MALCOLM X’S THE BALLOT OR THE BULLET SPEECH? ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY IN PRESENT DAY SOUTH AFRICA Rothney S. Tshaka* Abstract This article attempts to bring one of the greatest speeches of Malcolm X back to life in a political year in South Africa. Recounting the influences that Malcolm X had on Black Liberation Theology in South Africa, it moves from an inward looking critical theology to one that identifies with the most vulnerable in society. It criticises both the political and economic hegemonies that perpetuate a neo-apartheid in democratic South Africa today. It takes a swipe at party politics which creates propaganda and has no interest of the masses at heart. In the end it asks what Malcolm X would have said about the current South African socio-economic context. It realises that black people are ganged up by both structural apartheid residues as well as pure selfish interests of the current political rulers. Keywords: Black Liberation Theology; Violence; Politics; Malcolm X; South Africa. Resumo Este artigo procura trazer de volta um dos maiores discursos de Malcolm X em pleno ano político na África do Sul. Recontando as influências que Malcolm X teve sobre a Teologia Negra da Libertação na África do Sul, se move de uma teologia crítica virada para dentro para uma que se identifica com os mais vulneráveis na sociedade. Critica as hegemonias tanto política quanto econômica que perpetuam um neo-apartheid na África do Sul democrática hoje. Dá uma indireta às políticas partidárias que criam propaganda e não mantém o mínimo interesse nas massas em questão. No final, pergunta o que Malcolm X teria dito sobre o contexto sócio-econômico sul-africano na contemporaneidade. Entende que as pessoas negras são incitadas tanto pelos resíduos do apartheid estrutural, quanto pelos interesses puramente egoístas dos atuais governantes. Palavras-chave: Teologia Negra da Libertação; violência; política; Malcolm X; África do Sul.
Introduction This article is an attempt to bring a speech made in the 1960s by Malcolm X into a critical conversation with the present South African context. Recognizing Malcolm X’s critique of white racism and his relentless call for the unity of Black people against the dictates of white capitalist hegemonies, this essay will argue that the speech in question is of particular relevance to the current socio economic and *
Chair of the Department Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology at Unisa and teaches both Theological Ethics and Systematic Theology.
CONGRESSO INTERNACIONAL DA FACULDADES EST, 1., 2012, São Leopoldo. Anais do Congresso Internacional da Faculdades EST. São Leopoldo: EST, v. 1, 2012.
| p.882-898