Malcolm X at 100: A Hypothetical Analysis of Him in the USA in 2025

By Brian Figeroux, Esq. | Civil Rights Attorney | www.askthelawyer.us

As we mark the hypothetical centenary of Malcolm X in 2025, it is a poignant exercise to consider how this transformative figure, had he lived, would view the United States today. To undertake such an analysis requires a deep immersion in his philosophy and religious convictions at the time of his death in 1965, a period when his thought was undergoing a significant evolution. Having broken with the Nation of Islam and embraced orthodox Sunni Islam, Malcolm X’s perspective broadened from a focus on Black nationalism and separatism to a more internationalist human rights framework, while retaining a fierce commitment to Black empowerment and self-determination.

Based on his powerful critiques of American society, his unwavering stance against racial injustice, and his evolving global consciousness in his final year, Malcolm X in 2025 would likely offer a searing, yet perhaps nuanced, assessment of the nation’s progress – or lack thereof.

He would undoubtedly first cast a critical eye upon the persistent structural inequalities that continue to plague Black Americans and other marginalized communities. The economic disparities, the wealth gap, the unequal access to quality education and healthcare – these would all serve as stark evidence that the systemic issues he railed against have not been dismantled. He would likely point to the ongoing challenges of poverty in urban centers and rural areas, seeing them not as individual failings but as direct consequences of historical and ongoing exploitation and discriminatory policies.

Malcolm X’s emphasis on “by any means necessary” to achieve freedom and justice, often misinterpreted as a call for random violence, was fundamentally about the right of oppressed people to defend themselves against brutality and to assert their human dignity. Witnessing instances of police brutality and the disproportionate impact of the justice system on Black individuals in 2025, he would reiterate the necessity of self-defense and community organizing for protection and accountability. His call to elevate the struggle from one of civil rights to human rights would resonate strongly today, as activists continue to highlight how racial discrimination in the U.S. violates international human rights standards. He would see the ongoing debates around voting rights and political representation as a continuation of the struggle for full enfranchisement and power that he championed.

His post-Nation of Islam embrace of orthodox Islam significantly impacted his view on race. His pilgrimage to Mecca exposed him to Muslims of all races and nationalities, leading him to reject the NOI’s tenet of the inherent wickedness of white people. In 2025, this evolved perspective would likely lead him to acknowledge the existence of allies across racial lines who are genuinely committed to dismantling racist structures. However, he would remain deeply skeptical of performative or superficial displays of anti-racism that do not translate into tangible power shifts and material improvements for Black communities. He would likely caution against complacency and the illusion of a post-racial society, recognizing how swift progress can be undermined.

Malcolm X’s international perspective, which grew significantly in his final year, would also shape his view of the USA in 2025. He would see the nation’s domestic racial issues as intrinsically linked to its foreign policy and its role on the global stage. He would likely critique American exceptionalism and hypocrisy, particularly concerning its promotion of democracy and human rights abroad while failing to fully uphold them for all its citizens at home. His Pan-Africanist leanings would lead him to connect the struggles of Black Americans with those of people of African descent globally, advocating for solidarity and mutual support in the face of neo-colonialism and global white supremacy.

Furthermore, Malcolm X was a fierce advocate for Black economic independence and self-sufficiency. Looking at 2025, he would likely assess the state of Black businesses, institutions, and land ownership. He would emphasize the importance of building independent economic bases within the Black community as a means of empowerment and resistance to systemic economic disempowerment.

In conclusion, a hypothetical Malcolm X celebrating his 100th birthday in 2025 would not likely paint a picture of a nation that has overcome its racial demons. While acknowledging any superficial changes or the rise of a Black middle class, his analysis would be grounded in the persistent realities of systemic injustice, economic inequality, and the ongoing struggle for genuine power and self-determination for Black people. His message would continue to be one of unwavering truth-telling, a demand for accountability, and a call for continuous, active resistance against all forms of oppression, rooted in the human right to dignity and freedom that he came to understand as a universal imperative. His faith, in its orthodox form, would underscore the moral and ethical necessity of this struggle for justice, seeing the fight against oppression as a fundamental aspect of upholding divine principles.

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