[MALCOLM X to disco music? It sounds awful…]
Socialist Organiser1984 1984-04-19Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 9 →
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MALCOLM X to disco music? It sounds awful, but it actually works.
"Malcolm X - No Sell Out" consists of fragments of his speeches, skilfully woven into an electronic funk backing.
These fragments, alternately spoken and shouted, give a hint of the power of Malcolm X's message to the black people of America.
To the oppressed, he says "the only thing power respects is power.
To the constitutionalists, he shouts Much of what I say might sound like it's stirring up trouble, but it's the truth.
By Les To the rulers, he argues, "you can't say you're not going to have an explostion, and you leave the condition"
He points out I've got a plate in front of me, but nothing is on it. Because all of us are sitting at the same table, are all of us diners? I'm not a diner until you let me dine."
He roars 'I'm not the kind of person who'd come here to say what you like.
He softly says "I was sitting in a house last night that was bombed - my own.
Finally, greeting an audience with "Brothers, sisters, friends ... and I see a few enemies" , the music crashes to an end, echoing the gunfire that killed Malcolm X.
No doubt Malcolm X said a lot of much more straightforward things in his speeches but never before have his words reached millions of young people listening to Radio 1. For surprisingly, some of the more thoughtful DJs have taken to playing this record several times a week.
And perhaps a few of those young people will try and find out what else Malcolm X said. have to be impressive. What you actually do and what you are is irrelevant. It's what you are seen to do or appear to do and what you seem to be that really counts. (I have been told that I don't look industrious).
You have to be seen working hard even when there's no work.
Cierical Assistants are encouraged and expected to compete with each other. You are supposed to be concerned about whether or not you've produced much more work than you are supposed to.
The Executive Officers also compete with each other but they do so in a much less strenuous manner. They put pressure on Clerical Officers to make Clerical Assistants work harder. The Executive Officer whose section has produced the most work, wins.
GEORDIE
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