The second reading had a quote by Malcolm X saying, "The thing that I would like to impress upon every African American leader is that no kind of action in this country is ever going to bear fruit unless that action is tied in with the overall international struggle" (306). I have interpreted this as someone who is trying to help out multiple causes will only wear themselves thin and stretch out to so many things "causes". It will be become overwhelming to try and support every cause and right every injustice like, women's right, African America struggles, Native America movements because all of them had been enough of an uphill battle on their own. Malcolm X is probably speaking about the nations of Africa or the different African American rallies to through support behind but this will quickly become quicksand. Although there have been individuals in history like Fredrick Douglas who supports African American and women's suffrage, it is nearly impossible to "conquer the world" at this macro-level. Benny and Olivia travel around the country to help out in movements like African American and Asian American equality protests. Rita does a similar fight but at a much more micro-level.
Rita does participate in the Indian movement and occupation of Alcatraz as well as attempt to join Asian American equality meetings but at the micro-level of trying to "conquer the world" was through her failed business venture. Rita wore herself too thin by managing designs, teaching business lessons, teach American lessons, and working herself 16 hours a day just on sewing. Because her attention was placed in so many different areas she could not control the whole picture of the business itself, eventually it just tanked. Her action had only been fruitless after all of the time she spent for it. It is too daunting to try and support and work at so many causes but it is also difficult to pick which one is the most vital because all of them need attention and progress. Malcolm and Rita need to understand that they are mere human beings with many limitations and only so much brain power to work for everything they believe in. Although it will be "fruitless" to solely focus on one project there needs to be a hierarchy of priorities in order to move forward.
Its such a balancing act. To know the difference when you are focused too much on cause that is a lost cause, versus trying to help out a little in everything. You are always asked to donate here, sign a patrician there, or join this cause. Life sets you up to wear yourself thing. Even in school your expected to put equal time and effort into every class, join clubs, meet new people, and learn new things. We are taught to spread ourselves out so that we can later focus one something at the micro level and know that its truly what we want. This is such a dangerous task that leads one to wear themselves out very easily. Its an interesting idea more people should be aware of because it is the cause of 90% of the stress in our daily lives.
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