In Memorial of Brother Malcolm-

by Leroy Moore/Illin n' Chillin correspondent, Black Disabled Activist\Poet

The Nation of Islam and the Black Panthers took the education to the streets. In July of this year Berkeley and Oakland lost more than a sidewalk scholar, former Black Panther, Union worker, father, people’s activist, poet, tailor, and outspoken speaker. We lost a piece of East Bay foundation and a source of revolutionary education and political truths! On September 25th I found out that Malcolm Samuel, AKA Brother Malcolm, passed away on July 29th 2005 from complications of diabetes but these complications came by the hands of police and the non existence medical care in prison and in so called vocational hospital.

During Malcolm’s memorial on September 25, 2005 at the Center for Independent Living, CIL, Berkeley, CA. where he was consider a life long consumer, I learned why I haven’t seen Malcolm at his regular place, outside of Amoeba Records Store on Telegraph Ave. in his wheelchair with his hard hitting spoken word CD speaking Black Panther truth to the youth. You see, his brother, James, and others at the memorial said that Malcolm was caught in a police sweep on Telegraph in April. Many people, friends of Malcolm that are involved with Catholic Workers who delivers meals to the people who were homeless told me that the Berkeley police performs three sweeps a year. They told me the schedule of the sweeps are as follows, one sweep before the school year to present a ‘new cleaner campus for U.C. Berkeley new incoming students; during the holidays for all the business owners on Telegraph so they can make their Christmas money and at the end of the school year for parents picking up their love ones. Malcolm was use to being harassed by Berkeley police.

Malcolm was swept up in April of 2005 and brought to a jail in Vacaville, CA. according to his brother he was then transferred to Duelle Vocational Center and then to Hospital Doctors in Montica, CA where he passed away. All of this time and Malcolm’ brother could not get the correct information of where he was and how his brother was doing. Tears streamed down our checks when Malcolm’s brother told us that his brother was cremated without his say and still today the jail refuse to send Malcolm’s remains to his brother in Berkeley.

The raw but true stories that were told at the memorial hit my ears voiletly. Stories about Malcolm’s run ins with Berkeley finest filled CIL with anger. His brother told us a story how the police thought Malcolm stole a wheelchair from the hospital when he was in for treatment for his dabites. Malcolm’s brother continued the story by telling us that the police actually handcuffed Malcolm in his wheelchair! Malcolm used to tell me in my ear bending over his wheelchair how the police continuously verbally threaten him to stay off Telegraph Ave. His brother told us that Malcolm was swept up by police because he was a Black Panther and his revolutionary sidewalk education he spread on the Avenue no other reason. Because Malcolm was a Black Panther the FBI had a file on him and his brother told us that Malcolm was closely watched after the 911 attacks in New York and in DC. Malcolm told me one day how he escape the draft for the Vietnam War by going to Canada and the time he saw Malcolm X speak.

Malcolm and I met a year ago this was the same time that he was getting services from Center for Independent Living of Berkeley. Mav from CIL told me that they helped Malcolm get temporary housing, disability benefits and the Executive Director and other employees of CIL came out of packets to get him food and clothes. I think because of CIL Malcolm got to know about Pushing Limits radio show on KPFA. He did a show with Kiilu Nyasha talking about his early years in the Black Panther Party and his job as a tailor for the Panther Party during Black History Month 2004. Malcolm lost a leg from diabetes. His brother remembered what he told Malolm after he lost his leg. He told his brother, “Now I’m your legs now!” His brother told us that he was the comedian and Malcolm was the political, grassroots educator/activist. In 2002 Malcolm with local artists like the Coup, his brother and others helped produce and package his CD entitled Brother Malcolm SPEAKS. Before Malcolm died his brother and Malcolm was working on his second CD and a DVD of his 2002 live performance at The Yellow Warehouse in Oakland. This project will be ready sometime this Winter or early 2006.

Malcolm’s poetry tells a story of unity, strength, the beauty of humanity and the need of self-determination without the two political party system. During the memorial, Siraj, a local poet and one of many Malcolm’s adopted young solider, spoke about his connection with Malcolm. Siraj in 2004 was hosting the open mic event at Blake’s on Telegraph and was trying to get Malcolm to come and be a feature. Finally Malcolm agreed and tore up the place with his poem “Rainbows” according to Siraj. At the memorial Siraj shared a poem he wrote to remember Malcolm. Siraj told us Malcolm was like his grandfather. He used to push Malcolm places when his electric wheelchair broke down and used to help him charge it in stores on the avenue. Siraj also shared with us that Malcolm was ready to take on anything from opening a recording business to performing by saying, “we should start this or that!” He used to tell all the youngsters the history of Berkeley and Oakland and the city’s ties to people’s power.

Malcolm was featured in the article in Street Spirit and in the East Bay Express of April 2003. A lady at the memorial gave us insights of the unselfishness of Malcolm when he offered his Chinese Cookies and other food to her and the rest of his friends on the Avenue. Although Malcolm was a revolutionary, poet, father and friend to many, he had strange craving for food. Another of Malcolm’s friends at the memorial said that his favorite meal was a mayonnaise & tomato sandwich. Yesterday I found myself outside of Amobia Records on Telegraph Avenue eating a mayonnaise & tomato sandwich with my portable CD player blasting Malcolm’s CD while looking up in the foggy sky waving hi to my disabled revolutionary Brother, Brother Malcolm. You’ll be missed!