Malcolm X

by Manning Marable

  457 “tamper with your religious sanctuary.” Paul L. Montgomery, “Muslims Enraged by ‘Sneak Attack,’” New York Times, February 24, 1965.

  457 “brigade,” reported the Chicago Tribune. Thomas Fitzpatrick, “5,000 Muslims Meet Today in Security Vise,” Chicago Tribune, February 26, 1965; and Thomas Fitzpatrick, “Heavy Guard Readied for Muslim Chief,” Chicago Tribune, February 25, 1965.

  458 “country trying to slander me.” Thomas Fitzpatrick, “Muslim Sect Hears Chief Hit Malcolm,” Chicago Tribune, February 27, 1965.

  458 “a follower of Elijah Muhammad.” Ibid.; “Muhammad Passes Up Session of Convention,” Los Angeles Times, February 28, 1965; and Thomas Fitzpatrick, “Elijah’s Men Maul Foe, 30, at Sect Rally,” Chicago Tribune, March 1, 1965. About 7,500 people attended the three-day convention. Muhammad Ali also took the stage to repledge his loyalty to the patriarch.

  458 a traditional Muslim burial sheet. Rickford, Betty Shabazz, pp. 242-52.

  458 King, Whitney Young, and Kwame Nkrumah. Ibid., pp. 252-53.

  459 “because he loved us so.” Malcolm X and Haley, Autobiography, pp. 461-62; and Ossie Davis interview, June 29, 2003.

  459 the brothers proceeded to bury Malcolm themselves. Malcolm X and Haley, Autobiography, p. 462; and Rickford, Betty Shabazz, pp. 254-55.

  459 from a sleeping pill overdose. Goldman, The Death and Life of Malcolm X, p. 308.

  460 “something, which I don’t believe.” Larry 4X Prescott interview, June 9, 2006.

  460 to assume his leadership mantle. Max Stanford interview, August 28, 2007.

  461 for Betty and the children. Rickford, Betty Shabazz, pp. 255-65.

  461 “field slaves to the house slaves.” Ibid., pp. 268-70.

  462 Collins responded, “I believe so.” James 67X Warden interviews, July 24, 2007, and August 1, 2007.

  462 “the youth were crazy.” Max Stanford interview, August 28, 2007.

  463 “in line to be assassinated.” FBI—Morris, Memo, New York Office, June 4, 1965.

  463 New York State’s death row. Goldman, The Death and Life of Malcolm X, p. 318.

  463 Hayer, beyond their NOI membership. Ibid., pp. 310, 318-20, 329-33.

  463 fire to his jail mattress. Robert L. Jenkins, “Cary Thomas,” in Jenkins, ed., Malcolm X Encyclopedia, pp. 531-32.

  464 hands of Butler or Hayer. Friedly, Malcolm X: The Assassination, pp. 42-43; and Cary Thomas interview with NYPD, March 3, 1965, and March 12, 1965, Case File 871-65, Series I, MANY.

  464 “go look for nobody else.” Norman 3X Butler interview, December 22, 2008.

  464 order to free his coassassins. Goldman, The Death and Life of Malcolm X, pp. 335-39, 348-53.

  464 I never trusted Kenyatta—never.” Ibid., pp. 339-40; and Thomas 15X Johnson interview, September 29, 2004.

  464 an NOI “hundred-man enforcing squad.” Goldman, The Death and Life of Malcolm X, pp. 339-40.

  465 to disregard Betty’s off-stand statements. Ibid., pp. 333-35.

  465 “when the jury convicted me.” Thomas 15X Johnson interview, September 29, 2004.

  465 “here that history will support.” Goldman, The Death and Life of Malcolm X, pp. 35 7-59, 373-74.

  465 political philosophy of black nationalism. Marable, Living Black History, p. 197; and Kofsky, Black Nationalism and the Revolution in Music, p. 155.

  465 “of the black nationalist movement.” Kofsky, Black Nationalism and the Revolution in Music, p. 64.

  465 “the New Super Bop Fire.” Amiri Baraka (also known as LeRoi Jones), “Jazz Criticism and Its Effect on the Art Form,” in David Baker, ed., New Perspectives in Jazz (Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian, 1986), p. 66.

  465 “artist of the spoken word.” Goldman, The Death and Life of Malcolm X, p. 383.

  465 “its relevance cannot be doubted.” Eliot Fremont-Smith, “An Eloquent Testament,” New York Times, November 5, 1965.

  466 “the most painful of truths.” Truman Nelson, “Delinquent’s Progress,” Nation, November 8, 1965, pp. 336-38.

  466 “his burning ambition to succeed.” Bayard Rustin, “Making His Mark,” Washington Post, November 14, 1965.

  466 “members of the black bourgeoisie.” Ibid.

  467 sold worldwide exceeded six million. Eric Pace, “Alex Haley, 70, Author of Roots, Dies,” New York Times, February 11, 1992.

  467 with Malcolm X for decades. See FBI—Morris file.

  467 “have taken all five assassins.” Karim, Skutches, and Gallen, Remembering Malcolm, p. 19 1.

  468 “valuable assistance to the Bureau.” FBI—Goodman, Memo, New York Office, April 27, 1966.

  468 went back to New York City. Ibid.

  468 or anywhere else—has emerged. Langston Hughes Savage interview, September 6, 2008.

  468 “of Malcolm’s birth and death.” Remnick, King of the World, p. 240.

  468 as remote as another world. Ibid., pp. 253-56.

  469 of nearly all the Nation’s operations. On Wallace Muhammad’s rise to power in the NOI, see Clifton E. Marsh, From Black Muslims to Muslims: The Resurrection, Transformation, and Change of the Lost-Found Nation of Islam in America, 1930-1995, second edition (London: Scarecrow, 1996), pp. 101-11, 157-71; Clegg, An Original Man, pp. 98, 162, 181-83, 206-7, 273-74, 282; “Son Will Succeed Elijah Muhammad,” Amsterdam News, March 1, 1975; “There Is No Power Struggle Among Black Muslims,” Amsterdam News, March 22, 1975; and “An Interview with Elijah Muhammad’s Successor,” Amsterdam News, April 9, 1975.

  469 a few whites actually joined. “New Muslim Leader Invites Contributions from Whites,” Amsterdam News, April 23, 1975; and “Muslims to Accept White Followers,” Amsterdam News, June 25, 1975.

  469 distinguish himself from his father. “W. Deen Mohammed: A Leap of Faith,” Chicago Tribune, October 20, 2002.

  469 “for the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.” Marsh, From Black Muslims to Muslims, pp. 103-6.

  470 in 1977, was to excommunicate him. Ibid., pp. 107-10.

  470 Marie Muhammad (born March 30, 1960). “Suit Charges Late Muslim Leader's Estate Misused,” Jet, March 26, 1981.

  470 “get in the front of the civil rights movement.” Larry 4X Prescott interview, November 7, 2007.

  471 a wife and thirteen children. “Muslim Slain in Jersey,” Amsterdam News, September 8, 1973.

  471 subsequently found four miles distant. Evanzz, The Messenger, p. 377.

  471 just barely missing his secretary. Ibid., p. 364.

  471 causes, on December 18, 2003. Illinois Deaths, Raymond Sharrieff, U.S. Social Security Death Index, Family Search Internet (www.familysearch.org, June 19, 2010).

  471 six sons, and eight daughters. Richard Goldstein, “Jabir Herbert Muhammad, Who Managed Muhammad Ali, Dies at 79,” New York Times, August 27, 2008.

  471 Council on American-Islamic Relations. Margaret Ramirez, Manya Brachear, and Ron Grossman, “Imam W. Deen Mohammed, 1933-2008,” Chicago Tribune, September 10, 2008; and Patricia Sullivan, ʺW. D. Mohammed: Changed Muslim Movement in U.S.,ʺ Washington Post, September 10, 2008.

  472 “not a good influence on him.” Bill Cunningham and Daniel Golden, “Malcolm: The Boston Years,” Boston Globe, February 16, 1992.

  472 passed away on August 6, 1996. Ibid.

  472 “wanting to help my daughter.” Rickford, Betty Shabazz, pp. 359-61, 364-66, 437-39, 505-13.

  472 “to uplifting women and children.” Emanuel Parker, “Nation Mourns Loss of Betty Shabazz,” Los Angeles Sentinel, June 26, 1997.

  472 District of Columbia representative Eleanor Holmes Norton. Ibid.

  473 not those of her father. Rickford, Betty Shabazz, pp. 536-45.

  473 “stories straight. You’re out, kid.” Gerry Fulcher interview, October 3, 2007.

  473 before resigning from the force. Ibid.

  474 “allegedly received from the FBI.” Les Matthews, “Malcolm X Killer Talks; Names 4,” Amsterdam News, April 29, 1978.

  474 “have been sure to notice.” Charles Kaiser, “2 Held Not
Guilty in Malcolm Case,” New York Times, July 27, 1978.

  474 to grant a new trial. “Federal Hearings Asked into Malcolm X Murder,” New York Times, April 30, 1979.

  474 of the Black Panther Party. Ibid.; and “Probe Requested in Malcolm Death,” Los Angeles Sentinel, July 20, 1978.

  474 died on August 4, 2009. Robert Fleming, “Khalil Islam; Wrongly Convicted of Killing Malcolm X, Dies,” Black Star News, August 7, 2009.

  475 serious to permit his release. Jennifer Peltz, “Thomas Hagen, Only Man to Admit Role in Malcolm X Assassination, Is Freed on Parole in NYC,ʺ Associated Press, April 27, 2010.

  475 associated with the Newark mosque. See Zak Kondo, Conspiracys: Unraveling the Assassination of Malcolm X (Washington, D.C.: Nubia, 1993).

  475 They escaped with over $12,500. United States of America v. James Henry Moore and William Bradley, Title 18 U.S.C. Secs. 2113(d) and (D.N.J. 1699); and “Livingston Bank Is Held Up,” New York Times, April 12, 1968.

  475 charged with the bank robbery. United States of America v. James Henry Moore, appellant, and William Bradley, 453F. 2d 601 (3d Cir. 1971).

  475 own attorney separate from Moore. United States of America v. William Bradley, Notice of Appearance, July 18, 1969.

  475 were ultimately dismissed. United States of America v. William Bradley, Order for Dismissal, August 21, 1970.

  475 “years for an unrelated felony.” Goldman, The Death and Life of Malcolm X, p. 428.

  476 baseball achievements in high school. “Sports Briefs,” Amsterdam News, February 21, 1981; Collie J. Nicholson, “King Refutes New York Post Claim,” Los Angeles Sentinel, June 24, 1999; and Newark Athletic Hall of Fame (http://www.newarkathletichalloffame.org/_fileCabinet/NAHFPastInductees.pdf). Carolyn Kelly-Shabazz was inducted into the Newark Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

  476 criminality to respectability seemed complete. Omar Shabazz, Inside Job: Betrayal of the Black Messiah, 2010.

  476 “religion, and freedom of assembly.” Richard Prince, “Malcolm X Scholars Point to a Triggerman,” May 24, 2010, Maynard Institute (http://mije.org/richardprince/malcolm-x-scholars-id-triggerman).

  476 real killers of Malcolm X. Omar Shabazz, Inside Job: Betrayal of the Black Messiah, 2010.

  477 “[in which] Malcolm was assassinated.” Louis Farrakhan interview, December 27, 2007; and Mike Wallace interview with Louis Farrakhan, 60 Minutes, CBS, September 29, 2009.

  477 “grand jury to question me.” Louis Farrakhan interview, December 27, 2007.

  477 destroy you. I understand that. Ibid.

  478 members in Detroit’s Cobo Center. “Muslims Name Successor to Malcolm X,ʺ Afro-American , August 28, 1965.

  478 “didn’t mean to take your home!” Louis Farrakhan interview, May 9, 2005.

  478 Farrakhan delivered the guest sermon. Louis Farrakhan interview, December 27, 2007.

  Epilogue: Reflections on a Revolutionary Vision

  481 “mind, Black judgment,” Baraka asserted. LeRoi Jones, Home: Social Essays (New York: William Morrow, 1966), pp. 238-50.

  481 “‘integrated out of existence.’” “Malcolm X a Harlem Idol on Eve of Murder Trial,” New York Times, December 5, 1965.

  482 “on an otherwise darkened stage.” Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture) and Ekwueme Michael Thelwell, Ready for Revolution (New York: Scribner, 1993), pp. 253, 259. Carmichael added, “It was simply refreshing for young Africans to hear someone stand up and so fearlessly describe the real American black folks knew and experienced daily. Especially in a setting usually so relentlessly cautious, guarded, and overly sensitive to the sensibilities of the same white ruling class responsible for perpetuating our people’s oppression” (p. 261).

  483 Davis said, “is not a king.” Ossie Davis interview, June 29, 2003.

  485 necessity of armed struggle in Africa. William Mervin Gumede, Thabo Mbeki and the Battle for the Soul of the ANC (Cape Town, South Africa: Zebra Press, 2007), p. 24.

  485 that number were black Americans. See Marable, Race, Reform and Rebellion, pp. 238-40.

  486 will influence his future legacy. The sales of The Autobiography of Malcolm X rose 300 percent between 1989 and 1992, during the golden age of hip-hop music. See Lewis Lord, Jeannye Thornton, and Alejandro Bodipo-Memba, “The Legacy of Malcolm X,ʺ U.S. News and World Report, November 15, 1992.

  486 Universal Day of Struggle Against Race Discrimination. Paul Lee, “Unseen Unity,” Michigan Citizen, September 30, 2009.

  486 “become the new Malcolm X.” Philip Sherwell, “The New Malcolm X?” Sunday Telegraph , April 9, 2006.

  487 traditions of “honorable black Americans.” Mark Mazzetti, “Al-Qaeda Offers Obama Insults and a Warning,” New York Times, November 20, 2008.

  487 “people I have ever met.” James Baldwin, “Malcolm and Martin,” Esquire, vol. 77, no. 4 (April 1972), pp. 94-97, 195-202.

  A GLOSSARY OF TERMS

  As-salaam alaikum—An Arabic spoken greeting; the term salaam means “peace” and the greeting can be translated as “Peace be upon you.”

  Black Legion—A hate group related to the Ku Klux Klan which numbered nearly thirty thousand and was centered on Detroit and other Midwestern cities. The Black Legion was responsible for numerous crimes against immigrants, minorities, and suspected communists; the group was allegedly responsible for the death of Malcolm X's father, Earl Little.

  Fishing—The searching for new converts to the Nation of Islam.

  Fitna—From the Arabic verb meaning “to seduce, tempt, or lure,” fitna can refer to the temptation believers must face or the period of chaos and disorder prior to salvation. It can also describe fracturing or civil war within the Muslim community.

  Five Pillars of Islam—The five duties of every Sunni Muslim, including shahada, salat, zakat, sawm, and hajj.

  Fruit of Islam—The “Fruit,” as it is often called, is a male-only paramilitary group of the Nation of Islam, which is in charge of security and whose membership is drawn from the various mosques. Members are characterized by distinct blue or white uniforms and caps bearing a star and crescent or the abbreviation FOI.

  Hajj—The fifth pillar of Islam, the hajj is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world and must be performed at least once by every Muslim who is physically or financially able. It occurs from the seventh to the thirteenth day during the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar.

  Imam—Muslim spiritual or community leader, and the person who leads prayer during a religious gathering.

  Jihad—Religious duty meaning “struggle,” jihad is the striving for perfection in Islam; it can also refer to a holy war against infidels. Some Sunni scholars categorize this as the unofficial sixth pillar of Islam.

  Kaaba—A cuboidal building built by Abraham, according to Islamic tradition, it is enclosed within the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and is the point toward which all Muslims pray. The Kaaba is circled during the hajj, a process called tawaf.

  Kafan—Clean white cloth that the body is wrapped in during a traditional Islamic funeral.

  Mecca—The holiest city in Islam, Mecca is closed to non-Muslims and is the site of the hajj festivities.

  Medina—The second holiest city in Islam, Medina is the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad and was the place of his migration from Mecca in 622 CE.

  The Mother Plane—A cylindrical spaceship believed to carry fifteen hundred smaller ships, which would destroy America and England during the judgment, according to NOI eschatology.

  Muhammad Speaks—Official newspaper of the Nation of Islam, Muhammad Speaks was started by Malcolm X as a small New York pamphlet in 1960; editorial control was quickly transferred to Herbert Muhammad, and the newspaper eventually rose to become the most widely published black weekly, with a circulation estimated between six hundred thousand and nine hundred thousand in the early 1970s.

  Muslim Girls Training (MGT) and General Civilization Class—A weekly class for women within the Nation which stressed domestic skills such as keeping house, rearing childr
en, sewing, cooking, and hygiene. It also offered a social space for women within the movement to organize and meet others with shared religious or political views.

  Orgena—A play written by Louis Farrakhan in the late 1950s, Orgena—“A Negro” spelled in reverse—depicted a history in which the black man is estranged from his original culture and then enslaved, before becoming a second-class citizen and eventually rediscovering his cultural heritage. The play was performed most notably at Carnegie Hall and Town Hall in New York City.

  Original Man—Term used by the Nation of Islam to emphasize that black people were the first humans on earth and thus the originators of human civilization.

  The Royal Family—Name referring to the immediate family of Elijah Muhammad, specifically his wife, Clara, daughters Ethel and Lottie, and sons Nathaniel, Herbert, Elijah Jr., Akbar, and Wallace. Son-in-law Raymond Sharrieff was also close to the family and shared a large portion of power.

  Salat—One of the five pillars, salat refers to formal prayer, which is to be practiced five times a day: dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and nightfall.

  Saviour’s Day Convention—The Nation’s annual gathering, held in Chicago around February 26 to honor the birth of founder W. D. Fard.

  Sawm—An Arabic word for fasting, it means “to abstain from eating, drinking, and intercourse,” under the terms of Islamic law. The observance of sawm during Ramadan is one of the five pillars.

  Shahada—The recitation of the shahada, meaning “witnessing,” is the most important of the five pillars of Islam. The recitation translates as “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

  Shi’a—Second largest denomination of Muslims, Shi’as regard Ali (Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law) and his lineage as the legitimate heirs to the Prophet.

  Sunni—Refers to those who accept the Sunna, or words and actions of the Prophet Muhammad; it is the largest Muslim community, comprising nearly 90 percent of all Muslims worldwide.

  Tawaf—An Islamic ritual of the hajj and umrah, meant to demonstrate the unity of believers, in which Muslims circumambulate the Kaaba seven times counterclockwise.