Why did Malcolm X say 'Black is beautiful'?

Answer 1

Malcolm X did NOT first say the famous quote, "Black is Beautiful".

The phrase "Black is Beautiful" first came from the 1960s writings of Steve

Biko, of South Africa, who was part of the "Black Consciousness Movement". In his book, 'I Write What I Like', Mr. Biko explained the meaning behind his slogan as this: "man, you are okay as you are, begin to look upon yourself as a human being."

The politics of the Black Panthers and the sermons of Malcolm X made the expression more widely known in the USA, and most people wrongly attribute the quote to Malcolm X.

"Black is Beautiful" was a rallying cry, a movement against the idea that Blacks have less attractive or desirable characteristics and to discourage changing the natural African features. The slogan intended to discourage people from feeling they needed to change by:

• bleaching/whitening their skin
• straightening their hair
• having plastic surgery to make a narrower nose

The slogan was meant to create self pride and pride within the race,

so people (especially girls and women) did not continue to feel they needed to alter their physical being just to fit in. They called this an internalized racism that Blacks carried inside and needed to end.

See Related Link