—The Daily Collegian Wednesday, Sept. 11, 1991
n a world of confusion, student strives for individuality
By CARMEN LIVINGSTON
Collegian Features Writer
Malcolm Thomas wears a hat to avoid
fussing with his hair and dresses casually
in dungarees and a T-shirt. Hip hairstyles
and flashy clothes aren't his forte.
Studying scriptures from the ancient
religion Kmt (pronounced Kamite) and
conversing with people on any level of
black consciousness is Malcolm Thomas's
daily ritual his way of life.
Thomas has spent much of his four years
at the University organizing discussions for
Black Caucus's re-education committee and
planning sessions for the group's Afrikan
School. He also abides by a vegetarian diet
that links him closer to the original prac
tices of African spirituality.
"You can never forsake spirituality for
the material world, without some reper
cussions," Thomas (senior -elementary
education) said. "There is no such thing as
a separation between the spiritual and
secular."
- - .
In an exuberant tone, Brenda Bell
(senior-public relations), a close friend of
Thomas for five years, explained that his
ultimate goal is to educate African-Amer
ican children about their heritage.
Bell commented on Thomas's personali
ty and consistency in his beliefs.
"He has a very strong aura or inner-sense
about himself," Bell said. "He gives you a
lot of attention and lets you know he cares
about you."
But some University students say
Thomas is "lost in the sauce" and isn't
going to find success in the real world, Bell
said.
"I think he's a very misunderstood young
man and people don't know how to accept
his way of life," Bell said. "I wouldn't say
1 1 ./11 1991 Q..l.sh
Phi Gamma Nu Professional Business fraternity\
ednesday
September
HUB Gallery
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Profess
he is radical. He just lives what he
believes."
Thomas realizes that he might sound far
fetched to someone with a different out
look.
"It's very important to note that I'm not
striving to come off like some big mystic
who is off in his own little realm," he said.
"I just try to examine and internalize
certain values that might help me gain
power over myself and the world around
me."
When people categorize Thomas as mil
itant or radical, he feels they do not
understand the urgency of the current
global situation. Many reports, newspa
pers and magazines have portrayed black
people in the midst of social, economic and
familial crisises.
"I am just someone trying to respond
adequately to my circumstances," Thomas
said. "People who classify me as militant
or extreme do not understand how the
world is creating very extreme conditions
which require extreme solutions."
His manner becomes more earnest as he
explains the concept of African spiritual
ity.
"The best way to clarify my views on
black spiritual practice and liberation
would be to bring them under the umbrella
of universal spiritual upliftment and lib
eration to avoid having them pigeon
holed."
Thomas wants to emphasize that Afri
can spirituality and liberation of black
people are one tightly woven entity that
should not be thought of as separate
spheres.
"I'm striving to look at my history and
my people with a discerning eye, sifting
through all that which might be dysfunc
tional."
According to revisionist history, ancient
NEE I
(A
Friday
Collegian PhotolChris Gaydosh
African civilizations are revered as the
earliest and highest developed societies;
therefore African ethics are at the basis of
all other religions, Thomas said.
He further characterizes African spri
ritualists as harmonious and concerned
with a fundamental "greater good." A lack
of individualism, classism, sexism and
chauvinism characterize African spiritua
lity's current mode, he added.
"The liberation of black people finds its
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alcolm
Thomas
Collegian Graphic/Suzanne M. Atkinson
relevance and urgency in that black peo
ple are the most dispossessed and trau
matized members of the known universe,"
he said.
"As we rise, all oppressed people will
consequently and subsequently rise, sig
naling a gradual restoration of balance in
the world."
During his childhood in an urban section
of Pittsburgh, Thomas's parents urged him
to discover more about his black heritage
and display it proudly. In fact, he was
named after Malcolm X.
"It wasn't as if anything was ever shoved
down my throat by my parents," Thomas
said. "They primarily just helped impart
certain fundamental values such as digni
ty, knowledge and excellence."
But Thomas wasn't always in tune with
his spiritupl development. Throughout his
adolescence, Thomas became disillusioned
with social institutions such as school. Now
he admits his habits and actions were in
many ways self-serving and hedonistic.
"I honestly believed that the highest goal
in life was pleasure," he said.
At 17 years old, Thomas had a rejuve-
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nating experience after reading The
Autobiography of Malcolm X, which
rechannelled his misguided enthusiasm into
finding ways to uplift his people.
"I remember going to the library
everyday getting books, pamphlets, any
thing I could work with," he said.
Although Malcolm X and other heroic
black leaders influenced Thomas, his
father's persona —organized, meticulous
and responsible geared Thomas into a
more positive light.
"These are all things which I've expe
rienced deficiencies in, and I'm trying
sincerely to overcome these flaws,"
Thomas said. "I remember growing up and
thinking that if I could be just more like my
dad, I would be able to progress much
further in life.
"I remember wanting to be my father for
many years, because my respect and
everyone's respect for him was just that
great," Thomas said. "I could make ref
erence to Malcolm X or any of the many
figures which have impacted upon me, but
any such references might obscure my
father's role as the towering figure
throughout my life."
While Thomas praises his father's per
sonal strengths, the two do not share a close
relationship. His mother appears to be his
confidante.
"She's free-spirited and less struc
tured," Thomas said. "Some people might
see my mother as more of an idealist as
opposed to my father who is a realist."
Perhaps Thomas's biggest challenge is to
graduate this year —school has been his
Achilles' heel for the past four years.
"School is going better and I'm very
optimistic," he said. "I'm currently at a
crossroads where I have to either put up
or shut up."
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