Event Reflection: Annual Lecture 2024
On October 23, 2024, The Bahá’i Chair for World Peace hosted the 2024 Annual Lecture entitled “ The Level of Human Rights: Malcolm X and the Dilemmas of Black Internationalism, Then and Now”
The Lecture was given by Professor Brandon M. Terry, John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Social Sciences at Harvard University and the co-director of the Institute on Policing, Incarceration, and Public Safety at the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research.
On October 23, 2024, Brandon M. Terry spoke at our Annual Lecture 2024: The Level of Human Rights: Malcolm X and the Dilemmas of Black Internationalism, Then and Now event. Dr. Brandon M. Terry talked about the early 1960s when Malcolm X challenged the focus of the civil rights movement, urging African Americans to seek justice through civil rights and the United States institutions to frame their struggle for human rights instead.
It is really important to acknowledge how one’s childhood can affect personal decisions made throughout their life. Dr. Terry explains how Malcolm X grew up as a traumatized child in the foster system, which led him to criminal behavior turning into a drug dealer and burglar. When serving prison time for criminal charges, Malcolm X was introduced and converted to the religion of Black Muslim. This paved the way for Malcolm X to become an iconic figure in the emergence of the civil rights movement.
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Malcolm X emphasizes his point that human rights are something that you are born with and they are your “god-given rights”. Human rights are recognized by all nations on Earth. If someone violates your human rights, you can take them to the world court. The United Kingdom has a charter of human rights that is a committee that deals with human rights, and this differs from the United States since the umbrella of civil rights is under the jurisdiction of Uncle Sam. Malcolm hoped that by taking Uncle Sam to the world court, he would be able to alter the balance of power confronting black demands for redress of racial injustice, and transcend the concept of civil rights.
Overall, I really enjoyed listening to Dr. Brandon M. Terry’s speech about the Level of Human Rights and Dilemmas of Black Internationalism from Malcolm X. There were many insightful points that Dr. Terry brought up, such as the political and philosophical contradictions of Malcolm’s internationalism. I thought it was extremely interesting to see how Malcolm X’s upbringing and religion paved a unique trajectory throughout his life.
About the Author:
Kai-Lin Yu is the Social Media and Marketing Intern at The Bahá’í Chair for World Peace. Kai-Lin is a sophomore at The University of Maryland pursuing a double major in Marketing & Operations Management and Business Analytics along with a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
