Malcolm X and W.E.B. Du Bois put Class First and Race Second

Race reductionists love quoting Malcolm X when he was with the Nation of Islam because racists of all hues fundamentally agree with each other—the Nation of Islam met with the American Nazi Party and Marcus Garvey met with the Ku Klux Klan to promote their shared goals.

Those who put race first have to quote Malcolm more selectively after he left NOI. He rejected identitarianism and black nationalism, and expanded his vision from the race war to the class war:

“I believe that there will be a clash between those who want freedom, justice and equality for everyone and those who want to continue the systems of exploitation. I believe that there will be that kind of clash, but I don’t think that it will be based upon the color of the skin.” — Malcolm X, January 19, 1965

“We are today seeing a global rebellion of the oppressed against the oppressor, the exploited against the exploiter.” — Malcolm X, February 18, 1965

“As the nations of the world free themselves, then capitalism has less victims, less to suck, and it becomes weaker and weaker. It’s only a matter of time in my opinion before it will collapse completely.” — Malcolm X, January 18, 1965

“It is impossible for a white person to believe in capitalism and not believe in racism. You can’t…