Discussion

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Cha e 14: Black M lim

Cha e 14: Black M lim

Cha e F ee : Black M lim In he p ing of nine een fif -nine - ome mon h befo e B o he John on Hin on' ca e had a akened he Ha lem black ghe o o -a Neg o jo nali , Lo i Loma , hen li ing in Ne Yo k, a ked me one mo ning he he o Na ion of I lam o ld coope a e in being filmed a a ele i ion doc men a p og am fo he Mike Wallace Sho , hich fea ed con o e ial

bjec . I old Loma ha , na all , an hing like ha o ld ha e o be efe ed o The Hono able Elijah M hammad. And Loma did fl o Chicago o con l M . M hammad. Af e q e ioning Loma , hen ca ioning him again ome hing he did no de i e, M . M hammad ga e hi con en . Came amen began filming Na ion of I lam cene a o nd o mo q e in Ne Yo k, Chicago, and Wa hing on, D. C. So nd eco ding e e made of M . M hammad and ome mini e , incl ding me, eaching black a dience he h abo he b ain a hed black man and he de il hi e man. A Bo on Uni e i a o nd he ame ime, C. E ic Lincoln, a Neg o chola hen o king fo hi doc o a e, had elec ed fo hi he i bjec he Na ion of I lam. Lincoln' in e e had been a o ed he p e io ea hen, eaching a Cla k College in A lan a, Geo gia, he ecei ed f om one of hi Religion den a e m pape ho e in od c ion I can no q o e f om Lincoln' book. I a he plain poken con ic ion of one of A lan a' n me o o ng black collegian ho of en i i ed o local Temple Fif een. "The Ch i ian eligion i incompa ible i h he Neg o' a pi a ion fo digni and eq ali in Ame ica," he den had i en. "I ha hinde ed he e i migh ha e helped; i ha been e a i e hen i a mo all bo nd o be fo h igh ; i ha epa a ed belie e on he ba i of colo , al ho gh i ha decla ed i mi ion o be a ni e al b o he hood nde Je Ch i . Ch i ian lo e i he hi e man' lo e fo him elf and fo hi ace. Fo he man ho i no

hi e, I lam i he hope fo j ice and eq ali in he o ld e m b ild omo o ." Af e ome p elimina e ea ch ho ed P ofe o Lincoln ha a bjec he had hold of, he had been able o ob ain e e al g an , and a p bli he ' enco agemen o e pand hi he i in o a book. On he i e of o ela i el mall Na ion, he e o big de elopmen -a ele i ion ho , and a book abo -na all e e big ne . E e M lim happil an icipa ed ha no , h o gh he hi e man' po e f l comm nica ion media, o b ain a hed black b o he and i e

ac o he Uni ed S a e , and de il , oo, e e going o ee, hea , and ead M . M hammad' eaching hich c back and fo h like a o-edged o d.

We had made o o n e limi ed effo o emplo he po e of p in . Fi , ome ime back, I had made an appoin men o ee edi o Jame Hick of he Am e dam Ne , p bli hed in Ha lem. Edi o Hick aid he fel e e oice in he comm ni de e ed o be hea d. Soon, each eek' Am e dam Ne ca ied a li le col mn ha I o e. Then, M . M hammad ag eed o i e a col mn fo ha al able Am e dam Ne pace, and m col mn a

an fe ed o ano he black ne pape , he Lo Angele He ald Di a ch.

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B I kep an ing o a , omeho , o o n ne pape , ha o ld be filled i h Na ion of I lam ne . M . M hammad in 1957 en me o o gani e a Temple in Lo Angele . When I had done ha , being in ha ci he e he He ald Di a ch a , I en i i ing and I o ked in hei office; he le me ob e e ho a ne pape a p oge he . I' e al a

been ble ed in ha if I can once a ch ome hing being done, gene all I can ca ch on o ho o do i m elf. Q ick "picking p" a p obabl he n mbe one i al le hen I'd been

o he e in he ee a a h le . Back in Ne Yo k, I bo gh a econdhand came a. I don' kno ho man oll of film I ho

n il I co ld ake able pic e . E e chance I had, I o e ome li le ne abo in e e ing Na ion of I lam happening . One da e e mon h, I'd lock p in a oom and a emble m ma e ial and pic e fo a p in e ha I fo nd. I named he ne pape M hammad S eak and M lim b o he old i on he ghe o ide alk . Li le did I d eam ha la e on, hen jealo e in among he hie a ch , no hing abo me o ld be p in ed in he pape I had fo nded.

An a , na ional p blici a in he offing fo he Na ion of I lam hen M . M hammad en me on a h ee- eek ip o Af ica. E en a mall a e hen e e, ome of he Af ican and A ian pe onage had en M . M hammad p i a e o d ha he liked hi effo o a aken and lif p he Ame ican black people. Some ime , he me age had been en h o gh me. A M . M hammad' emi a , I en o Eg p , A abia, o he S dan, o Nige ia, and Ghana. Yo ill of en hea oda a lo of he Neg o leade complaining ha ha h he M lim in o in e na ional p ominence a he hi e man' p e , adio, ele i ion, and o he media. I ha e no h ed of a g men i h ha . The a e ab ol el co ec . Wh , none of in he Na ion of I lam emo el an icipa ed ha a abo o happen. In la e 1959, he ele i ion p og am a ai ed. "The Ha e Tha Ha e P od ced" - he i le - a edi ed igh l in o a kaleido cope of " hocke " image . . . M . M hammad, me, and o he peaking . . . ong-looking, e -faced black men, o F i of I lam . . . hi e- ca ed, hi e-

go ned M lim i e of all age . . . M lim in o e a an , and o he b ine e . . . M lim and o he black people en e ing and lea ing o mo q e . . . . E e ph a e a edi ed o inc ea e he hock mood. A he p od ce in ended, I hink people a j abo limp hen he p og am en off. In a a , he p blic eac ion a like ha happened back in he 1930' hen O on Welle f igh ened Ame ica i h a adio p og am de c ibing, a ho gh i a ac all happening, an in a ion b "men f om Ma ." No one no j mped f om an indo , b in Ne Yo k Ci he e a an in an a alanche of p blic eac ion. I ' m pe onal opinion ha he "Ha e . . . Ha e . . ." i le a p ima il e pon ible fo he eac ion. H nd ed of ho and of Ne Yo ke , black and hi e, e e

e claiming "Did o hea i ? Did o ee i ? P eaching ha e of hi e people!" He e a one of he hi e man' mo cha ac e i ic beha io pa e n - he e black men a e conce ned. He lo e him elf o m ch ha he i a led if he di co e ha hi ic im don' ha e hi ainglo io elf-opinion. In Ame ica fo cen ie i had been j fine a long a he ic imi ed, b ali ed and e ploi ed black people had been g inning and begging and "Ye a,

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Ma a" and Uncle Tomming. B no , hing e e diffe en . Fi came he hi e ne pape - fea e i e and col mni : "Ala ming" . . . "ha e-me enge " . . . " h ea o he good ela ion be een he ace " . . . "black eg ega ioni " . . . "black p emaci ," and he like.

And he ne pape ' ink a n' d befo e he big na ional eekl ne maga ine a ed: "Ha e- eache " . . . " iolence- eeke " . . . "black aci " . . . "black fa ci " . . . "an i- Ch i ian" . . . "po ibl Comm ni -in pi ed. . . ." I olled o of he p e e of he bigge de il in he hi o of mankind. And hen he a o ed

hi e man made hi ne mo e. Since la e , he Ame ican hi e man ha al a kep ome handpicked Neg oe ho fa ed m ch be e han he black ma e ffe ing and la ing o in he ho field . The hi e man had he e "ho e" and " a d" Neg oe fo hi pecial e an . He h e hem mo e c mb f om hi ich able, he e en le hem ea in hi ki chen. He kne ha he co ld al a co n on hem o keep "good ma a" happ in hi elf-image of being o "good" and " igh eo ." "Good ma a" al a hea d j ha he an ed o hea f om he e

"ho e" and " a d" black . "Yo ' e ch a good, fi e ma a!" O , "Oh, ma a, ho e old black nigge fieldhand o he e, he ' e happ j like he a e; h , ma a, he ' e no in elligen eno gh fo o o and do an be e fo hem, ma a -" Well, la e ime' "ho e" and " a d" Neg oe had become mo e ophi ica ed, ha a all. When no he hi e man picked p hi elephone and dialed hi "ho e" and " a d" Neg oe -

h , he didn' e en need o in c he ained black p ppe . The had een he ele i ion p og am; had ead he ne pape . The e e al ead compo ing hei line . The kne ha o do.

I'm no going o call an name . B if o make a li of he bigge Neg o "leade ," o-called, in 1960, hen o ' e named he one ho began o a ack "field" Neg oe ho e e o nding i a e, alking ha a abo "good ma a."

"B no mean do he e M lim ep e en he Neg o ma e --" Tha a he fi o , o ea e "good ma a" ha he had no ea on o be conce ned abo hi fieldhand in he

ghe oe . "An i e pon ible ha e c l " . . . "an nfo na e Neg o image, j hen he acial pic e i imp o ing -" The e e mbling o e each o he o ge q o ed. "A deplo able e e e- aci m" . . . "Ridic lo p e ende o he ancien I lamic doc ine" . . . "He e ic an i-Ch i iani -" The elephone in o hen mall Temple Se en e a an nea l j mped off he all. I had a ecei e again m ea fi e ho a da . I a li ening, and jo ing in m no ebook, a p e , adio, and ele i ion people called, all of hem an ing he M lim eac ion o he q o ed

a ack of he e black "leade ." O I a on long-di ance o M . M hammad in Chicago, eading f om m no ebook and a king fo M . M hammad' in c ion .

I co ldn' nde and ho M . M hammad co ld main ain hi calm and pa ience, hea ing he hing I old him. I co ld ca cel con ain m elf.

M nli ed home elephone n mbe omeho go o . M ife Be p do n he phone af e aking one me age, and i a inging again. I eemed

ha he e e I en , elephone e e inging.

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The call na all e e di ec ed o me, Ne Yo k Ci being he majo ne -media headq a e , and I a he Ne Yo k mini e of M . M hammad. Call came, long-di ance f om San F anci co o Maine . . . f om e en London, S ockholm, Pa i . I o ld ee a M lim b o he a o e a an , o Be a home, ing o keep cool; he 'd hand me he ecei e , and I co ldn' belie e i , ei he . One f nn hing -in all ha hec ic pe iod, ome hing q ickl

ck m no ice: he E opean ne e p e ed he "ha e" q e ion. Onl he Ame ican hi e man a o plag ed and ob e ed i h being "ha ed." He a o g il , i a clea o me, of ha ing Neg oe . "M . Malcolm X, h do o each black p emac , and ha e?" A ed flag a ed fo me, ome hing chemical happened in ide me, e e ime I hea d ha . When e M lim had alked abo " he de il hi e man" he had been ela i el ab ac , omeone e M lim a el

ac all came in o con ac i h, b no he e a ha de il-in- he-fle h on he phone - i h all of hi calc la ing, cold-e ed, elf- igh eo ick and ne e and gall. The oice q e ioning me became o me a b ea hing, li ing de il . And I ied o po on p e fi e in e n. "The hi e man o g il of hi e p emac can' hide hi g il b ing o acc e The Hono able Elijah M hammad of eaching black

p emac and ha e! All M . M hammad i doing i ing o plif he black man' men ali and he black man' ocial and economic condi ion in hi co n . "The g il , o-faced hi e man can' decide ha he an . O la e fo epa en o ld ha e been p o dea h fo ad oca ing o-called in eg a ion i h he hi e man. No hen M . M hammad peak of epa a ion, he hi e man call ha e- eache and fa ci ! The hi e man doe n' a he black ! He doe n' a he black ha a e a pa a i e pon him! He doe n' a hi black man ho e p e ence and condi ion in hi co n e po e he

hi e man o he o ld fo ha he i ! So h do o a ack M . M hammad?" I'd ha e ca hi g in m oice; I fel i . "Fo he hi e man o a k he black man if he ha e him i j like he api a king he a ed, o he olf a king he hee , Do o ha e me? The hi e man i in no mo al i i o acc e an one el e of ha e! Wh , hen all of m ance o a e nake-bi en, and I'm nake-bi en, and I a n m child en o a oid nake , ha doe ha ake o nd like acc ing me of ha e- eaching?"

"M . Malcolm X," ho e de il o ld a k, " h i o F i of I lam being ained in j do and ka a e?" An image of black men lea ning an hing gge ing elf-defen e eemed o e if he

hi e man. I'd n hei q e ion a o nd: "Wh doe j do o ka a e ddenl ge o omino beca e black men d i ? Ac o Ame ica, he Bo Sco , he YMCA, e en he YWCA, he CYP, PAL - he all each j do! I ' all igh , i ' fine - n il black me each i ! E en li le g amma chool cla e , li le gi l , a e a gh o defend hem el e -" "Ho man of o a e in o o gani a ion, M . Malcolm X? Righ Re e end Bi hop T. Chicken ing a o ha e onl a handf l of membe -" "Whoe e ell o ho man M lim he e a e doe n' kno , and hoe e doe kno ill ne e ell o -" The Bi hop Chicken ing e e al o of en q o ed abo o "an i-Ch i iani ." I'd fi e igh back on ha :

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"Ch i iani i he hi e man' eligion. The Hol Bible in he hi e man' hand and hi in e p e a ion of i ha e been he g ea e ingle ideological eapon fo en la ing million of non- hi e h man being . E e co n he hi e man ha conq e ed i h hi g n , he ha al a pa ed he a , and al ed hi con cience, b ca ing he Bible and in e p e ing i o call he people hea hen and pagan ; hen he end hi g n , hen hi mi iona ie behind he g n o mop p -"

Whi e epo e , ange in hei oice , o ld call "demagog e ," and I o ld o be ead af e I had been a ked he ame q e ion o o h ee ime . "Well, le ' go back o he G eek, and ma be o ill lea n he fi hing o need o kno abo he o d demagog e. Demagog e mean , ac all , eache of he people. And le ' e amine ome demagog e . The g ea e of all G eek , Soc a e , a killed a a demagog e. Je Ch i died on he c o beca e he Pha i ee of Hi da e e pholding hei la , no he pi i . The mode n Pha i ee a e ing o heap de c ion pon M . M hammad, calling

him a demagog e, a c ackpo , and fana ic. Wha abo Gandhi? The man ha Ch chill called a naked li le faki , ef ing food in a B i i h jail? B hen a q a e of a billion people, a

hole bcon inen , allied behind Gandhi -and he i ed he B i i h lion' ail! Wha abo Galileo, anding befo e hi inq i i o , a ing The ea h d e mo e! Wha abo Ma in L he , nailing on a doo hi he i again he all-po e f l Ca holic ch ch hich called him he e ic ? We, he follo e of The Hono able Elijah M hammad, a e oda in he ghe oe a once he ec of Ch i iani ' follo e e e like e mi e in he ca acomb and he g o oe - and he e e p epa ing he g a e of he migh Roman Empi e!" I can emembe ho e ho elephone e ion i h ho e epo e a if i e e e e da . The epo e e e ang . I a ang . When I'd each in o hi o , he 'd o p ll me back o he

p e en . The o ld q i in e ie ing, q i hei o k, ing o defend hei pe onal hi e de il el e . The o ld nea h Lincoln and hi f eeing of he la e . I'd ell hem hing Lincoln aid in peeche , agai he black . The o ld d ag p he 1954 S p eme Co deci ion on chool in eg a ion. "Tha a one of he g ea e magical fea e e pe fo med in Ame ica," I'd ell hem. "Do o mean o ell me ha nine S p eme Co j dge , ho a e pa ma e of legal ph a eolog , co ldn' ha e o ked hei deci ion o make i ick a la ? No! I a icke and magic ha old Neg oe he e e de eg ega ed -Hoo a ! Hoo a ! -and a he ame ime i old hi e He e a e o loophole . " The epo e o ld hei mo o ai e ome "good" hi e man hom I co ldn' ef e a

ch. I'll ne e fo ge ho one p ac icall lo hi oice. He a ked me did I feel a hi e men had e e done an hing fo he black man in Ame ica. I old him, "Ye , I can hink of o. Hi le , and S alin. The black man in Ame ica co ldn' ge a

decen fac o job n il Hi le p o m ch p e e on he hi e man. And hen S alin kep p he p e e -"

B I don' ca e ha poin I made in he in e ie , i p ac icall ne e go p in ed he a I aid i . I a lea ning nde fi e ho he p e , hen i an o, can i , and lan . If I had aid "Ma had a li le lamb," ha p obabl o ld ha e appea ed a "Malcolm X Lampoon

Ma ."

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E en o, m bi e ne a le again he hi e p e han i a again ho e Neg o "leade " ho kep a acking . M . M hammad aid he an ed o o be no o p blicl co n e a ack he black "leade " beca e one of he hi e man' ick a keeping he black ace di ided and figh ing again each o he . M . M hammad aid ha hi had adi ionall kep he black people f om achie ing he ni hich a he o need of he

black ace in Ame ica. B in ead of aba ing, he black p ppe con in ed ipping and ea ing a M . M hammad and he Na ion of I lam - n il i began o appea a ho gh e e e af aid o peak o again he e "impo an " Neg oe . Tha ' hen M . M hammad' pa ience o e hin. And i h hi

nod, I began e ning hei fi e. "Toda ' Uncle Tom doe n' ea a handke chief on hi head. Thi mode n, en ie h-cen Uncle Thoma no of en ea a op ha . He' all ell-d e ed and ell-ed ca ed. He' of en he pe onifica ion of c l e and efinemen . The en ie h-cen Uncle Thoma ome ime peak i h a Yale o Ha a d accen . Some ime he i kno n a P ofe o , Doc o ,

J dge, and Re e end, e en Righ Re e end Doc o . Thi en ie h-cen Uncle Thoma i a fe i al Neg o . . . b ha I mean hi p ofe ion i being a Neg o fo he hi e man."

Ne e befo e in Ame ica had he e hand-picked o-called "leade " been p blicl bla ed in hi a . The eac ed o he h abo hem el e e en mo e ho l han he de ili h hi e man.

No hei "in i ional" indic men of began. In ead of "leade " peaking a hem el e , fo hem el e , no hei eigh name o gani a ion a acked M . M hammad. "Black bodie i h hi e head !" I called hem ha he

e e. E e one of ho e "Neg o p og e " o gani a ion had he ame compo i ion. Black "leade " e e o in he p blic e e - o be een b he Neg oe fo hom he e e ppo ed o be figh ing he hi e man. B ob c el , behind he cene , a a hi e bo -a p e iden , o boa d chai man, o ome o he i le, p lling he eal ing . I a ho , ho cop , bo h in he hi e and he black p e . Life, L k, Ne eek and Time epo ed . Some ne pape chain began o n no one o , b a e ie of h ee, fo , o

fi e "e po e " of he Na ion of I lam. The Reade ' Dige i h i o ld ide ci c la ion of en -fo million copie in hi een lang age ca ied an a icle i led "M . M hammad

Speak ," b he i e o hom I am elling hi book; and ha led off o he majo mon hl maga ine ' co e age of . Befo e e long, adio and ele i ion people began a king me o defend o Na ion of I lam in panel di c ion and deba e . I a o be conf on ed b handpicked chola , bo h hi e and ome of ho e Ph. D. "ho e" and " a d" Neg oe ho had been a acking . E e da , I a

mo e incen ed i h he gene al mi ep e en a ion and di o ion of M . M hammad' eaching ; I l hink ha no once did i c o m mind ha p e io l I ne e had been

i ide a adio o ele i ion a ion -le alone faced a mic ophone o a dience of million of people. P i on deba ing had been m onl e pe ience peaking o an one b M lim . F om he old h ling da I kne ha he e e e ick o e e hing. In he p i on deba ing, I had lea ned ick o p e m opponen , o ca ch hem he e he didn' e pec o be ca gh . I kne he e e e bo nd o be ick I didn' kno an hing abo a g ing on he ai . I kne ha if I clo el died ha he o he did, I co ld lea n hing in a h o help me o defend M . M hammad and hi eaching .

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I'd alk in o ho e dio . The de il and black Ph. D. p ppe o ld be ac ing o f iendl and "in eg a ed" i h each o he -la ghing and calling each o he b fi name , and all ha ; i a

ch a big lie i made me ick in m omach. The o ld e en be ing o ac f iendl o a d me - e all kno ing he had a ked me he e o

and bea o m b ain . The o ld offe me coffee. I o ld ell hem "No, hank ," o plea e j ell me he e a I ppo ed o i . Some ime he mic ophone a on he able befo e

o , a o he ime a malle , c lind ical mic ophone a h ng on a co d a o nd o neck. F om he a , I liked ho e mic ophone be e ; I didn' ha e o keep con an l a a e of m di ance f om a mic ophone on he able. The p og am ho o ld a i h ome kind of dice-loading, non- eligio in od c ion fo me. I o ld be ome hing like " -and e ha e i h oda he fie , ang chief Malcolm X of he Ne Yo k M lim . . . ." I made p m o n in od c ion. A home, o d i ing m ca , I

p ac iced n il I co ld in e p a adio o ele i ion ho and in od ce m elf. "I ep e en M . Elijah M hammad, he pi i al head of he fa e -g o ing g o p of M lim in he We e n Hemi phe e. We ho follo him kno ha he ha been di inel a gh and en o b God Him elf. We belie e ha he mi e able pligh of Ame ica' en million

black people i he f lfillmen of di ine p ophec . We al o belie e he p e ence oda in Ame ica of The Hono able Elijah M hammad, hi eaching among he o-called Neg oe , and hi naked a ning o Ame ica conce ning he ea men of he e o-called Neg oe , i all he f lfillmen of di ine p ophec . I am p i ileged o be he mini e of o Temple N mbe Se en he e in Ne Yo k Ci hich i a pa of he Na ion of I lam, nde he di ine leade hip of The Hono able Elijah M hammad -" I o ld look a o nd a ho e de il and hei ained black pa o a ing a me, hile I a ca ching m b ea h -and I had e m one. The o ld o do each o he , leaping in on me, hamme ing a M . M hammad, a me, and a he Na ion of I lam. Tho e "in eg a ion"-mad Neg oe - o kno ha he j mped on. Wh

co ldn' M lim ee ha "in eg a ion" a he an e o Ame ican Neg oe ' p oblem ? I'd o ip ha o piece .

"No a e black man eall an in eg a ion! No a e hi e man eall an in eg a ion! No ane black man eall belie e ha he hi e man e e ill gi e he black man an hing mo e han oken in eg a ion. No! The

Hono able Elijah M hammad eache ha fo he black man in Ame ica he onl ol ion i comple e e a a i f om he hi e man!" An one ho ha e e hea d me on adio o ele i ion p og am kno ha m echniq e i non- op, n il ha I an o ge aid i aid. I a de eloping he echniq e hen. "The Hono able Elijah M hammad eache ha ince We e n ocie i de e io a ing, i ha become o e n i h immo ali , and God i going o j dge i , and de o i . And he onl

a he black people ca gh p in hi ocie can be a ed i no o i eg a e in o hi co p ocie , b o e a a e f om i , o a land of o , he e e can efo m o el e , lif p

o mo al anda d , and o be godl . The We e n o ld' mo lea ned diploma ha e failed o ol e hi g a e ace p oblem. He lea ned legal e pe ha e failed. He ociologi ha e failed. He ci il leade ha e failed. He f a e nal leade ha e failed. Since all of he e ha e failed o ol e hi ace p oblem, i i ime fo o i do n and ea ! I am ce ain ha

e ill be fo ced o ag ee ha i ake G d Him elf o ol e hi g a e acial dilemma."

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E e ime I men ioned " epa a ion," ome of hem o ld c ha e M lim e e anding fo he ame hing ha hi e aci and demagog e ood fo . I o ld e plain he diffe ence. "No! We ejec eg ega i e en mo e mili an l han o a o do! We an e a a i ,

hich i no he ame! The Hono able Elijah M hammad eache ha eg ega i i hen o life and libe a e con olled, eg la ed, b me e el e. To eg ega e mean o con ol.

Seg ega ion i ha hich i fo ced pon infe io b pe io . B e a a i i ha hich i done ol n a il , b o eq al -fo he good of bo h! The Hono able Elijah M hammad eache ha a long a o people he e in Ame ica a e dependen pon he hi e man, e ill al a be begging him fo job , food, clo hing, and ho ing. And he ill al a con ol o

li e , eg la e o li e , and ha e he po e o eg ega e . The Neg o he e in Ame ica ha been ea ed like a child. A child a i hin he mo he n il he ime of bi h! When he ime of bi h a i e , he child m be epa a ed, o i ill de i

mo he and i elf. The mo he can' ca ha child af e i ime. The child c ie fo and need i o n o ld!" An one ho ha li ened o me ill ha e o ag ee ha I belie ed in Elijah M hammad and ep e en ed him one h nd ed pe cen . I ne e ied o ake an c edi fo m elf.

I a ne e in one of ho e panel di c ion i ho ome of hem j ai ing hei chance o acc e me of "inci ing Neg oe o iolence." I didn' e en ha e o do an pecial d ing o p epa e fo ha one. "The g ea e mi acle Ch i iani ha achie ed in Ame ica i ha he black man in hi e Ch i ian hand ha no g o n iolen . I i a mi acle ha en - o million black people ha e no i e again hei opp e o -in hich he o ld ha e been j ified b all mo al c i e ia, and e en b he democ a ic adi ion! I i a mi acle ha a na ion of black people ha o fe en l con in ed o belie e in a n- he-o he -cheek and hea en-fo - o -af e - o -die

philo oph ! I i a mi acle ha he Ame ican black people ha e emained a peacef l people, hile ca ching all he cen ie of hell ha he ha e ca gh , he e in hi e man' hea en! The

mi acle i ha he hi e man' p ppe Neg o leade , hi p eache and he ed ca ed Neg oe laden i h deg ee , and o he ho ha e been allo ed o a fa off hei black poo b o he , ha e been able o hold he black ma e q ie n il no ." I g a an ee o one hing -e e ime I a mi ed p in ho e dio i h ho e b ain a hed, "in eg a ion"-mad black p ppe , and ho e ick de il ing o ip and ea me do n, a long a he li le ed ligh glo ed "on he ai ," I ied o ep e en Elijah M hammad and he Na ion of I lam o he mo . D . C. E ic Lincoln' book a p bli hed amid idening con o e abo M lim , a j abo he ime e e e a ing o p on o fi big ma allie . J a he ele i ion "Ha e Tha Ha e P od ced" i le had p ojec ed ha "ha e- eaching" image of , no D . Lincoln' book a i led The Black M lim i Ame ica. The p e na ched a ha name. "Black M lim " a in all he book e ie , hich q o ed f om he

book onl ha a c i ical of , and gene all p ai ed D . Lincoln' i ing. The p blic mind fi ed on "Black M lim ." F om M . M hammad on do n, he name "Black M lim " di e ed e e one in he Na ion of I lam. I ied fo a lea o ea o kill off ha "Black M lim ." E e ne pape and maga ine i e and mic ophone I go clo e o: " N ! We a e black e le he e in Ame ica. O eligi i I lam. We a e p ope l called M lim !" B ha "Black M lim " name ne e go di lodged.

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O ma allie , f om hei e beginning, e e a o nding cce e . Whe e once De oi ' ggling li le Temple One p o dl en a en-a omobile ca a an o Chicago o hea M .

M hammad, no , f om Ea Coa Temple - he olde Temple a ell a he ne one ha all of he ma i e p blici had helped o b ing in o being -a man a 150, 200 and e en a man a 300 big, cha e ed b e olled he high a o he e e M . M hammad a going o peak. On each b , o F i of I lam men e e in cha ge. Big h ee-b -nine-foo pain ed

can a banne h ng on he b e ' ide , o be ead b he high a affic and ho and of people a home and on he ide alk of he o n he b e pa ed h o gh. H nd ed mo e M lim and c io Neg oe d o e hei o n ca . And M . M hammad i h hi pe onal je plane f om Chicago. F om he ai po o he all hall, M . M hammad' mo o cade had a i en- c eaming police e co . La agencie once had coffed a o Na ion a "black c ackpo "; no he ook pecial pain o afeg a d again ome " hi e c ackpo " ca ing an "inciden " o "acciden ." Ame ica had ne e een ch fan a ic all-black mee ing ! To hea Elijah M hammad, p o en ho and and mo e black people po ed f om p blic and p i a e an po a ion o o e flo he big hall e en ed, ch a he S . Nichola A ena in Ne Yo k Ci , Chicago' Coli e m,

and Wa hing on, D. C.' Uline A ena. The hi e man a ba ed f om a endance - he fi ime he Ame ican black man had e e d eamed of ch a hing. And ha b o gh ne a ack f om he hi e man and hi black p ppe . "Black eg ega ioni . . . aci !" Acc ing of eg ega ion! Ac o Ame ica, hi e ba ing black a anda d. Man h nd ed a i ed oo la e fo o ea hem. We al a had o i e p o ide lo d peake . An elec ic a mo phe e e ci ed he g ea , hif ing ma e of black people. The long line , h ee and fo ab ea , f nneling o he mee ing hall, e e kep in ic o de b F i of I lam men comm nica ing b alkie- alkie. In an e oom j in ide he hall , mo e F i of I lam men and hi e-go ned, eiled ma e M lim i e ho o ghl ea ched e e man, oman, and child eeking o en e . An alcohol and obacco had o be checked, and an objec hich co ld po ibl be ed o a emp o ha m M . M hammad. He al a eemed dea hl af aid ha omeone o ld ha m him, and he in i ed ha e e one be ea ched o fo e all hi . Toda I nde and be e , h . The h nd ed of F i of I lam men ep e en ed con ingen hich had a i ed ea l ha mo ning, f om hei Temple in he nea e ci ie . Some e e de ailed a he , ho ea ed he people b de igna ed ec ion . The balconie and he ea half of he main floo e e filled i h black people of he gene al p blic. Ahead of hem e e he all-M lim ea ing ec ion -

he hi e-ga bed bea if l black i e , and he da k- i ed, hi e- hi ed b o he . A pecial ec ion nea he f on a fo black o-called "digni a ie ." Man of he e had been in i ed.

Among hem e e o black p ppe and pa o a acke , he in ellec al and p ofe ional Neg oe o e hom M . M hammad g ie ed o m ch, fo he e e e he ed ca ed one ho ho ld ha e been fo emo in leading hei poo black b o he o of he ma e of mi e and an . We an ed hem o mi no a ingle llable of he h f om M . M hammad in

pe on. The f on o o h ee p e o e e filled i h he black epo e and came amen ep e en ing he Neg o p e , o ho e ho had been hi ed b he hi e man' ne pape ,

maga ine , adio, and ele i ion. Ame ica' black i e ho ld hold a banq e fo M .

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M hammad. W i ing abo he Na ion of I lam a he pa h o cce fo mo of he black i e ho no a e ecogni ed.

Up on he peake ' pla fo m, e mini e and o he official of he Na ion, en e ing f om back age, fo nd o el e chai in he fi e o i o behind he big chai e e ed fo M . M hammad. Some of he mini e had come h nd ed of mile o be p e en . We o ld be

ning abo in o chai , beaming i h mile , inging each o he ' hand , and e changing "A -Salaam-Alaik m" and "Wa-Alaik m-Salaam" in o gen ine deep ejoicing o ee each o he again. Al a , mee ing olde hand in M . M hammad' e ice fo he fi ime, he e e e e e al ne mini e of mall ne Temple . M b o he Wilf ed and Philbe e e e pec i el no he mini e of he De oi and Lan ing Temple . Mini e Je emiah X

headed A lan a' Temple. Mini e John X had Lo Angele ' Temple. The Me enge ' on, Mini e Wallace M hammad, had he Philadelphia Temple. Mini e Wood o X had he A lan ic Ci Temple. Some of o mini e had n al backg o nd . The Wa hing on, D. C., Temple Mini e L ci X a p e io l a Se en h Da Ad en i and a 32nd deg ee Ma on. Mini e Geo ge X of he Camden, Ne Je e , Temple a a pa hologi . Mini e Da id X

a p e io l he mini e of a Richmond, Vi ginia, Ch i ian ch ch; he and eno gh of hi cong ega ion had become M lim o ha he cong ega ion pli and he majo i ned he ch ch in o o Richmond Temple. The Bo on Temple' o anding o ng Mini e Lo i X, p e io l a ell-kno n and i ing pop la inge called "The Cha me ," had i en o Na ion' pop la fi ong, i led "Whi e Man' Hea en i Black Man' Hell." Mini e Lo i X had al o a ho ed o fi pla , "O gena" ("A Neg o" pelled back a d ); i heme a he all-black ial of a mbolic hi e man fo hi o ld c ime again non- hi e ; fo nd g il , en enced o dea h, he a d agged off ho ing abo all he had done "fo he nig a people."

Yo nge e en han o alen ed Lo i X e e ome ne e mini e , Mini e Thoma J. X of he Ha fo d Temple being one e ample, and ano he he B ffalo Temple' Mini e Robe J.

X. I had ei he o iginall e abli hed o o gani ed fo M . M hammad mo of he ep e en ed emple . G ee ing each of he e

Temple ' b o he mini e o ld b ing back in o m mind image of "fi hing" fo con e along he ee and f om doo - o-doo he e e he black people e e cong ega ed. I emembe ed he co n le mee ing in li ing oom he e ma be e en o ld be a c o d; he

g ad all b ilding, b ilding -on p o en ing folding chai fo ding li le o ef on hich M lim c bbed o po le ne . We oge he on a h ge hall' peaking pla fo m, and ha a a dience befo e , mi ac lo l manife ed, a fa a I a conce ned, he incomp ehen ible po e of Allah. Fo he fi ime, I l nde ood ome hing M . M hammad had old me: he claimed ha hen he a going h o gh he ac ificial ial of fleeing he black h poc i e f om ci o ci , Allah had of en en him i ion of g ea a dience ho o ld one da hea he eaching ; and M .

M hammad aid he i ion al o b o ed him hen he a locked p fo ea in he hi e man' p i on. The g ea a dience' e le hi pe ing o ld cea e. . . .

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A he mic ophone o ld be he Na ion' Na ional Sec e a John Ali, o he Bo on Temple Mini e Lo i X. The enli ened he all-black a mo phe e, peaking of he ne o ld open o he black man h o gh he Na ion of I lam. Si e T ne a D nea o ld peak bea if ll of he M lim omen' po e f l, i al con ib ion , of he M lim omen' ole in o Na ion'

effo o ai e he ph ical, men al, mo al, ocial, and poli ical condi ion of Ame ica' black people. Ne , I o ld come o he mic ophone, pecificall o condi ion he a dience o hea M . M hammad, ho had flo n f om Chicago o each all in pe on. I o ld ai e p m hand, " A -Salaam-Alaik m -" " Wa-Alaik m-Salaam!" I a a oa ed e pon e f om he g ea a dience' M lim ea ing ec ion.

The e a a gene al pa e n ha I o ld follo on he e occa ion : "M black b o he and i e -of all eligio belief , o of no eligio belief - e all ha e in common he g ea e binding ie e co ld ha e . . . e all a e black people! I'm no going o ake all da elling o ome of he g ea ne e of The Hono able Elijah M hammad. I'm j going o ell o no hi g ea e g ea ne ! He i he fi , he l black leade o iden if , o o and me, h i o enem ! The Hono able Elijah M hammad i he fi black leade among i h he c age o ell -o he e in p blic - ome hing hich hen o begin o hink of i back in o home , o ill eali e e black people ha e been li i g i h, e ha e been eei g, e ha e been ffe i g, all

of o li e ! O e em i he hi e ma ! And h i M . M hammad' eaching hi ch a g ea hing? Beca e hen o kno h

o enem i , he can no longe keep o di ided, and figh ing, one b o he again he o he ! Beca e hen o ec g i e ho o enem i , he can no longe e icke , p omi e , lie , h poc i , and hi e il ac o keep o deaf, d mb, and blinded! When o ecogni e h o enem i , he can no longe b ain a h o , he can no longe p ll

ool o e o e e o ha o ne e op o ee ha o a e li ing in p e hell on hi ea h, hile he li e in p e hea e igh on hi ame ea h! -Thi enem ho ell o ha o a e

bo h ppo ed o be o hiping he ame hi e Ch i ian God ha - o a e old - and fo he ame hing fo all men!

Oh, e , ha de il i o enem . I'll e i ! Pick p an dail ne pape ! Read he fal e cha ge le eled again o belo ed eligio leade . I onl poin p he fac ha he Ca ca ian ace ne e an an black man ho i no hei p ppe o pa o o peak fo o people. Thi Ca ca ian de il la ema e doe no an o o lea e him - e hen e

a he e among him, he con in e o keep a he e l e le el of hi ocie ! The hi e man ha al a l ed i hen he co ld keep black men cked a a ome he e, al a o of igh , a o nd he co ne ! The hi e man ha al a l ed he kind of black leade hom he co ld a k, Well, ho ' hing i h o people p he e? B beca e M . Elijah M hammad ake an ncomp omi ing and i h he hi e man, he hi e man ha e him! When o hea he hi e ma ha e him, o , oo, beca e o

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don' nde and Biblical p ophec , ongl label M . M hammad -a a aci , a ha e- eache , o of being an i- hi e and eaching black p emac -" The a dience ddenl o ld begin a ling of ning. . . . M . M hammad o ld be apidl mo ing along p a cen e ai le f om he ea -a once he had en e ed o h mble li le mo q e - hi man hom e ega ded a I lam' gen le, meek, b o n- kinned Lamb. S al a , iding, clo e-c opped, hand-picked F i of I lam g a d

e e a ci cle o nding him. He ca ied hi Hol Bible, hi hol Q an. The mall, da k pillbo a op hi head a gold-emb oide ed i h I lam' flag, he n, moon, and a . The M lim e e c ing o hei ado a ion and hei elcome. "Li le Lamb!" "A -Salaam- Alaik m!" "P ai e be o Allah!" Tea o ld be in mo e e e han mine. He had e c ed me hen I a a con ic ; M . M hammad had ained me in hi home, a if I a hi on. I hink ha m life' peak of emo ion, n il ecen l , a lea , e e hen, ddenl , he F i of I lam g a d o ld op

iffl a a en ion, and he pla fo m' e e al ep o ld be mo n ed alone b M . M hammad, and hi mini e , incl ding me, p ang a o nd him, emb acing him, inging bo h hi hand . . . . I o ld n igh back o he mic ophone, no o keep ai ing ho e o ld' bigge black a dience ho had come o hea him. "M black b o he and i e - one ill kno h e a e . . . n il e kno ho e a e! We ne e ill be able o g an he e n il e kno he e e a e! The Hono able Elijah M hammad i gi ing a e iden i , and a e po i ion - he fi ime he ha e e e been k o he Ame ican black man! "Yo can be a o nd hi man and ne e d eam f om hi ac ion he po e and he a ho i he ha --" (Behind me, belie e me hen I ell o , I co ld feel M . M hammad' e .) He doe no di la , and a ade, hi e ! B no o he black leade in Ame ica ha follo e ho ill la do n hei li e if he a o! And I don' mean all of hi non- iolen , begging- he- hi e-man kind of d ing . . . all of hi i ing-in, liding-in, ading-in, ea ing-in, di ing-in, and all he e -- M black b o he and i e , o ha e come f om o home o hea -no o a e g i g o hea -Ame ica' i e black man! Ame ica' b lde black man! Ame ica' mo fea le black man! Thi ilde ne of No h Ame ica' mo e f l black man!" M . M hammad o ld come q ickl o he and, looking o o e he ac m-q ie a dience, hi gen le-looking face e , fo j a flee ing momen . Then, "A -Salaam-Alaik m -" "WA-ALAIKUM-SALAAM!" The M lim oa ed i , a he e led o li en. F om e pe ience, he kne ha fo he ne

o ho M . M hammad o ld ield hi o-edged o d of h. In fac , e e M lim o ied ha he o e a ed him elf in he leng h of hi peeche , con ide ing hi b onchial

a hma ic condi ion. "I don' ha e a deg ee like man of o o he e befo e me ha e. B hi o don' ca e an hing abo o deg ee .

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The hi e man, he ha filled o i h a fea of him f om e e ince o e e li le black babie . So o e o i he g ea e enem a man can ha e -and ha i fea . I kno ome of o a e af aid o li en o he h - o ha e been ai ed on fea and lie . B I am going o p each o

o he h n il o a e f ee of ha fea . . . . Yo la ema e , he b o gh o o e he e, and of o pa e e hing a de o ed. Toda ,

o do no kno o e lang age. Wha ibe a e o f om? Yo o ld no ecogni e o ibe' name if o hea d i . Yo don' kno no hing abo o e c l e. Yo don' e en

kno o famil ' eal name. Yo a e ea ing a hi e ma ' name! The hi e la ema e , ho ha e o !

Yo a e a people ho hink o kno all abo he Bible, and all abo Ch i iani . Yo e en a e fooli h eno gh o belie e ha no hing i igh b Ch i iani ! Yo a e he plane Ea h' onl g o p of people igno an of o elf, igno an of o o n kind, of o e hi o , igno an of o enem ! Yo kno no hing a all b ha o

hi e la ema e ha cho en o ell o . And he ha old o onl ha hich ill benefi him elf, and hi o n kind. He ha a gh o , fo hi benefi , ha o a e a ne al, hif le , helple o-called Neg o. I a -called beca e o a e a Neg . The e i no ch hing a a ace of Neg e . Yo a e membe of he A ia ic na ion, f om he ibe of Shaba ! Neg o i a fal e label fo ced on o b o la ema e ! He ha been p hing hing on o o and me and o kind e e ince he b o gh he fi la e hipload of black people he e -"

When M . M hammad pa ed, he M lim befo e him c ied o , "Li le Lamb!" . . . "All p ai e i d e o Allah!" . . . " Teach, Me enge !" He o ld con in e. "The ig a ce e of he black ace he e in Ame ica ha e, and he elf-ha ed e ha e, he a e fine e ample of ha he hi e la ema e ha een fi o each o . Do e ho he plain common en e, like e e o he people on hi plane Ea h, o ni e among o el e ? No! We a e h mbling o el e , i ing-in, and begging-in, ing o i e i h he la ema e ! I don' eem able o imagine an mo e idic lo igh . A ho and a e e

da , he hi e man i elling o Yo can' li e he e, o can' en e he e, o can' ea he e, d ink he e, alk he e, o k he e, o can' ide he e, o can' pla he e, o can' d he e. Ha en' e e een eno gh o ee ha he ha no plan o i e i h o ? Yo ha e illed hi field ! Cooked hi food! Wa hed hi clo he ! Yo ha e ca ed fo hi ife and child en hen he a a a . In man ca e , o ha e e en ckled him a o b ea ! Yo ha e been fa and a a be e Ch i ian han hi la ema e ho a gh o hi Ch i iani ! Yo ha e ea ed blood o help him b ild a co n o ich ha he can oda affo d o gi e a a million -e en o hi e emie ! And hen ho e enemie ha e go en eno gh f om him o hen be able o a ack him, o ha e been hi b a e oldie , d i g fo him. And o ha e been

al a hi mo fai hf l e an d ing he o-called peacef l ime -- And, ill, hi Ch i ian Ame ican hi e man ha no go i in him o find he h man dece c , and eno gh en e of j ice, o ecogni e , and accep , he black people ho ha e done o m ch fo him, a fello h man being !"

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"YAH, Man!" . . . " Um-h h!" " Teach, Me enge !" . . . " Yah!" . . . " Tell 'em!" . . . "Yo igh !" . . . "Take o ime p he e, li le Me enge !" . . . "Oh, e !" O he be ide he M lim o ld be ho ing no . We M lim e e le e o e ed han Ch i ian Neg oe . I o ld o nd no like an old-fa hioned camp mee ing. "So le , he black people, e a a e o el e f om hi hi e man la ema e , ho de pi e

o m ch! Yo a e o he e begging him fo ome o-called i eg a i ! B ha i hi la ema e hi e a i going abo a ing! He i a ing he on' in eg a e beca e black

blood ill m g eli e hi ace! He a ha -and look a ! T n a o nd in o ea and look a each o he ! Thi la ema e hi e man al ead ha i eg a ed n il o can ha dl find among oda an mo e han a e fe ho a e he black colo of o fo epa en !" "God-a-migh , he man' igh !" . . . " Teach, Me enge -" " Hea him! Hea him!" "He ha lef ch a li le black in ," M . M hammad o ld go on, " ha no he de pi e o bad -meaning he de pi e him elf, fo ha he ha d e o - ha he ell ha legall if e ha e go e d of black blood in , ha mean o a e all-black a fa a hi la a e conce ned! Well, if ha ' all e' e go lef , e an o eclaim ha one d op!" M . M hammad' f ail eng h co ld be een o be aning. B he o ld each on: "So le e a a e f om hi hi e man, and fo he ame ea on he a -in ime o a e o el e f om an mo e i eg a i ! Wh h ld ' hi hi e man ho like o hink and call him elf o good, and o gene o , hi

hi e man ho finance e en hi enemie - h h ld ' he b idi e a epa a e a e, a epa a e e i o , fo e black people ho ha e been ch fai hf l la e and e an ? A epa a e e i o on hich e can lif el e o of he e hi e man' l m fo , and hi

b eadli e fo . And e en fo h e he i complaining ha e co him oo m ch! We can do ome hing fo el e ! We ne e ha e done ha e c ld - beca e e ha e been b ain a hed o ell b he la ema e hi e man ha e m come o him, begging him, fo e e hing e an , and need -" Af e pe hap nine min e , behind M . M hammad, e e mini e o ld ha e o e ain him elf f om bol ing p o hi ide, o ge him ha i a eno gh. He o ld be p e ing hi hand igh l again he edge of he peake ' and, o ppo him elf. "We black people don' k ha e can do. Yo ne e can kno ha a hi g can do - n il i i e f ee, o ac b i elf! If o ha e a ca in o ho e ha o pampe and pe , o ha e o f ee ha ca , e i on i , in he ood , befo e o can ee ha he ca had i i him o hel e and feed i elf!

We, he black people he e in Ame ica, e ne e ha e been f ee o find ha e eall can d ! We ha e kno ledge and e pe ience o pool o do fo o el e ! All of o li e e ha e fa med - e can g o o o n food. We can e p fac o ie o man fac e o o n nece i ie ! We can b ild o he kind of b ine e , o e abli h ade, and comme ce -and become independen , a o he ci ili ed people a e -- We can h ff o b ain a hing, and o elf-ha e, and li e a b he oge he . . . . . . ome land of o ! . . . Some hing fo el e ! . . . lea e hi hi e la ema e o him elf. . . ." M . M hammad al a opped ab p l hen he a nable o peak an longe .

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The anding o a ion, a olid all of o nd, o ld go on naba ing. S anding p he e, flailing m a m , finall I co ld q ie he a dience a F i of I lam he began o pa along he ea ing o he la ge, a ed pape b cke e ed o ake p he collec ion. I o ld peak. "Yo k , f om ha o ha e j hea d, ha no hi e mone finance The Hono able Elijah M hammad and hi p og am - o ad i e him and con ain him! M . M hammad' p og am, and hi follo e , a e no in eg a ed. M . M hammad' p og am and o gani a ion a e all- black! We a e he l black o gani a ion ha l black people ppo ! The e o-called Neg o p og e o gani a ion -Wh , he in l o in elligence, claiming he a e figh ing in o behalf, o ge o he eq al igh o a e a king fo . . . claiming he a e figh i g he hi e man ho ef e o gi e o o igh . Wh , he hi e man ho e o gani a ion ! If

o belong, o pa o o, o h ee, o fi e dolla a ea -b h gi e ho e o gani a ion ho e o-, and h ee-, and fi e h a d dolla dona ion ? The hi e man! He feed ho e

o gani a ion ! So he con ol ho e o gani a ion ! He ad i e hem - o he c ai hem! U e o common en e -a en' o going o ad i e and con ol and con ain an one ha o

ppo , like o child? The hi e man o ld lo e o ppo M . Elijah M hammad. Beca e if M . M hammad had o el on hi ppo , he co ld ad i e M . M hammad. M black b o he and i e , i i

l beca e mone , black mone , ppo M . M hammad, ha he can hold he e all- black mee ing f om ci o ci , elling black men he h! Tha ' h e a e a king fo

o all-black !" Nea l all bill -and fa f om all one-dolla bill , ei he , filled he a ed b cke . The b cke

e e if l emp ied, hen efilled, a he F i of I lam he co e ed he en i e a dience. The a dience a mo phe e a almo a if he people had gone limp. The collec ion al a co e ed he all e pen e , and an hing be ond ha helped o con in e b ilding he Na ion of I lam. Af e e e al big allie , M . M hammad di ec ed ha e o ld admi he hi e p e . F i of I lam men ho o ghl ea ched hem, a e e one el e a ea ched - hei no ebook , hei came a , came a ca e , and ha e e el e he ca ied. La e , M . M hammad aid ha a

hi e ho an ed o hea he h co ld a end o p blic allie , n il a mall epa a e ec ion fo hi e a filled.

Mo hi e ho came e e den and chola . I o ld a ch hei congealed and eddened face a ing p a M . M hammad. "The hi e man k ha hi ac ha e been ho e of a de il!" I o ld a ch al o he face of he p ofe ional black

men, he o-called in ellec al ho a acked . The po e ed he academic kno -ho , he po e ed he echnical and he cien ific kill ha co ld help o lead hei ma of poo , black b o he o of o condi ion. B all he e in ellec al and p ofe ional black men co ld eem o hink of a h mbling hem el e , and begging, ing o "in eg a e" i h he o-called

"libe al" hi e man ho a elling hem, "In ime . . . e e hing' going o o k o one da . . . j ai and ha e pa ience." The e in ellec al and p ofe ional Neg oe co ldn' e ha he kne fo he benefi of hei o n black kind impl beca e e en among hem el e he e e di ni ed. Uni ed among hem el e , ni ed i h hei o n kind, he co ld ha e

benefi ed black people all o e he o ld!

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I o ld a ch he face of ho e in ellec al and p ofe ional Neg oe g o ing g a e, and e - a he h hi home o hem. We e e a ched. O elephone e e apped. S ill igh oda , on m home elephone, if I aid, "I'm going o bomb he Empi e S a e B ilding," I g a an ee o in fi e min e i o ld

be o nded. When I a peaking p blicl ome ime I'd g e hich e e F. B. I. face in he a dience, o o he pe of agen . Bo h he police and he F. B. I. in en l and pe i en l i i ed and q e ioned . "I do no fea hem," M . M hammad aid. "I ha e all ha I need - he h."

Man a nigh , I d if ed off o leep, filled i h onde a ho he o-edged- o d eaching o h , conf ed, conce ned, and p e he go e nmen f ll of men ained highl in all of he mode n cience . I fel ha i ne e co ld ha e been nle The Mo Lea ned One, Allah Him elf, had gi en he li le fo h-g ade- ained Me enge ome hing. Black agen e e en o infil a e . B he hi e man' " ec e " p of en p o ed, fi of all, a black man. I can' a all of hem, of co e, he e' no a o kno -b ome of hem, af e joining , and hea ing, eeing and feeli g he h fo e e black man, e ealed hei ole o . Some e igned f om he hi e man' agencie and came o o k in he Na ion of

I lam. A fe kep hei job o co n e p , elling he hi e man' a emen and plan abo o Na ion. Thi a ho e lea ned ha af e an ing o kno ha happened i hin o Temple , he hi e la agencie ' econd majo conce n a he hing ha I belie e ill ank oda a a big o among

Ame ica' penologi : he eadil inc ea ing a e a hich black con ic emb ace I lam. Gene all , hile ill in p i on, o con ic -con e p econdi ioned hem el e o mee o Na ion' mo al la . A i had happened i h me, hen he lef p i on, he en e ed a Temple f ll q alified o become egi e ed M lim . In fac , con ic -con e all e e be e p epa ed han e e n me o p o pec i e M lim ho ne e had been in ide a p i on. We e e no nea l o ea o en e a a Ch i ian ch ch. One did no me el decla e him elf a follo e of M . M hammad, hen con in e leading he ame old, inf l, immo al life. The M lim fi had o change hi ph ical and mo al elf o mee o ic le . To emain a M lim he had o main ain ho e le . Fe emple mee ing e e held, fo in ance, i ho he mini e looking do n pon ome f e hl ha ed bald dome of ne M lim b o he in he a dience. The had j bani hed f om hei li e fo e e ha phon , l e-conked, me allic-looking hai , o " he p oce ," a ome call i he e da . I g ie e me ha I don' ca e he e o go, o ee hi mbol of igno ance and elf-ha e on o man Neg oe ' head . I kno i ' bo nd o h he feeling of ome of m good conked non-M lim f iend -b if o d clo el an conked o "p oce ed" Neg o,

o all find he i an igno an Neg o. Wha e e " ho " o "f on " he affec , hi hai l e- cooked o be " hi e-looking" fai l ho o e e one ho look a hi head, "I'm a hamed o be a Neg o." He ill di co e , j a I did, ha he ill be m ch-imp o ed men all hene e he di co e eno gh black elf-p ide o ha e ha me clipped off, and hen ea he na al hai ha God gi e black men o ea . No M lim moke - ha a ano he of o le . Some p o pec i e M lim fo nd i mo e diffic l o q i obacco han o he fo nd q i ing he dope habi . B black men and omen q i mo e ea il hen e go hem o con ide e io l ho he hi e man' go e nmen ca ed le abo he p blic' heal h

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han abo con in ing he obacco ind ' billi in a e en e. "Wha doe a e iceman pa fo a ca on of ciga e e ?" a p o pec i e M lim con e o ld be a ked. I helped him o ee ha e e eg la l p iced ca on he bo gh mean ha he hi e man' go e nmen ook

a o nd o dolla of a black man' ha d-ea ned mone fo a e , no fo obacco. Yo ma ha e ead ome he e -a lo ha been i en conce ning i -abo he Na ion of I lam' phenomenal eco d of dope-addic ion c e of long ime j nkie . In fac , he Ne Y k Time ca ied a o abo ho ome of he ocial agencie ha e a ked ep e en a i e of he M lim p og am fo clinical gge ion . The M lim p og am began i h ecogni ing ha colo and addic ion ha e a di inc connec ion. I i no acciden ha in he en i e We e n Hemi phe e, he g ea e locali ed concen a ion of addic i in Ha lem. O c e p og am' fi majo ing edien a he painf ll pa ien o k of M lim ho p e io l e e j nkie hem el e . In he ghe o' dope j ngle, he M lim e -j nkie o ld fi h o addic ho kne hem back in ho e da . Then i h an agoni ing pa ience ha migh pan an he e f om a fe mon h o a ea , o e -j nkie M lim o ld cond c he addic h o gh he M lim i -poin he ape ic p oce .

The addic fi a b o gh o admi o him elf ha he a an addic . Secondl , he a a gh h he ed na co ic . Thi d, he a ho n ha he e a a a o op addic ion. Fo h, he

addic ' ha e ed elf-image, and ego, e e b il p n il he addic eali ed ha he had, i hi , he elf-po e o end hi addic ion. Fif h, he addic ol n a il nde en a cold

ke b eak i h d g . Si h, finall c ed, no an e -addic comple e he c cle b "fi hing" p o he addic hom he kno , and pe i ing hei al aging.

Thi i h age al a in an l elimina ed ha o of en defea he a e age ocial agencie - he cha ac e i ic addic ' ho ili and picion. The addic ho i "fi hed" p kne

pe onall ha he M lim app oaching him e ecen l had he ame fif een o hi -dolla a da habi . The M lim ma be hi addic ' b dd ; he had plied he ame dope j ngle. The e en ma ha e been hie e oge he . The addic had ee he M lim d if ing off o leep leaning again a b ilding, o epping a high o e a ma ch ick a if i e e a dog. And he M lim, app oaching he addic , e he ame old j nkie j ngle lang age.

Like he alcoholic, he j nkie can ne e a o c e him elf n il he ecogni e and accep hi e condi ion. The M lim ick like a leech, d mming a hi old j nkie b dd , "Yo ' e

hooked, man!" I migh ake mon h befo e he addic come o g ip i h hi . The c a i e p og am i ne e eall nde a n il hi happen . The ne c e-pha e i he addic ' eali a ion of h he ake dope. S ill o king on hi man, igh in he old j ngle locale, in di e ha o o ldn' belie e e i ed, he M lim of en

collec a dience of a do en j nkie . The li en onl beca e he kno he clean-c p o d M lim had ea lie been like hem. E e addic ake j nk o e cape ome hing, he M lim e plain . He e plain ha mo black j nkie eall a e ing o na co i e hem el e again being a black man in he hi e man' Ame ica. B , ac all , he M lim a , he black man aking dope i onl helping he hi e man o "p o e" ha he black man i no hing.

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The M lim alk confiden l , and aigh . "Dadd , o kno I kno ho o feel. Wa n' I igh o he e i h o ? Sc a ching like a monke , melling all bad, li ing mad, h ng , ealing and nning and hiding f om Whi e . Man, ha ' a black man b ing Whi e ' dope

fo b o make Whi e iche -killing o elf!" The M lim can ell hen hi q a i ead o be ho n ha he a fo him o q i dope i h o gh joining he Na ion of I lam. The addic i b o gh in o he local M lim e a an , he

ma occa ionall be e po ed o ome o he ocial i a ion -among p o d, clean M lim ho ho each o he m al affec ion and e pec in ead of he familia ho ili of he ghe o

ee . Fo he fi ime in ea , he addic hea him elf called, gen inel , "B o he ," "Si ," and "M ." No one ca e abo hi pa . Hi addic ion ma ca all be men ioned, b if o, i i poken of a me el an e peciall o gh challenge ha he m face. E e one hom hi addic mee i confiden ha he ill kick hi habi . A he addic ' ne image of him elf b ild , ine i abl he begin hinking ha he can b eak he habi . Fo he fi ime he i feeling he effec of black elf-p ide. Tha ' a po e f l combina ion fo a man ho ha been e i ing in he m d of ocie . In fac , once he i mo i a ed no one can change mo e comple el han he man ho ha been a he bo om. I call m elf he be e ample of ha . Finall , i all , hi addic ill decide fo him elf ha he an o go on cold ke . Thi mean o end e he ph ical agonie of ab p l q i ing dope. When hi ime come , e -addic M lim ill a ange o pend he nece a da in a o nd- he-clock hif , a ending he addic ho in end o p ge him elf, on he a o becoming a

M lim. When he addic ' i hd a al e in, and he i c eaming, c ing, and begging, "J one ho , man!" he M lim a e igh he e alking j nkie ja gon o him. "Bab , knock ha

monke off o back! Kick ha habi ! Kick Whi e off o back!" The addic , i hing in pain, hi no e and e e nning, i po ing ea f om head o foo . He' ing o knock hi head again he all, flailing hi a m , ing o figh hi a endan , he i omi ing, ffe ing dia hea. "Don' hold no hing back! Le Whi e go, bab ! Yo ' e going o and all, man! I can ee o no in he F i of I lam!"

When he a f l o deal i ended, hen he g ip of dope i b oken, he M lim comfo he eak e -addic , feeding him o p and b o h , o ge him on hi fee again. He ill ne e fo ge

he e b o he ho ood b him d ing hi ime. He ill ne e fo ge ha i a he Na ion of I lam' p og am hich e c ed him f om he pecial hell of dope. And ha black b o he (o he i e , hom M lim i e a end) a el e e ill e n o he e of na co ic . In ead, he e -addic hen he i p o d, clean, ene ed, can ca cel ai o hi he ame j nkie j ngle

he a in, o "fi h" o ome b dd and al age him! If ome hi e man, o "app o ed" black man, c ea ed a na co ic c e p og am a cce f l a he one cond c ed nde he aegi of he M lim , h , he e o ld be go e nmen b id ,

and p ai e and po ligh , and headline . B e e e a acked in ead. Wh ho ldn' he M lim be b idi ed o a e million of dolla a ea fo he go e nmen and he ci ie ? I don' kno ha addic ' c ime co na ionall , b i i aid o be billi a ea in Ne Yo k Ci . An e ima ed $12 million a ea i lo o hie e in Ha lem alone.

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An addic doe n' o k o ppl hi habi , hich ma co an he e f om en o fif dolla a da . Ho co ld he ea n ha m ch? No! The addic eal , he h le in o he a ; he p e

pon o he h man being like a ha k o a l e -a I did. Ve likel , he i a chool d opo , he ame a I a , an A m ejec , p chologicall n i ed o a job e en if he a offe ed one, he ame a I a .

Women addic "boo " ( hoplif ), o he p o i e hem el e . M lim i e alk ha d o black p o i e ho a e ggling o q i ing dope in o de o q alif mo all o become egi e ed M lim . "Yo a e helping he hi e man o ega d o bod a a ga bage can -"

N me o "e po " of he Na ion of I lam ha e implied ha M . M hammad' follo e e e chiefl e -con and j nkie . In he ea l ea , e , he con e f om ocie ' lo e le el

e e a i able pa of he Na ion' b oad ba e of membe hip. Al a M . M hammad in c ed , "Go af e he black man in he m d." Of en, he aid, ho e con e ed made he be M lim . B g ad all e ec i ed o he black people - he "good Ch i ian " hom e "fi hed" f om hei ch che . Then, an inc ea e began in he membe hip pe cen age of ed ca ed and ained

Neg oe . Fo each all a ac ed o he local emple a fe mo e of ha pa ic la ci ' o- called "middle-cla " Neg oe , he pe ho p e io l had coffed a "Black M lim " a "demagog e ," and "ha e- eache ," "black aci " and all he e of he name . The M lim

h -li ened o, ho gh abo - eaped fo a g o ing q o a of o ng black men and omen. Fo ho e i h aining and alen , he Na ion

of I lam had plen of po i ion he e ho e abili ie e e needed. The e e e ome egi e ed M lim ho o ld ne e e eal hei membe hip, e cep o o he M lim , beca e of hei po i ion in he hi e man' o ld. The e e e, I kno , a fe ,

ho beca e of hei po i ion e e kno n onl o hei mini e and o M . Elijah M hammad. In 1961, o Na ion flo i hed. O ne pape M hammad S eak ' f ll back page ca ied an a chi ec ' d a ing of a $20 million I lamic Cen e p opo ed o be b il in Chicago. E e M lim a making pe onal financial con ib ion o a d he Cen e . I o ld incl de a bea if l mo q e, chool, lib a , and ho pi al, and a m e m doc men ing he black man' glo io hi o . M . M hammad i i ed he M lim co n ie , and pon hi e n he di ec ed ha e o ld begin calling o emple "mo q e ." The e a a ha p climb no , oo, in he n mbe of M lim-o ned mall b ine e . O b ine e o gh o demon a e o he black people ha black people co ld do fo hem el e -if he o ld onl nif , ade i h each o he -e cl i el he e po ible -and

hi e each o he , and in o doing, keep black mone i hin he black comm ni ie , j a o he mino i ie did. Reco ding of M . M hammad' peeche e e no eg la l being b oadca ac o Ame ica o e mall adio a ion . In De oi and Chicago, chool-age M lim child en a ended o o Uni e i ie of I lam - h o gh high chool in Chicago, and h o gh j nio high in De oi . S a ing f om kinde ga en, he lea ned of he black man' glo io hi o and f om he hi d g ade he died he black man' o iginal lang age, A abic.

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M . M hammad' eigh child en no e e all deepl in ol ed in ke capaci ie in he Na ion of I lam. I ook a deep pe onal p ide in ha ing had ome hing o do i h ha -a lea in ome ca e , ea befo e. When M . M hammad had en me o in hi e ice a a mini e , I began o feel i a a hame ha hi child en o ked a ome of hem hen did fo he hi e man,

in fac o ie , con c ion o k, d i ing a i , hing like ha . I fel ha I ho ld o k fo M . M hammad' famil a ince el a I o ked fo him. I ged M . M hammad o le me p on a pecial d i e i hin o fe mall mo q e , o ai e f nd hich o ld enable ho e of hi child en o king fo he hi e man o be in ead emplo ed i hin o Na ion. M . M hammad ag eed, he pecial f nd d i e did p o e cce f l, and hi child en g ad all did begin

o king fo he Na ion. Eman el, he olde , oda n he d -cleaning plan . Si e E hel (M hammad) Sha ieff i he M lim Si e ' S p eme In c o . (He h band, Ra mond Sha ieff, i S p eme Cap ain of he F i of I lam.) Si e Lo ie M hammad pe i e he

o Uni e i ie of I lam. Na hanial M hammad a i Eman el in he d -cleaning plan . He be M hammad no p bli he M hammad S eak , he Na ion' ne pape ha I began. Elijah M hammad, J ., i he F i of I lam A i an S p eme Cap ain. Wallace M hammad

a he Philadelphia Mo q e Mini e , n il finall he a pended f om he Na ion along i h me -fo ea on I ill go in o. The o nge child, Akba M hammad, he famil den ,

a end he Uni e i of Cai o a El-A ha . Akba al o ha b oken i h hi fa he . I belie e ha i a oo en o a ma a hon of long peeche ha M . M hammad made a o big allie hich, ab p l , badl agg a a ed hi long-bo he ome b onchial a hma ic condi ion. J in con e a ion, M . M hammad o ld ddenl begin co ghing, and he co ghing empo o ld inc ea e n il i acked hi ligh bod .

M . M hammad almo do bled p ome ime . Soon, he had o ake o hi bed. A ha d a he ied no o, a deepl a i g ie ed him, he had o cancel e e al long- ched led appea ance a

big-ci allie . Tho and e e di appoin ed o ha e o hea me in ead, o o he poo b i e fo M . M hammad in pe on.

Membe of he Na ion e e deepl conce ned. Doc o ecommended a d clima e. The Na ion bo gh M . M hammad a home in Phoeni , A i ona. One of he fi ime I i i ed M . M hammad he e, I epped off a plane in o fla hing and hi ing came a n il I onde ed ho a behind me. Then I a he came amen' g n ; he e e f om he A i ona In elligence Di i ion. The i e of o Na ion of I lam b o gh all M lim he jo f l ne ha he A i ona clima e did a l elie e he Me enge ' ffe ing. Since hen he ha pen mo of each ea in Phoeni . De pi e he fac ha M . M hammad, con ale cing, co ld no longe o k he dail long ho he had p e io l o ked in Chicago, he a no mo e han e e b dened i h hea deci ion-making and admini a i e d ie . In e e e pec , he Na ion a e panded bo h in e nall and e e nall . M . M hammad impl co ld no longe allo a m ch ime a p e io l o con ide ing and deciding hich p blic- peaking, adio, and ele i ion eq e he fel I ho ld accep -a ell a o ome o gani a ional ma e hich I had al a b o gh o him fo ad ice o deci ion.

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M . M hammad e idenced he dep h of hi in me. In ho e a ea I' e de c ibed, he old me o make he deci ion m elf. He aid ha m g ideline ho ld be ha e e I fel a i e -

ha e e a in he gene al good in e e of o Na ion of I lam. "B o he Malcolm, I an o o become ell kno n," M . M hammad old me one da . "Beca e if o a e ell kno n, i ill make me be e kno n," he en on. "B , B o he Malcolm, he e i ome hing o need o kno . Yo ill g o o be ha ed hen

o become ell kno n. Beca e all people ge jealo of p blic fig e ." No hing ha M . M hammad e e aid o me a mo e p ophe ic.