Malcolm X Quotes
You show me a capitalist, and I'll show you a bloodsucker.
X, Malcolm. Malcolm X Speaks: Selected Speeches and Statements. Edited by George Breitman, Grove Press, 1965, p. 121.
There is a very interesting parallel with the views and statements of FDR at the same time.
At the time, there was generally only a single newspaper in an area in New Zealand.
One of the contradictions of capitalism is that at many points in history capitalism has caused and/or contributed to great death and suffering. However, that same capitalism has led to the development of science, technology, agronomy, medicine and education which has saved and preserved millions of lives and raised the standard of living more than anything else.
Sinclair had written an expose of the meat packing industry – the Jungle – which used as its setting the Armour meat packing factory. It changed the way the public thought about the industry, the role of government and regulation. President Roosevelt took up the reform role, and got Congress to Regulate the quality and cleanliness of the meat packing industry. Sinclair, however not only wanted that reform, but also wanted the labor wages and conditions reformed. He referred to the Armour plant as the fortress.
Li was one of the leaders urging force to repress the demonstration. He was particularly offended by the Chinese students carrying the large “Statue of Liberty,” believing that this was an overt attempt to destabilize China. This was not known till the publication of the so-called “Tiananmen Square Papers” in 2001. The Chinese government claimed that these were forgeries.
At the time, it did seem impossible that labor and capital would ever have harmonious relations. But the notion that slavery would solve the problem is as preposterous as anything ever entered into the American political dialogue. But there were many in the South, and some in the North, who actually believed it. Even 150 years later, while labor and capital relations were much better than pre Civil War, they still could not be described as “harmonious” or “friendly”.
Malcolm X was an African-American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a popular figure during the civil rights movement. He is best known for his time spent as a vocal spokesman for the Nation of Islam.
