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Malcolm was always a threat to the status quo but he was arguably at his most dangerous when he started talking that Pan-Afrikan talk. It’s no coincidence he was assassinated shortly after he set his sights on the global Afrikan struggle. Anyone telling you as a Black Americans to reject your African heritage is misleading you. We can celebrate our own unique culture without turning our backs on the roots we sprouted from. A strong, unified African diaspora is our greatest hope to achieve true liberation. #MalcolmX #panafricanism #blackamerican #WARTIME

Malcolm X, like all of us, was imperfect. What makes Black Men Build heirs of Malcom X is his willingness and ability to transform. To be self critical and work through internal contradictions. In the original “Ironies of the Saint” essay by Farah Jasmine Griffin, she says: “By the end of his life, it appears Malcolm not only changed his opinion about women’s position in society, but he also began a much needed self-critique.” In the important essay “Black Popular Culture and the Transcendence of Patriarchal Illusions,” Barbara Ransby and Trayce Matthews cite the following excerpt from a letter Malcolm wrote to his cousin-in-law in 1965: “I taught brothers not only to deal unintelligently with the devil or the white woman, but I also taught many brothers to spit acid at the sisters. They were kept in their places - you probably didn’t notice this in action, but it is a fact. I taught these brothers to spit acid at the sisters. If the sisters decided a thing was wrong, they had to suffer it out. If the sister wanted to have her husband at home with her in the evening, I taught the brothers that the sisters were standing in their way; in the way of the Messenger, in the way of progress, in the way of God himself. I did these things brother. I must undo them.” If Malcolm himself came to be aware of the need to “undo” the work of his teachings about women, certainly we must recognize this need as well. In “Ironies of the Saint”, an article from our latest issue of WARTIME, the BMB National Political Education team challenges us to confront harmful views we hold toward our people and evolve, learn, and grow just as Malcolm did before us. 👉🏾 To read the full article hit the link in bio and download your digital copy of WARTIME Issue 7 📚 (* in carousel text refers to terms we define in the full article)

We are living under intensifying repression: an outwardly explicit fascist is back in the White House, book bans and the erasure of Black history, ICE raids and state terror, digital surveillance, political polarization and rising violence, and attacks on Black families, Black women, and Black organizing. To be clear though - this is not a new phenomenon. The current rise of American fascism reflects a consistent pattern of violence inflicted by European colonizers throughout history. In this excerpt of “fascism - that cracka shit”, an article from our new issue of WARTIME, BMB member St. James Valsin traces this evolution of violence from the early colonial days of stolen land and genocide to today’s modern construct of police state and prison industrial complex. As we analyze how colonial repression has evolved it’s crucial we challenge ourselves to evolve as well - what version of ourselves does this moment require? How are we transforming to meet this moment? We have been here before. What did we do then? What must we do now? 👉🏾 To read the full article hit the link in bio for WARTIME Issue 7 where we honor 100 years of Malcolm by studying his transformations and using his evolution as a template for our own.

Welcome to the 7th edition of WARTIME, a special issue honoring 100 years of Malcolm X and the transformations that shaped his life, our movement, and the moment we now face. Malcolm Little. Detroit Red. Malcolm X. El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz / Omowale. Each version of himself is more rooted, more radical, more refined in his purpose. As we revisit transformations of Malcolm in this issue, we offer them not just as a biography, but as a mirror to ourselves. When we reflect on these four lives within one man, we must also ask: What are the phases of our own transformation? Who shaped you? What broke you? What rebuilt you? What are you unlearning, still? And what are you becoming? In 2026, we are still living under the same hostile conditions Malcolm confronted: state violence, imperialism, disconnection, and dispossession, but now accelerated by digital surveillance, political repression, and an outwardly explicit fascist back in the White House. Inside these pages, you’ll find: ✶ Political and cultural analysis of the terrain we’re fighting on ✶ Reflections on Malcolm’s lives and lessons ✶ A call to rebuild our circle, together ✶ And a collective reminder: Transformation is not optional. It is mandatory This issue is for anyone asking what Malcolm would demand of us now in our organizing, our relationships, our sense of purpose, and our courage to fight back. If you’re reading this, you’re exactly where you need to be. We poured our heart, discipline, and study into these pages. Take your time with it and then pass it to someone who needs to see themselves in this moment too. Physical copies will be available in: Atlanta, Baltimore, Columbus, Chicago, Detroit, Durham, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Raleigh, and St. Louis. Pickup locations will be announced soon. 👉🏾 Hit the link in our bio for the digital issue. History isn’t made. It’s built. #WARTIME #MalcolmX100 #BlackMenBuild #MeetTheMoment #RebuildTheCircle

This week USD hit its lowest point in 4 years compared against currencies such as the Euro and pound. It reflects an ongoing uncertainty around the US economy, fueled largely by the Trump administration’s haphazard tariff policy and rising geopolitical tensions such as Greenland. Many analysts predict the US dollar will continue to weaken this year, leading to a reduction to purchasing power for Americans and more inflation. A loss of trust in USD has led to a surge in gold, which is up roughly 65% in the last year - even after today’s 12% tumble as a response to Trump’s pick for Federal Reserve Chair. The rise of interest in gold as USD declines is a full circle moment that began in 1971 when Nixon ended the Bretton Woods System which set USD at a fixed price in gold. This clip from the 2012 documentary End of the Road details how the Bretton Woods System was created, why Nixon ended that system, and how it put the USD directly on course for the decline we are seeing today.

The general strike in Minnesota today that corporate media isnt’t touching. Be vigilant in amplifying and seeking out independent news platforms. Our true power rests in our labor and this is a small glimpse of what’s possible when we organize. Video source: @BreakThrough News

A report this week by Max Blumenthal from The Grayzone has exposed one of the unlikeliest fronts for Mossad activity in Desi Banks Productions LLC, the company owned by comedian Desi Banks. Persian-language ads registered to the LLC were first ran in September across 19 countries targeting Iranian scientists and their family members in an attempt to turn them into assets for Israeli intelligence. Another round of ads ran this month was aimed at turning Iranian protestors into informants. Both ad campaigns promoted online forms linked to the Mossad. In response to the report, Google suspended the company’s advertising account on January 20th. Banks has denied any involvement, claiming someone used his LLC without his knowledge. “My business is already working with Google to remove anything that was done without my permission and to figure out how my company name was used” said Banks on Twitter. Blumenthal claims Banks ignored The Grayzone’s requests for comments in September when the outlet was first preparing to break the story. Though surprising on the surface, this connection highlights the strategic ways influencers and celebrities are exploited for geopolitical purposes. It’s worth noting Banks was recently awarded a sitcom with BET, which is now owned by a company founded by David Ellison. Ellison’s father is Larry Ellison, the largest private funder of the Israeli Defense Forces.

The murder of Black man Keith Porter Jr on New Year’s Eve marked ICE’s first recording killing of a US citizen under Trump. His death also reflects an unsettling uptick in deaths at the hands of ICE agents - for both citizens and immigrants. Last year at Black Men Build we made state repression a major focus of our political education because of the urgency in which our people need to understand the rising danger we are facing. Any time the state increases its militarization of law enforcement, Black people will feel the consequences. A Black man becoming the first US citizen killed by Trump’s ICE - during a moment of holiday celebration at that - speaks to this inherent threat always lurking. We must come together, organize our communities, and fortify our collective strength. No one is coming to save us. Tap in for more info on how you can get involved.

Today marks the anniversary of the 1963 assassination of Sylvanus Olympio, the first president of independent Togo and a pivotal figure in the early wave of African decolonization. Olympio was a sophisticated strategist who pushed for true independence beyond just the changing of a flag. As a politician he fought to move Togo past the French neocolonial era by emphasizing fiscal discipline, national sovereignty, and a refusal to let his country become a pawn in Cold War power struggles. Shortly after gaining independence he told the press “I will do my best to ensure my country can thrive without France.” However his life and time as leader were cut short in a brutal coup, the first successful military takeover in newly independent African countries. He was killed just outside the gates of the US embassy in the capital city of Lomé. The coup was led by disgruntled soldiers with deep ties to French military structures, including time spent in the French colonial army. Questions still remain around who told his assailants where Olympio was hiding after he fled his presidential villa, though testimony from Olympio’s son claims the French ambassador made a call that night to the embassy warning of a coup. Jacques Foccart, France’s chief advisor on African affairs, would later say “Sylvanus Olympio was not one of our friends.” Olympio remains another critical symbol of “what could have been” for the continent - an unapologetic brand of African nationalism that prioritized the dignity of its citizens over the interests of colonial invaders. Today we remember a leader who believed in freedom as a fundamental principle and not a commodity to be negotiated ✊🏾

As the Trump administration escalates its military provocations against Venezuela, it’s tough to ignore clear parallels to the US’ illegal invasion of Panama on this day in 1989. Like Venezuela and its oil, this invasion was driven by an imperialistic desire to control the Panama Canal. Code named Operation Just Cause, the invasion was largely framed as a necessary measure to protect the Panamanian people and US citizens from military dictator Manuel Noriega. Just a year earlier, Noriega became the first foreign head of state to be indicted in the US when charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, and racketeering were brought against him. This was despite the US government using Noriega as a paid asset and informant for decades, shielding him from the very crimes he would eventually be charged with. The State Department and media outlets also claimed this was about “restoring democracy”, another contradictory narrative given the US’ heavy-handed influence in the 1989 Panamanian elections that saw the CIA funnel over $10m to opposition candidate Guillermo Endara. When Noriega voided the results, Washington continued referring to Endara as the legitimate winner. Still unable to remove Noriega from power, the US turned to military action. First they devised a coup in Oct of 1989 with the Panamanian Defense Force, which they intentionally let fail to justify heavier US military presence. American forces then increased its military provocations, both overt and covert, while falsely depicting them as attacks from Panamanian forces. This culminated in the death of a US intelligence officer, providing the international incident the US had been waiting for. Four days later the US launched a brutal invasion of Panama that showed little, if any, regard for civilian life or residential areas. That same night, Endara was sworn in as President, an action he was reportedly told was needed to prevent a prolonged occupation. This operation was widely condemned as illegal for violating the UN Charter in addition to its severe attacks against civilian. Now, 36 years later, we’re seeing a similar script unfold against Maduro and Venezuela.

Today we honor the anti-apartheid leader Steve Biko on what would have been his 79th birthday. Biko became a popular figure in South Africa’s Black Liberation struggle during the 60s, rising to prominence during the Black Consciousness Movement when he helped organize students into an unprecedented political force. Under his leadership, the South African Students’ Organisation was formed with Biko elected as inaugural president. Their work involved educating the masses, mobilizing people through community projects, and spearheading protests, demonstrations, and boycotts. Biko’s ideology centered around psychological empowerment and he became known for promoting the slogan “Black is beautiful”. His popularity led the South African government to place a ban order on him in 1973 which prevented him from leaving his hometown and speaking in public, barred him from political organizing, and forbade the media from quoting him. This didn’t stop his activity, and in 1977 he was arrested for violating the ban order. While in police custody he was severely beaten, succumbing to his injuries on Sept 12th. He was only 30 years old. His murderers were never held accountable and the fight to deliver justice for his family, comrades, and admirers around the world goes on to this day. 🖤✊🏾

Last week a secret memo was sent from Attorney General Pam Bondi to federal prosecutors and law enforcement agencies, directing the FBI to “compile a list of groups or entities engaged in acts that may constitute terrorism”. This marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s crackdown on political dissent. In the memo, Bondi outlines a wide range of people and organizations to target, basing the focus on beliefs deemed “anti-American” as much as actions. It also outlines a “cash reward system” meant to incentivize people into reporting their fellow Americans. This is the Justice Department’s first major step in upholding Trump’s National Security Presidential Memorandum, known as NSPM-7, which was signed by the President in September shortly after Charlie Kirk’s murder. Investigative journalist Ken Klippenstein published the memo on his Substack last weekend and joined Amy Goodman on Democracy Now! this week to discuss the details more in-depth.

On Dec 8th 1969, four days after the murder of Fred Hampton, LAPD laid siege to the LA headquarters of the Black Panther Party’s Southern California chapter on 41st and Central. This militarized raid involving nearly 350 officers marked the first major SWAT deployment in the country. Police framed the raid as a “preemptive strike” due to their fraudulent claim that the Panthers had illegal weapons, but when the shootout concluded only legally registered firearms were found. More importantly, no Panthers were killed (though several were wounded) during the 5-hour, heavily outnumbered battle that saw police use grenades, tear gas, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. All 13 members present at the headquarters were arrested and put on trial only to be acquitted by a jury of all major charges. The operation was a massive failure all-around for police but unfortunately did succeed in one crucial way - as a proof-of-concept that justified SWAT expansion nationwide.

Chiquita Banana is one of the most blood-soaked corporations in US history, going by United Fruit Company (UFC) until it rebranded in 1984 due to its terrible reputation. They earned this reputation by relying on criminality as an essential part of their business operations in Latin America. These crimes included funding terrorism, bribing/overthrowing governments, devastating natural ecosystems, and ruthless labor exploitation. As a result of the exploitative conditions Colombian workers were subjected to, 25,000 of them organized a strike in 1928 - the largest labor movement the country had seen up to that point. It went on for 2 months until the UFC responded with sheer violence by dispatching the Colombian military to deal with the workers. Over the span of Dec 5th & 6th, soldiers would murder over 1,000 civilians. The exact number of casualties has never been confirmed but some estimates have it as high as 2,000. A US gunboat positioned itself nearby, ready to deploy troops if they needed to take matters into their own hands. The UFC was able to act with such impunity in the region due to their close ties with the US government. Before he was Eisenhower’s Sec of State, Nazi sympathizer John Foster Dulles represented UFC with his law firm Sullivan & Cromwell. His brother Allen, Head of CIA under Eisenhower, also provided legal services to the company. The Dulles brothers were on UFC payroll for 38 years. Henry Cabot Lodge, the US Ambassador to the UN, was also a large UFC shareholder. Even Eisenhower’s personal secretary was connected as she was married to UFC’s PR man. Chiquita Banana continues being a stain on the region to this day.

As of this week, sports gambling is officially legal and fully operational in Missouri. This comes after voters made Missouri the 39th state to legalize sports betting when they approved Amendment 2 in last year’s election. The constitutional amendment barely passed with only 50.1% approval and needed a record $43 million in funding (mostly from DraftKings and FanDuel) to make it happen. Lawmakers tried and failed numerous times to pass the amendment through the legislature before turning to the ballot. For years Missouri bettors have gone to neighboring states to place bets. Though officials are lauding the entry into sports betting as a way of keeping this tax revenue in-house, mental health professionals have raised concerns about the social impact. Sports gambling currently affects roughly 2% of Missourians, a number some expect to rise as high as 10%. The state has acknowledged the increased risk and has established a $5 million compulsive-gambling fund intended to finance treatment and resources for people struggling with addiction. Despite the appearance of caring about this issue, sportsbooks continue operating with little regulation across state levels as they wreak havoc on the sports ecosystem and influenceable fans at large.