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I want to share a compelling thought, one of many, that Malcolm X had
In his early days as a hustler in Harlem, New York, he met many Veteran African American hustlers.
One of them was West Indian Archie. He was an old timer who worked as a number runner for a gambling racket
In his early days as a hustler in Harlem, New York, he met many Veteran African American hustlers.
One of them was West Indian Archie. He was an old timer who worked as a number runner for a gambling racket
How it worked was, everyday hundreds of thousands of ppl in New York would bet small & large sums on 3 digit numbers.
If the numbers matched the last 3 digits of total U.S. sales printed by the Stock Exchange, it was considered a hit.
If the numbers matched the last 3 digits of total U.S. sales printed by the Stock Exchange, it was considered a hit.
To increase their chances, people practiced what was called 'combinating'.
They'd split their bets on each of the 6 possible combinations of the 3 digit number they had selected.
So the number 840, combinated, would include 840, 804, 084, 048, 408 & 480.
They'd split their bets on each of the 6 possible combinations of the 3 digit number they had selected.
So the number 840, combinated, would include 840, 804, 084, 048, 408 & 480.
Normally number runners would write down everything. But what made West Indian Archie special was that he never wrote down a single name or digit, even in case of 'combinated' numbers!
When people placed their bets he simply nodded & filed away hundreds of entries in his head
When people placed their bets he simply nodded & filed away hundreds of entries in his head
His photographic memory was especially useful because where other runners carried betting slips & risked getting caught, the police could never find any incriminating evidence on West Indian Archie.
That made him an ideal number runner.
That made him an ideal number runner.
But Malcolm X saw it differently. He said,
"I've often reflected upon such black veteran numbers men as West Indian Archie.
If they had lived in another society, their exceptional mathematical talents might have been better used.
But they were black."
"I've often reflected upon such black veteran numbers men as West Indian Archie.
If they had lived in another society, their exceptional mathematical talents might have been better used.
But they were black."
This just made me think of all sections of Indian society that are actively discriminated against because their identity or some part of their identity is deemed undesirable, defective or even impure & polluting.
Women, Muslims, Bahujans, Dalits, Adivasis, ppl with dark skin, ppl with disabilities etc.
People who spend everyday fighting an uphill battle for the most basic things that are denied or made difficult to access just because of their identity or some part of it.
People who spend everyday fighting an uphill battle for the most basic things that are denied or made difficult to access just because of their identity or some part of it.
These obstacles could range from
being denied housing for belonging to a certain caste or religion,
being denied a job for having a disability that doesn't affect your work,
being denied a promotion for being a woman,
your kids being denied attention in class,
being denied housing for belonging to a certain caste or religion,
being denied a job for having a disability that doesn't affect your work,
being denied a promotion for being a woman,
your kids being denied attention in class,
To severely more harmful things like
being attacked & potentially killed for your identity or having your house or business burnt down for the same.
How would one even think about something like mathematics when he's too busy trying to stay alive & keep his family alive?
being attacked & potentially killed for your identity or having your house or business burnt down for the same.
How would one even think about something like mathematics when he's too busy trying to stay alive & keep his family alive?
But then this entire discriminatory atmosphere that the oppressors themselves have created is just brushed aside & they label entire genders, communities, races & identities as lazy or unintelligent or impure.
In prison, Malcolm X read about the history of slavery. He says abt sharing it with other black inmates,
"You let this caged black man start thinking, let him start thinking how with better breaks when he was young & ambitious he might have been a doctor, a scientist, anything"
"You let this caged black man start thinking, let him start thinking how with better breaks when he was young & ambitious he might have been a doctor, a scientist, anything"
"With better breaks" is the key phrase.
How many Adivasi inventors have we lost simply because they had no quality institutions in their region or some miner with connections bulldozed their homes.
How many Adivasi inventors have we lost simply because they had no quality institutions in their region or some miner with connections bulldozed their homes.
How many dalit surgeons must have given up on their dreams because of caste violence & discrimination.
How many women scientists have we lost because they were killed in infancy or if they were allowed to live were barred from education or killed for dowry.
How many women scientists have we lost because they were killed in infancy or if they were allowed to live were barred from education or killed for dowry.
How many disabled ppl suffer because they are denied jobs or employers refuse to make even minute accommodations.
How many Muslim kids can't pay their school fee bcoz their father is in jail on false charges.
How many Muslim kids can't pay their school fee bcoz their father is in jail on false charges.
I could go on & on.
What I learnt is this. Some of the brightest ppl who could contribute to society are out there struggling to survive only to be called unintelligent & unambitious by the very people who actively foster the conditions that keep these bright ppl from excelling.
What I learnt is this. Some of the brightest ppl who could contribute to society are out there struggling to survive only to be called unintelligent & unambitious by the very people who actively foster the conditions that keep these bright ppl from excelling.
Thank you for reading this far.
If I have made any comment I shouldn't have regarding any of the marginalized communities I mentioned then correct me & forgive me.
As always I'd love for you to share your thoughts. If I do not respond right away I'm probably asleep.
If I have made any comment I shouldn't have regarding any of the marginalized communities I mentioned then correct me & forgive me.
As always I'd love for you to share your thoughts. If I do not respond right away I'm probably asleep.
@DearthOfSid @juvified @queenbeee_27 @subiism @aakhirq @SwalihaAsiya @Fatima_Z0hra
Do read & share if you found value
Do read & share if you found value
