Quote by Malcolm X: “It is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks.”

This quote argues that advocating for non-violence in the face of persistent aggression is morally wrong. It asserts the fundamental right to self-defense for those subjected to continuous brutalization, challenging pacifist stances in extreme situations.

In the mid-1960s, debates over nonviolence versus self-defense were central to the Civil Rights Movement. Malcolm X, having left the Nation of Islam, continued to advocate for black empowerment and the right to defend oneself against racist violence.

African American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a prominent figure during the civil rights movement. A spokesman for the Nation of Islam until 1964, he was a vocal advocate for Black empowerment and the promotion of Islam within the Black community.