CULTURE
Ice Cube Proved Malcolm X Right. Black Celebrities Are Not Our Heroes
Too often, they become political pawns that lead us astray
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king," and in the post-civil rights era, after the assassination of Dr. Matrin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, celebrities have been elevated as heroes in the Black community. People often assume those put on a pedestal for their musical, athletic, or artistic skills are also qualified to lead. Indeed, many Black Americans find pride in seeing people who look like them succeed. And they often assume that Black people who achieve these heights, who break a glass ceiling, deserve more than just fame, but our adoration and our willing ear. Nevertheless, becoming a talented musician doesn't inherently make someone qualified to be a civil rights leader.
During a 1963 interview, Malcolm X imparted some wisdom to the Black community. "Show me in the white community where a comedian is a white leader. Show me in the white community where a singer is a white leader, or a dancer, or a trumpet player is a white leader," and suggested that "they have been made celebrities and usually say exactly what they know the white man wants to hear." While it's true that artists are essential to the Black liberation movement and have made…
