4. The Insurrection: Malcolm

7 days before the Insurrection….

Malcolm

Malcolm took his time taking his position at the marble podium. The long walk down the aisle of the US Senate Chamber felt like hours - at least for his enemies. Malcolm could feel their eyes burning holes through his skin - from both sides of the aisle. It was vitriol and hatred he had almost come to expect. In his eyes, it came with being a Black man in America. In his eyes, it came with being a Black man in America with power. In his eyes, it came with being...him. Still, both friends and foes, stood to their feet when the Vice-President of the United States of America had entered the room.

Malcolm X was in the building.

There had been much speculation about how these two formidable men would approach their union in fixing the nation. Aides from both sides did not see how this was going to go; many thought that their union would implode before it even began. For the most part, Malcolm and Martin figured out a way to govern from a commonplace that worked for both of them. Disagreements were minimal - but they did exist and the two men were mostly able to find common ground on most issues. When it came to education, they agreed that the center of any reform came in an extensive overhaul of America’s school curricula, and convincing Martin to accept his choice for Secretary of Education was fairly easy. Healthcare and addressing the health disparities among Black people and everybody else was a priority, much to the delight of Malcolm.

Other areas such as Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, and the Interior produced some resistance from both men. Martin had by and large been elected on the promise to bring his Poor People’s Campaign platform to fruition. The sweeping reformation in all areas of the government fueled calls of socialism from both his Democratic and Republican counterparts. Malcolm had his concerns and spared no notice in sharing them candidly with the President. His biggest fear was the precedent the government was setting in enforcing private companies to adhere to government policy. Malcolm feared all this would do was stoke up hatred for those who would most benefit from these sweeping changes - Black people. Given his and Martin’s polar opposite, yet unwavering stance on the use of police and lethal force to enforce the law, Malcolm feared that so much reform so quickly without government protection would ensure violent backlash. Still, Malcolm found room in the middle, becoming one of the nation’s most outspoken proponents of the 2nd amendment and responsible gun ownership among Black communities - much to the annoyance of Martin.

Of course, little if any agreement could be reached when it came to the subject of police reform and the country’s defense. Martin, or “Dr. Dream” as Malcolm would call him jokingly whenever he wanted to make a point, could not for the life of him embrace the president’s police reform plans. No amount of demilitarization, sensitivity re-training, or civilian oversight boards could reform what was wrong with the police in America. Malcolm ran on a platform, not on reform; rather, Malcolm’s vow was simple: Re-direct, defund, demilitarize, prosecute, and abolish. It was a campaign point that many of his closest aides would beg him to reconsider. Time and time again, they would plead with him to tone down the rhetoric or at the very least, move a little closer to the center on the controversial issue. “How can you be concerned with violence against Black people when it comes to these other areas of policy but be so brash when it comes to police reform?” They’d ask. “Stop calling it reform!” He’d balk. “You cannot reform something as treacherous as this system! It must be eradicated from head to toe!” His aides would get the point and quickly move on.

Today’s tie-breaking vote however was supposed to be a victory for one of Martin’s most prized platform points - a Universal Basic Income for all Americans. King had won several key battleground states on the strength of the promise of such a goal- an ambitious plan to give every American family a guaranteed income of $24,000 a year. The colossal price tag - almost $2 trillion - nearly gave Martin’s conservative opponents a collective stroke. It was a bold, provocative, and divisive issue. So much so, Malcolm was forced to take the tunnels from The Tubman Residence to the Capitol as a swarm of anti-socialist and pro-capitalist demonstrators lined the streets right outside of the Capitol-most of whom were white, but all of whom would benefit. This measure as it was sold to Malcolm, would lift millions of people out of poverty and significantly increase the economic conditions of America’s most forgotten. Malcolm understood that. Malcolm embraced that. But there was something that did not sit well will him with the bill as it was because as it stood, The President’s plan did not go far enough. “We have to be smart about this,” He remembers Martin telling him. “This amount of money will do nothing for many people living in areas where the cost of living outpaces income,” Malcolm retorted. “What good would this measure do if the cost of living and inflation isn’t regulated? This money will almost inevitably end up back in the hands of the very people and corporations who don’t need it.”

The two men went back and forth for hours but, ultimately Malcolm did what he always did as a Vice-President, he stood by his President.

But today, Malcolm was going to do something he had not done in three years. Today, Martin was going to publicly break his policy allegiance with Martin. He knew what this would mean for their relationship and what it would mean for their re-election hopes. Still, Malcolm knew he had to vote with his heart and go with his conscience. A Universal Basic Income was a good policy; most importantly, a Universal Basic Income was a good policy for Black people and Malcolm from the very beginning had promised to be a leader of the people. Surprisingly, the decision to vote against Martin’s signature bill would not be a difficult one from a political standpoint. From a personal standpoint, however, Malcolm knew the strain this would put between the two. Still, as he always said he would do, Malcolm would vote in the best interest of the people and as he had convinced himself, this bill in its current stage was just no good.

“Mr. Vice-President.” Malcolm was greeted by the Senate President as he took his seat.

“How are you, Senator?” Malcolm answered.

“I’m ready to make history, Mr. Vice-President,” he answered.

“Well,” Malcolm began as he took his seat, “I guess today we’ll see.” Martin grabbed the gavel and banged on the desk, bringing the room of 100 senators to attention.

“Good afternoon,” Malcolm began. “On this vote, the Yays are 50 and the Nays are 50,” he paused briefly. “The Senate being equally divided, the Vice - President votes in the-”

Before the words could come out of Malcolm’s mouth, a Capitol Police hurried from the side, grabbing Malcolm by the arm.

“Mr. Vice-President,” Malcolm had no time to react before he found himself being pulled out of his chair and dragged toward the door. “What is going on?” Malcolm managed to get out as he was escorted out of a side entrance.

“We have to get you out of here immediately.”

“Why?” he asked?

“Because the Capitol has been breached.”