Malcolm’s X’s assassination came at a pivotal moment when America was grappling with its soul.
Today, we find ourselves at a similar crossroads. The recent dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across corporate America, academia, and government institutions eerily echoes the resistance Malcolm faced when demanding genuine systemic change rather than tokenistic progress.
You don’t stick a knife in a man’s back nine inches and then pull it out six inches and say you’re making progress
“You don’t stick a knife in a man’s back nine inches and then pull it out six inches and say you’re making progress,” Malcolm famously declared. His words cut through the performative allyship of his era – and they indict today’s corporate retreat from DEI commitments made in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.
The coordinated assault on DEI programs – from boardrooms to classrooms – reveals what Malcolm understood decades ago: Power concedes nothing without demand, and even then, it attempts to reclaim ground when attention wanes. We’ve witnessed universities dissolving diversity offices, corporations quietly scaling back inclusion initiatives, and political figures weaponizing terms like “woke” to undermine equity efforts.
Malcolm would recognize this playbook. He warned us about the difference between sincere change and surface-level accommodation. When he spoke of “sincere whites” versus those who merely practiced “tokenism,” he foresaw today’s distinction between organizations truly committed to transformation and those who viewed DEI as merely a public relations exercise.
The progress made since Malcolm’s death is undeniable – from the highest offices in government to increased representation in corporate leadership. Yet the fierce backlash against DEI efforts proves his core message remains relevant: Real change threatens established power structures, and those structures will fight back.
Malcolm’s evolution from separatist to human rights advocate offers crucial lessons for today’s struggle. He learned to distinguish between those genuinely seeking justice and those maintaining systems of inequality. This discernment is vital as we navigate which institutions are truly committed to equity and which are retreating at the first sign of pressure.
I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.
As we reflect on the six decades since Malcolm’s assassination, we must acknowledge both progress and retrenchment. The current DEI backlash isn’t just about corporate policies or academic programs – it’s about the ongoing struggle for America’s soul that Malcolm died fighting for.
His words still thunder across the decades: “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.” In 2024, as DEI initiatives face coordinated opposition, Malcolm’s uncompromising pursuit of truth and justice isn’t just history – it’s a blueprint for resistance.
