Oakland

School Buzz: Malcolm X Stood for Justice

Published

11 years ago

July 14, 2015

There have been many powerful leaders during times of social change. One of those great leaders was Malcolm X.

However, in learning about Malcolm X in school history classes, it seems that there are some missing pieces of the story.

Malcolm X has been portrayed in many different forms. Some representations of him are negligent towards his values, such as his committed fight for freedom “by any means necessary.” On the other hand, some representations speak positively of his value of education and his outlook on how to remain enduring and nonviolent.

During Malcolm X’s time, society was in an uproar of hatred towards African American people, and racism continues to be a problem today. The question is, how do students feel about Malcolm X and what he stood for? What is the moral of his story?

Many stories have been told, some with different endings. Which side is telling the truth?

“[He] is for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against,” said Malcolm X.

He wanted to bring forth a sense of peace around the world.

“The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses,” he said.

During his lifetime, Malcolm X underwent a spiritual and intellectual transformation to advocate against problems in society, such as racism that caused hurt and pain towards minorities.

“Despite my firm convictions, I have always been a man who tries to face facts, and to accept the reality of life as new experience and new knowledge unfolds. I have always kept an open mind, a flexibility that must go hand in hand with every form of the intelligent search for truth,” he said.

Malcolm X changed his name to represent his African ancestors and their culture that had been lost during slavery. Becoming an African American leader allowed him to show his compassion for the people.

He believed in the process of self-education to strive for positive change.

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today,” said Malcolm X.

Education not only happens in the classroom, you also learn through experience.

In the words of Malcolm X, “There is nothing better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time. The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”

Malcolm X should be honored for his contributions to making a drastic change in society, and as a man who stood for what he believed in. Now the future is here and we are very close to reaching the dream that he imagined, if we work together.

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Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

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2 weeks ago

March 22, 2026

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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC