Humans for Humanism

In today’s post-modern world, we are expected to embrace decadence and become indifferent to the future of ourselves and others. What is needed is a sense of solidarity to gain freedom. Malcolm X, for example, had been seen as a realist and the alternative to Civil Rights because of his constant push for the idea of self-determination and that we do not have to become mere products of our environment.

It wasn’t until his trip to Mecca that Malcolm started heading in the right direction of human progress. He stated, “Everything about the pilgrimage atmosphere accented the Oneness of Man.” His realization was, in other words, that there is a common humanity, contrary to his previous racist beliefs of black supremacy. The moment Malcolm came to this realization was symbolic of his ascent from the subhuman label to the intelligent, self-determined, and socially conscious individual that he embraced so dearly. He realized that there is neither subhuman nor superhuman, but only one, common humanity amongst all.

Also, the idea of post-modernism today preaches to the American citizen that there is no such thing as “truth” – that we must value everyone’s opinion equally true and there is no right or wrong because everything is mere opinion. Malcolm X, in his battle to becoming human, realized that the essential ingredient in doing so, was the search for truth. The truth that Malcolm sought was whatever enhances the well being of humanity as a whole, and not for just one category of people.

Malcolm X pushed for knowledge and social consciousness in order to defeat the propaganda machines. If improvements were made for society in general and there was more social awareness of what’s going on in our country, it would benefit not only black people, but everyone. Malcolm’s quest for humanity and constant search for truth, like many others in history, can give us hope and inspire us to try to change the existing, oppressive social conditions for the good of all:

Humanism, by definition, is “a broad category of ethical philosophies that affirm the dignity and worth of all people, based on the ability to determine right and wrong by appeal to universal human qualities—particularly rationalism. Humanism is a component of a variety of more specific philosophical systems, and is incorporated into several religious schools of thought. Humanism entails a commitment to the search for truth and morality through human means in support of human interests.