A Memory of Malcolm
by © Leslye Joy Allen
In spite of the manner in which Malcolm X was put out of the Nation of Islam for reasons that ought to piss anyone off, the Nation had created jobs and programs that lifted many of its members out of poverty and out of criminality. The Nation had the lowest rate of prison recidivism of any organization. Yet, I want to point out another facet of Malcolm X’s personality.
He commented that on one occasion he walked into a restaurant owned by the Nation of Islam and noticed a waitress who barely spoke and did not smile. Malcolm X mentioned to someone in management that if she didn’t smile she would make less money because customers would not tip her well. The management asked the waitress why she didn’t smile, “My teeth are in bad shape which is why I won’t smile.”
When the manager relayed this to Malcolm X, Malcolm went around town and around to members of the Nation collecting money so that this waitress could afford to go to the dentist and get her teeth fixed. He never identified himself to her, he just went about the business of helping a sister that he admitted that he initially misjudged.
Although in his teens he got into trouble as a petty criminal, his life changed when his oldest sister Ella Little had him transferred to a better prison that had a massive library. Malcolm read every book in that library. “No one got more out of prison than I did,” he said. His admiration for Ella showed every time he talked about her. He described her as more driving and ambitious than “both of her husbands put together.”
He stood up for and fought for Black women and girls in ways that few others did then and now. His absence is always felt. He remains one of my greatest influences.
I am an Independent Historian, Oral Historian and Dramaturge. Please consider supporting my work with a few bucks for Coffee and Eggs via my CashApp or become a paid subscriber to help me sustain my research.