Today on Sojourner Truth, our annual Malcolm X special.
95 years ago, one of the worlds most important historical figures was born. Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz, also known as Malcolm X, who was born on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska. Malcolm was a Black Muslim minister, activist, scholar and revolutionary who was a courageous advocate for Black liberation, social justice and human rights. He spoke out and fought against racism in the United States for its crimes against Black and Brown people throughout history. He was also a campaigner for unity among oppressed and impoverished communities around the world, including Asia, Africa and Latin America. He advocated for a new social system based on equality and peace. But Malcolm frequently warned that the fight against racism and economic injustice is extremely difficult, affirming that it must be fought for "by any means necessary."
Joining us to discuss Malcolm X's life and legacy are Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons and Dr. Peniel E. Joseph.
Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons is Professor Emerita of African American and Islamic Studies, University of Florida. Simmons received her BA from Antioch University in Human Services and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Religion with a specific focus on Islam from Temple University as well as a Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies. Simmons' primary academic focus in Islam is on the Shari'ah (Islamic Law) and its impact on Muslim women, contemporarily.
Dr. Peniel E. Joseph is the Barbara Jordan Chair in Political Values and Ethics at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the University of Texas at Austin. His latest book is "The Sword and the Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr."
