have to.anywhere I go.I say Barack Obama. I like him, and I'm voting for him and that's it.
MARK THOMPSON:.that's a major endorsement.
MARK THOMPSON: The daughter of Malcolm X is endorsing Barack Obama.
MALAAK SHABAZZ: Since day one.
MARK THOMPSON: Have you talked to him? Does he know that?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: No I haven't, but we have mutual people who.we know.I'm sure it won't be.too long.
MARK THOMPSON: But now. here's the thing. And I respect Barack too. And I understand what is going on. I understand what his purpose is in the context.
What you represent, what your parents represent now through you, to a large extent, would be something that Barack's constituency may not quite be able to handle.
MALAAK SHABAZZ: I think so. He has opened the gamut -- from white, black, Republicans, [and] Hispanic. He's got Native Americans voting, and they wouldn't even vote before because they didn't think anything was going to be done for them.
MARK THOMPSON: True.
MALAAK SHABAZZ: The [people in the] 17-29 age group who didn't want to vote are voting. They're coming out in droves. It's the future, not the past. Not that old school.
MARK THOMPSON: You all heard it here first. That Malaak Shabazz has just endorsed [Obama]. Are you speaking on behalf of your family or is this just you in terms of endorsing Barack?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: I'm speaking for myself. I know my sisters.there's 6 of us.at least 4 of them are for Barack, but it doesn't really matter [because] I'm for Barack and I promote Barack Obama.
Malaak Shabazz says Michelle and Barack Obama are the present day Betty Shabazz and Malcolm X:
MARK THOMPSON: I feel we should pick up where your parents left off, where Dr. King left off.in terms of movement politics.
MALAAK SHABAZZ: Barack Obama.
MARK THOMPSON: Really? So that's it?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: That's it.
MARK THOMPSON: Is that right?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: Barack Obama.
MARK THOMPSON: That's enough?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: Actually, him and Michelle remind me of my parents, and what they have to face with children, and with the climate that we're dealing with politically. She's brilliant. My mother's brilliant. He's brilliant. My father was brilliant. And they're still sticking to the community. So, no, they are not Betty and Malcolm. But they are the present day Betty and Malcolm.
MARK THOMPSON: Wow. You all heard it here [on Make it Plain].[is] America ready to elect a black president. Will they vote?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: When are we supposed to be ready? We're ready right now.
MARK THOMPSON: Do you think whites are [going to] come through?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: They already have.
MARK THOMPSON: Even in November?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: They already have. He shocked the world, as Muhammad Ali said. He shocked the world in Iowa. He shocked them in Washington. He shocked them in predominately white states. They didn't see color. They saw the content of his character, of what he represents. And they didn't want the same old same old.
MARK THOMPSON: If Barack Obama would stand on stage with your family the way he stood on stage with the Kennedys that would be a powerful endorsement. That would send a signal that he understands the historical context of our movement. That ought to happen. Is that going to happen?
MALAAK SHABAZZ: I'm not sure. We'll see.
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Posted by Admin on February 23, 2008 5:18 PM | Permalink
Code:
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....legacies connecting powerful stuff!
....by any means necessary.
