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X
BUT THE RANK-AND-FILE MUSLIM BROTHER
DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
OUT OF RELIGIOUS SINCERITY,
THEY THINK THEY'RE DOING THE WILL OF ALLAH
BY PROTECTING A MAN, WHO I, MYSELF,
TAUGHT THEM WAS DIVINE.
I FAULT THOSE WHO GIVE THE ORDERS,
AND THE ULTIMATE ORDER COMES FROM ELIJAH MUHAMMAD.
I THINK SOMEONE SHOULD SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE ACTS
OF MY BLOOD BROTHER MALCOLM.
SINCE I BROUGHT MALCOLM TO ISLAM,
I'M TAKING THIS TASK ON MYSELF.
I SEE WHERE MALCOLM, ANGERED BY THE LITTLE MISFORTUNE
OF BEING SUSPENDED FOR SPEAKING OUT OF TURN
AND AGAINST INSTRUCTION,
NOW RESORTS TO SLANDER, SLURS, AND INTIMIDATIONS
S
AS LONG AS I REPRESENTED THE BLACK MUSLIM MOVEMENT
AS AN EXAMPLE OF MORALITY, UNITY, AND MILITANCY--
AS LONG AS I COULD DO THAT, I REPRESENTED IT.
IT WAS WHEN I REALIZED THAT IT COULD NOT BE REPRESENTED AS THAT
THAT I STARTED WORKING AMONG THE NON-MUSLIM NEGROES,
AS I ANNOUNCED, IN MARCH,
AND I HAD NO INTENTION OF EVER SPEAKING ON THIS.
HAD THEY LEFT ME ALONE,
YOU STILL WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT REALLY TOOK PLACE.
I SEE MY BROTHER PURSUE A DANGEROUS COURSE
WHICH PARALLELS THAT OF THE PRECEDENT SET BY JUDAS,
BRUTUS, AND BENEDICT ARNOLD AND OTHERS
WHO BETRAY THE HONOR AND TRUST RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THEM AND THEIR LEADERS.
WHY ARE THEY THREATENING YOUR LIFE?
PRIMARILY BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID
THAT I WILL TELL THE REAL REASON
THAT I'M OUT OF THE BLACK MUSLIM MOVEMENT,
WHICH I NEVER TOLD, I KEPT TO MYSELF,
BUT THE REAL REASON IS THAT ELIJAH MUHAMMAD,
THE HEAD OF THE MOVEMENT,
IS THE FATHER OF EIGHT CHILDREN BY SIX DIFFERENT TEEN-AGE GIRLS
WHO WERE HIS PRIVATE, PERSONAL SECRETARIES.
THE ONE WHO FIRST MADE ME AWARE OF THIS
WAS WALLACE MUHAMMAD, MR. MUHAMMAD'S SON.
I AM AWARE OF THE GREAT MENTAL ILLNESS
WHICH BESETS MANY IN AMERICA
AND WHICH BESETTED MY MOTHER, WHOM I LOVE,
AND MANY OTHER BROTHERS,
AND WHICH MAY HAVE TAKEN MY BROTHER MALCOLM.
I HAD STATED IN A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
ABOUT AN EFFORT TO TAKE MY LIFE BACK IN JANUARY,
AND AT THAT TIME, THE MUSLIMS DENIED IT.
THEY TRIED TO MAKE IT APPEAR, THROUGH MY BROTHER,
THAT I WAS INSANE,
BUT ON A PROGRAM IN CHICAGO CALLED HOT-LINE
THAT'S MODERATED BY WESLEY SOUTH,
JOHN ALI, THE NATIONAL SECRETARY,
ADMITTED WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY
THAT THEY ABSOLUTELY WERE GOING TO KILL ME.
WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE
TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THIS THREAT?
I HAVE A RIFLE.
IF ANYBODY COMES TO MY HOUSE WITHOUT A GOOD REASON,
I INTEND TO TRY AND USE IT.
[REPORTER] HE WAS HAVING SOME HARASSMENT.
WHAT KIND OF THINGS HAVE HAPPENED?
IN JULY, WHEN I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL
HAVING MY LAST BABY,
MY THREE SMALL DAUGHTERS SAW MY HUSBAND ALMOST KILLED
ACROSS THE STREET.
I CALLED THE 114th PRECINCT A FEW DAYS AGO.
LD DO.
[REPORTER]
NO. I DON'T WORRY.
I BELIEVED I DIED 20 YEARS AGO.
I LIVE LIKE A MAN WHO'S DEAD ALREADY.
I HAVE NO FEAR WHATSOEVER
OF ANYBODY OR ANYTHING.
THIS IS LEON AMEER,
WHO WAS CASSIUS CLAY'S SECRETARY,
WHOM THEY BEAT UNMERCIFULLY
UP IN BOSTON.
I WAS ATTACKED BY THEM IN BOSTON ON DECEMBER 25th
IN THE LOBBY,
THE HOTEL LOBBY OF THE SHERRY-BILTMORE HOTEL,
AND, UH, THEY'RE STILL AFTER ME.
IT WAS HE WHO HEARD ELIJAH MUHAMMAD, JR.
D
TON,
PTAIN
AND THEN THEY STEP IN.
HE WAS GOING TO KILL YOU?
AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO GET ONE OF THEM
TO WIRE MY CAR WITH AN EXPLOSIVE.
ARE YOU NOT AFRAID OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN
YES. I'M PROBABLY A DEAD MAN ALREADY.
[MALCOLM X] I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT MY HOUSE WAS BOMBED
BY THE BLACK MUSLIM MOVEMENT
UPON THE ORDERS OF ELIJAH MUHAMMAD.
THEY HAD PLANNED TO DO IT FROM THE FRONT AND THE BACK.
AND TOSSED IT AT A 45-DEGREE ANGLE.
IT GLANCED AND WENT ONTO THE GROUND.
I REMEMBER MY HUSBAND PUSHING ME OUT
OF THE BEDROOM DOOR,
AND I SAW ALL OF THE FIRE.
THE FIRE HIT THE WINDOW
AND WOKE UP MY SECOND-OLDEST BABY,
BUT THE FIRE BURNED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE.
HAD THAT ONE GONE THROUGH THAT WINDOW,
IT WOULD HAVE HIT A 6-YEAR-OLD GIRL,
A 4-YEAR-OLD GIRL, AND A 2-YEAR-OLD GIRL.
I'D HAVE CHASED ANYBODY IN SIGHT.
THE HOUSE ITSELF HAS BEEN THE OBJECT OF CONTROVERSY
BETWEEN MALCOLM AND BLACK MUSLIMS.
THE MUSLIMS CONTEND THEY OWN THE PROPERTY.
WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE PROPERTY BACK
THROUGH LEGAL MEANS.
TODAY, THE 15th OF FEBRUARY,
WE WERE DUE THE RULING OF THE PROPERTY,
WHICH WAS FAVORABLE TO THE MUSLIMS.
THE POLICE KNOW THE CRIMINAL OPERATION
OF THE BLACK MUSLIM MOVEMENT
BECAUSE THEY HAVE THOROUGHLY INFILTRATED IT.
MALCOLM CLAIMS YOU DID IT.
WHO BOMBED THE HOUSE?
IT COULD BE A PUBLICITY ACT.
YOU'RE INFERRING THAT MALCOLM
BOMBED HIS OWN HOME?
WE HOPE IT'S NOT A CASE
OF IF HE CAN'T HAVE IT, WE CAN'T EITHER.
THAT'S WHAT I SAID.
THE MUSLIMS CLAIM I BOMBED MY HOUSE.
IF ANYBODY CAN FIND WHERE I BOMBED MY HOUSE,
THEY CAN PUT A RIFLE BULLET THROUGH MY HEAD.
IT WAS MY CHILDREN AND MY WIFE'S LIFE AT STAKE.
THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 15 OR 20.
I STOOD IN MY UNDERWEAR IN MY DRIVEWAY
WITH A GUN IN MY HAND FOR 45 MINUTES,
WAITING FOR THE POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO COME.
IF YOU ATTACK ME, THAT'S ONE THING.
I KNOW WHAT TO DO.
BUT WHEN YOU ATTACK SLEEPING BABIES,
YOU ARE LOWER THAN A GOD--
THE ONLY THING THAT I REGRET
IN ALL OF THIS
IS THAT TWO BLACK GROUPS
FIGHT AND KILL EACH OTHER OFF.
I FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE
IN DEVELOPING A CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION.
IT WAS NOT A CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION AT THE OUT-START.
IT WAS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAD THE SPIRITUAL POWER
TO REFORM THE CRIMINAL.
THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.
AS LONG AS THAT STRONG SPIRITUAL POWER WAS IN THE MOVEMENT,
IT GAVE THE MORAL STRENGTH TO THE BELIEVER
THAT WOULD ENABLE HIM TO RISE ABOVE
ALL HIS NEGATIVE TENDENCIES.
I KNOW BECAUSE I WENT INTO THE MOVEMENT
WITH MORE NEGATIVE TENDENCIES THAT ANYBODY IN THE MOVEMENT,
AND JUST FAITH IN WHAT I WAS TAUGHT
MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO STOP DOING EVERYTHING.
I SAW THOUSANDS OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS
IN THE SAME CONDITION.
THEY WOULD STOP WHATEVER THEY WERE DOING OVERNIGHT
JUST THROUGH FAITH, AND FAITH ALONE.
BY THIS SPIRITUAL FORCE GIVING ONE THE FAITH
THAT ENABLED ONE TO EXERCISE THE MORAL DISCIPLINE,
IT BECAME AN ORGANIZATION
THAT WAS TO BE RESPECTED AS WELL AS FEARED.
I DISASSOCIATE MYSELF
FROM THE MOVEMENT COMPLETELY,
AND I DEDICATE MYSELF TO THE ORGANIZING OF BLACK PEOPLE
INTO A GROUP INTERESTED IN DOING THINGS CONSTRUCTIVE
NOT FOR JUST ONE RELIGIOUS SEGMENT,
BUT FOR THE ENTIRE BLACK COMMUNITY.
SOON AS WE ESTABLISHED OUR RELIGIOUS AUTHENTICITY
WITH THE MUSLIM WORLD,
WE SET UP THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRO-AMERICAN UNITY
AND TOOK IMMEDIATE STEPS TO MAKE CERTAIN
RS.
Y DIED
TO ACTUALLY ESTABLISH CONTACT
BETWEEN THE 22 MILLION BLACK AMERICANS
WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS BACK HOME
WE'VE GOT TO UNITE WITH THEM
BECAUSE THERE ARE 700 MILLION MUSLIMS.
ONE THAT
TO BRING THIS ABOUT
IS THE INDEPENDENCE OF AFRICA.
ONE REASON THAT WE IN THE WEST
HAVE NEVER ORGANIZED,
WE HAVE HATED OUR AFRICAN IMAGE
BECAUSE AFRICA HAS BEEN IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE CREATED A NEGATIVE AND HATEFUL IMAGE.
BUT NOW THAT AFRICA IS GETTING INDEPENDENT
AND IN THE POSITION TO CREATE ITS OWN IMAGE,
THOSE OF US IN THE WEST LOOK AT THE AFRICAN IMAGE
.
NG
S,
TODAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME,
THE BLACK PEOPLE OF THE WEST
ARE BEGINNING TO LOOK HOMEWARD
TOWARD THE MOTHER CONTINENT OF AFRICA,
AND THEY'RE GAINING SPIRITUAL STRENGTH FROM THESE ROOTS.
THE AFRICAN CONTINENT IS ON THE RISE,
SEEKING AND FIGHTING FOR HIS PLACE IN THE SUN,
BUT HIS FIGHT IS PUTTING THE SAME SPIRIT
IN THE BLACK PEOPLE IN THE WEST,
AND WE'RE ALSO SEEKING
AND FIGHTING FOR OUR PLACE IN THE SUN.
WE WON'T REST UNTIL THAT PLACE HAS BEEN SECURED.
WHAT'S YOUR PLAN NOW?
I'M GOING BACK TO THE STATES FIRST
AND SEE HOW MY FAMILY IS DOING.
I'VE GOT A FAMILY THERE...
AND, UH...
SEE WHAT DEVELOPS.
I HAD GOTTEN AN INVITATION TO VISIT PARIS
FROM THE AFRO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN PARIS,
WHICH WAS SPONSORING A RALLY
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AFRICAN COMMUNITY.
WHEN I GOT TO PARIS,
THE MAN SAID I COULDN'T COME IN.
SOME MAN...FRENCHMAN.
UH...THEY GAVE ME NO EXPLANATION
OTHER THAN TO SAY, "WE HAVE OUR ORDERS."
THEY WOULDN'T LET ME PHONE THE AMERICAN EMBASSY,
AND THEY TRIED TO IMPLY THAT THE AMERICAN EMBASSY
WAS BEHIND IT.
I TOLD THEM I DIDN'T KNOW THAT FRANCE
WAS A SATELLITE OF THE UNITED STATES.
THIS MADE THEM ANGRY BECAUSE THEY LIKE TO BE INDEPENDENT,
OR PRETEND TO BE INDEPENDENT.
THEY WERE TAKING THEIR ORDERS
FROM SOMEONE HIGH UP IN THE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY
WHO DID NOT WANT ME TO ENTER FRANCE.
THERE'S A REASON. I DON'T BLAME THEM.
I TOLD THEM THAT MAYBE MY PLANE GOT MIXED UP
AND I WAS IN SOUTH AFRICA, IN THE WRONG COUNTRY.
I TOLD THEM THIS COULDN'T BE PARIS.
IT MUST BE JOHANNESBURG.
AND THEY GOT RED.
THERE'S A LARGE, INCREASING NUMBER OF DARK-SKINNED PEOPLE
SWELLING THE DARK POPULATION OF FRANCE AND BRITAIN,
AND IT'S GIVING THEM A GREAT DEAL OF CAUSE FOR WORRY.
NO EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO UNITE THE AFRO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY
OR THE AMERICAN *** COMMUNITY
WITH THE WEST INDIAN COMMUNITY,
AND THEN THOSE TWO COMMUNITIES WITH THE AFRICAN COMMUNITY
AND THOSE COMMUNITIES WITH THE ASIAN COMMUNITY.
IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE.
THIS FRIGHTENED MANY POWERS, MANY INTERESTS IN THIS COUNTRY.
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SEE US THE MINORITY
AND WHO DON'T WANT TO SEE US TAKING TOO MILITANT
OR TOO UNCOMPROMISING A STAND
ARE ABSOLUTELY AGAINST THE SUCCESSFUL REGROUPING
OR ORGANIZING OF ANY FACTION IN THIS COUNTRY
WHOSE THINKING PATTERN IS INTERNATIONAL
RATHER THAN NATIONAL.
AND THEN IF THIS MAN OVER HERE PLAYS TOO ROUGH,
WE GOT SOME BROTHERS WHO CAN PLAY AS ROUGH AS HE.
THERE'S A WORLD-WIDE REVOLUTION GOING ON.
IT GOES BEYOND MISSISSIPPI.
IT GOES BEYOND ALABAMA.
IT GOES BEYOND HARLEM.
WHAT IS IT REVOLTING AGAINST?
THE AMERICAN POWER STRUCTURE?
NO.
THE FRENCH POWER STRUCTURE?
NO.
THE ENGLISH POWER STRUCTURE?
NO.
THEN WHAT POWER STRUCTURE?
AN INTERNATIONAL WESTERN POWER STRUCTURE.
SO OUR NEXT MOVE IS TO TAKE
THE ENTIRE CIVIL RIGHTS STRUGGLE, PROBLEM...
INTO THE UNITED NATIONS
AND LET THE WORLD SEE THAT UNCLE SAM IS GUILTY
OF VIOLATING THE HUMAN RIGHTS
OF 22 MILLION AFRO-AMERICANS
AND STILL HAS THE AUDACI
TO REPRESENT HIMSELF
AS THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD.
THERE'LL BE A HOT TIME IN THE OLD TOWN.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
WITH REGRET...
WITH GREAT REGRET.
I AM WELL AWARE OF WHAT I'M SETTING IN MOTION
Y LIFE
THAT I WASN'T PREPARED TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES FOR.
[SHOUTING]
[SIRENS]
WE WANT MALCOLM X! WE WANT MALCOLM X!
I'M PREPARED TO BE A TOM
WHEN I CAN SAVE WOMEN AND CHILDREN
FROM BEING SHOT DOWN,
AND IF YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE A FOOL!
WE CANNOT TAKE THE LAW INTO OUR HANDS.
WE PAY OFFICERS TO PROTECT US.
IN THE NAME OF GOD--
[SHOUTING]
WE WANT MALCOLM X! WE WANT MALCOLM X!
WE WANT MALCOLM X! WE WANT MALCOLM X!
[MALCOLM X] WE DECLARE OUR RIGHT ON THIS EARTH
TO BE A MAN, TO BE A HUMAN BEING,
TO BE RESPECTED AS A HUMAN BEING,
TO BE GIVEN THE RIGHTS OF A HUMAN BEING
IN THIS SOCIETY, ON THIS EARTH, IN THIS DAY,
WHICH WE INTEND TO BRING INTO EXISTENCE
BY ANY MEANS--
[GUNSHOTS]
[SHOUTING]
[BETTY SHABAZZ] SOMEONE, UH, IN THE--
IN THE-- ABOUT THE...
FIRST THIRD OF THE AUDIENCE
SHOUTED, "COME OUT OF MY POCKET!
COME OUT OF MY POCKET!"
,
RIGHT,"
THAT WAS SEATED IN ABOUT THE THIRD ROW,
UH...STOOD UP,
AND I HEARD SHOTS,
AND I SAW PEOPLE CRAWLING ON THE FLOOR,
AND SO I GOT DOWN, TOO.
THEN WHEN I WAS LOOKING OUT
AND I SAW SOMEONE LOOK IN AMAZEMENT TO THE FRONT,
I KNEW THEY HAD SHOT MY HUSBAND.
[SHOUTING]
[REPORTER] WHAT CONDITION WAS HE IN ON ARRIVAL?
RIVAL.
THEY TOOK HIM INTO THE THIRD-FLOOR EMERGENCY ROOM,
AND SEVERAL DOCTORS TRIED TO REVIVE HIM
FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES,
AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE.
HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT 3:30.
HAS THE BODY BEEN IDENTIFIED?
WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT IN,
WE DIDN'T GET A POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION.
WE ADMITTED THE PATIENT AS JOHN DOE.
HE RAISED HIS HAND IN A MUSLIM GREETING,
SALAAM ALEICHAM.
AT THAT POINT, UH...
I HEARD A RUMBLING
AND I TURNED AROUND IN MY SEAT
TO SEE WHAT IT WAS.
I SAW TWO GUYS STANDING UP,
AND THE NEXT THING, MALCOLM HAD HIS HAND UP.
HE SAID, "STAY COOL, STAY CALM."
JUST THEN, THE GUNFIRE WENT OFF,
AND THE NEXT THING I SAW
WAS MALCOLM FALLING BACK IN A DEAD FAINT.
CHAIRS WERE KNOCKED OVER.
THERE WERE SCREAMS.
I SAW A GUY RUNNING OUT--
EVIDENTLY ONE OF THE PERPETRATORS--
AND HE WAS SHOOTING LIKE A COWBOY.
LET'S START FROM THE BEGINNING.
T
STORY, .
OLL.
LD
D
REPRESENTING AN ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS
THE AFRO-AMERICAN UNITY ORGANIZATION,
HEADED UP BY MALCOLM X.
MALCOLM WAS ADDRESSING THE AUDIENCE
FROM THE SPEAKER'S PLATFORM
WHEN APPARENTLY TWO MEN
APPROACHED THE SPEAKER'S ROSTRUM
AND, UH...
DISCHARGED SHOTS AT HIM
FROM, APPARENTLY, VERY CLOSE RANGE.
HOW MANY SHOTS WERE THERE, CHIEF?
APPARENTLY, THERE WERE AT LEAST 8 OR 10 SHOTS FIRED,
SEVEN OF WHICH HIT MALCOLM.
WERE THEY ALL PISTOL SHOTS, SIR?
UH...I'M NOT CERTAIN AT THIS TIME
WHETHER THEY WERE ALL PISTOL SHOTS.
WE DID RECOVER A SAWED-OFF SHOTGUN
NEAR THE SPEAKER'S PLATFORM.
WHERE WAS MALCOLM HIT?
HE SUSTAINED ONE SHOT IN THE LOWER RIGHT CHIN,
AND THE OTHER SIX HIT HIM IN THE CHEST
AND, UH...BODY.
[REPORTER] WHEN DID YOU SEE YOUR HUSBAND LAST?
WELL, YESTERDAY, HE WAS GOING TO CHECK IN
AT A HOTEL
TO BE ABLE TO GET SOME WORK DONE
THAT HE COULDN'T GET DONE WHERE WE'RE STAYING
BECAUSE IT'S CROWDED.
WE MOVED IN WITH FRIENDS AFTER OUR HOUSE WAS BOMBED.
HE CALLED ME LAST NIGHT
AND SAID HE WAS GOING TO GET THE WORK DONE.
I ASKED HIM
IF I COULD COME TO THE MEETING,
AND HE SAYS, "NO."
THEN TODAY HE CALLED AND SAYS
HE'D LIKE FOR ME TO COME
AND TO BRING ALL THE CHILDREN.
HOW MANY SUSPECTS DO YOU HAVE?
WE ARE NOT CALLING ANYONE AT THIS MOMENT SUSPECT.
WE HAVE WITNESSES WHOM WE ARE QUESTIONING.
HOW MANY WITNESSES?
I AM NOT GOING TO STATE HOW MANY WITNESSES.
ARE THE WITNESSES MUSLIMS?
I WILL NOT COMMENT ON ANYONE'S RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
WHAT WAS THE STATUS OF POLICE PROTECTION
AT THE--AT MALCOLM X's SPEECH TODAY?
WE HAD A COMPLEMENT OF POLICE ASSIGNED,
BUT ONLY TO THE OUTSIDE.
THERE WERE NO POLICE THERE,
WERE THERE, INSPECTOR?
THERE WERE NO UNIFORMED POLICEMEN
ASSIGNED INSIDE THIS BALLROOM.
HAVE YOU TAKEN MEASURES
TO PROTECT MALCOLM X's FAMILY?
WE HAVE.
DO YOU FEAR FOR YOUR LIFE
AND THOSE OF YOUR CHILDREN?
YES.
SINCE THE BOMBING OF YOUR HOME,
HAVE THE POLICE MADE ANY EFFORT
TO OFFER YOU PROTECTION?
I GUESS THEY DID MAKE AN EFFORT, YES.
DO YOU WANT POLICE PROTECTION?
MRS. SHABAZZ, DO YOU BELIEVE IT WAS THE BLACK MUSLIMS
LIMS
WERE INVOLVED IN THE SHOOTING OF MALCOLM X?
I WASN'T THERE,
BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ANY OF MY FOLLOWERS WAS THERE,
HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT AT ALL.
WAY I SEE IT,
MALCOLM IS THE VICTIM OF HIS OWN PREACHING.
HE PREACHED VIOLENCE,
AND SO HE BECOME THE VICTIM OF IT.
THE ASSASSINATION OF MALCOLM X
WAS AN UNFORTUNATE TRAGEDY,
AND IT REVEALS THAT THERE ARE STILL
NUMEROUS PEOPLE IN OUR NATION
WHO HAVE DEGENERATED TO THE POINT
OF EXPRESSING DISSENT THROUGH ***,
AND WE HAVEN'T LEARNED TO DISAGREE
WITHOUT BEING VIOLENTLY DISAGREEABLE.
I AM NOT CONVINCED
THAT ELIJAH MUHAMMAD AND THE BLACK MUSLIMS
HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIS KILLING.
IT RUNS DEEPER THAN THAT.
MALCOLM X, LAST WEEK,
SOUGHT TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT
TO DISCUSS THREATS AGAINST HIS LIFE.
HE SAID IN A PRESS INTERVIEW LAST WEEK
THAT HE WAS PRACTICALLY DEAD,
HE WAS GOING TO BE KILLED BECAUSE HE KNEW TOO MUCH.
THESE THINGS RAISE QUESTIONS IN MY MIND--
WHAT DID HE KNOW
THAT WAS ABOUT TO BRING ABOUT HIS DEATH?
WHY DID HE CONSIDER THE MATTER
TO BE A RESPONSIBILITY
WHICH SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION
OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT?
THESE QUESTIONS ARE SERIOUS ENOUGH
TO REQUIRE A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION
INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING MALCOLM X's ***.
WE ARE, THEREFORE, URGING UPON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
UPON THE PRESIDENT, INDEED,
THAT THERE BE A FEDERAL INQUIRY
LAUNCHED BY THE PROPER FEDERAL AGENCY
INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE ASSASSINATION.
WHOM DO YOU BLAME FOR YOUR BROTHER'S DEATH?
I WILL QUOTE MY BROTHER THE DAY BEFORE HE DIED...
REFERRING TO THE BOMBING OF HIS HOUSE.
HE STATED THAT HE FELT THE BOMBING OF HIS HOME
WAS MUCH BIGGER THAN THE BLACK MUSLIMS.
ONE WEEK LATER, HE WAS ASSASSINATED.
IF HE FELT THAT THE BOMBING WAS BIGGER THAN THE BLACK MUSLIMS,
THEN I FEEL THAT POSSIBLY HIS ASSASSINATION
WAS BIGGER THAN THE BLACK MUSLIMS.
THE AMERICAN SYSTEM KILLED MY BROTHER.
THE HATRED,
THE CULTIVATED HATRED,
THE DESIRE ON-- TO *** FOR POWER,
THE DESIRE TO CONTROL,
THE DESIRE TO HINDER PROGRESS,
TO PROFESS FREEDOM AND THEN, UH...
UH...BLOCK IT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
OF MALCOLM X's DEATH?
I KNOW IT WAS NO ACCIDENT.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
AMERICA'S WHITE POWER STRUCTURE.
THEY ARE QUICK TO CAPITALIZE ON IT BY SAYING
THAT ONE OF HIS OWN KIND DID IT.
THEY HAD MORE TO GAIN
BY GETTING MALCOLM X OUT OF THE WAY
THAN THEY HAD BY LETTING HIM LIVE.
WHAT IS THE WHITE POWER STRUCTURE?
THE WHITE RACE.
HE WANTED TO GET ALONG WITH WHITE PEOPLE,
BUT YOU PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO GET ALONG WITH US.
WHAT DOES MALCOLM X's DEATH MEAN TO YOU?
WHAT I FEEL?
IT'S A BLOW TO EVERY BLACK PEOPLE
IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
BLACK!
IT'S WHAT?
[WOMAN] IT'S A BLOW, HE SAID.
HE SAYS IT'S A BLOW TO EVERY BLACK AMERICAN
IN THE UNITED STATES.
WHY IS IT A BLOW?
BECAUSE HE'S A PART OF ME.
HE LOOKS LIKE ME. HIS SKIN IS ME.
HE'S A BLACK MAN, AND I'M A BLACK MAN,
AND HE TAK UP FOR BLACK EMANCIPATION.
HE WAS A HERO TO ME.
HE SHOWED THE WHITE MAN WHERE IT WAS AT.
HE GOT RESPECT.
WHY WAS HE OFTEN AT PRINCETON
AND ALL THESE BIG WHITE UNIVERSITIES?
BECAUSE THEY RESPECTED HIM, TOO.
THEY HAD NO RIGHT KILLING HIM.
IF YOU KILL HIM,
THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE KILLING,
YOUR COLOR, MY COLOR.
YOU BELIEVE THIS WAS PAID FOR BY WHITES?
YES. BY WHITE PEOPLE.
WHAT WOULD IT BENEFIT ONE OF US TO KILL HIM?
IT WOULDN'T BENEFIT US ANYTHING AT ALL.
JUST THE WHITE POWER STRUCTURE OF THIS COUNTRY.
ANYTIME A BLACK MAN STANDS UP FOR HIS RIGHTS, HE DIES.
WHAT DID MALCOLM X MEAN TO YOU?
HE MEANT A GREAT DEAL TO ME AND MY PEOPLE.
I'M SORRY THAT A GOOD MAN IS GONE.
THE FIRST I HEAR OF IT,
I COULDN'T HAVE CRIED ANY MORE
IF I HAD LOST MY MOTHER.
WHAT DID HE MEAN TO YOU?
CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT HIM?
HE MEANT DELIVERANCE FOR MY PEOPLE,
AND I HOPE WE ALL WALK IN THE SAME FOOTSTEPS
AS MALCOLM■■ WAS WALKING IN.
[OSSIE DAVIS] HERE, AT THIS FINAL HOUR,
IN THIS QUIET PLACE,
HARLEM HAS COME TO BID FAREWELL
TO ONE OF ITS BRIGHTEST HOPES,
EXTINGUISHED NOW AND GONE FROM US FOREVER.
FOR HARLEM IS WHERE HE WORKED
AND WHERE HE STRUGGLED AND FOUGHT,
HIS HOME OF HOMES, WHERE HIS HEART WAS
AND WHERE HIS PEOPLE ARE.
AND IT IS, THEREFORE, MOST FITTING
THAT WE MEET ONCE AGAIN IN HARLEM
TO SHARE THESE LAST MOMENTS WITH HIM.
FOR HARLEM HAS EVER BEEN GRACIOUS TO THOSE
WHO HAVE LOVED HER,
HAVE FOUGHT FOR HER,
AND HAVE DEFENDED HER HONOR EVEN TO THE DEATH.
IT IS NOT IN THE MEMORY OF MAN
THAT THIS BELEAGUERED, UNFORTUNATE,
ITY
HAS FOUND A BRAVER, MORE GALLANT YOUNG CHAMPION
THAN THIS AFRO-AMERICAN WHO LIES BEFORE US,
UNCONQUERED STILL.
MANY WILL ASK WHAT HARLEM FINDS TO HONOR
IN THIS STORMY, CONTROVERSIAL, AND BOLD YOUNG CAPTAIN,
AND WE WILL SMILE,
AND WE WILL ANSWER AND SAY UNTO THEM,
"DID YOU EVER TALK TO BROTHER MALCOLM?
"DID HE EVER TOUCH YOU?
"DID HE SMILE AT YOU?
"DID YOU EVER REALLY LISTEN TO HIM?
"DID HE EVER DO A MEAN THING?
"WAS HE EVER HIMSELF ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLENCE
OR ANY PUBLIC DISTURBANCE?"
FOR IF YOU DID, YOU WOULD KNOW HIM,
AND IF YOU KNEW HIM,
YOU WOULD KNOW WHY WE MUST HONOR HIM.
MALCOLM WAS OUR MANHOOD,
OUR LIVING BLACK MANHOOD.
THAT WAS HIS MEANING TO HIS PEOPLE,
AND IN HONORING HIM,
WE HONOR THE BEST IN OURSELVES.
AND WE WILL KNOW HIM THEN
FOR WHAT HE WAS
AND IS--
A PRINCE...
OUR BLACK, SHINING PRINCE
WHO DIDN'T HESITATE TO DIE
BECAUSE HE LOVED US SO.
[MALCOLM X] TO BE RESPECTED AS A HUMAN BEING,
TO BE GIVEN THE RIGHTS OF A HUMAN BEING
IN THIS SOCIETY, ON THIS EARTH, IN THIS DAY,
WHICH WE INTEND TO BRING INTO EXISTENCE
BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.
[APPLAUSE]
[MEN SINGING IN AFRICAN LANGUAGE]
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