Malcolm X (35 page)
Authors: Clayborne Carson
Similar articles to that above appeared in the following newspapers:
New York Journal American
, March 27, 1964, page 1.
New York Post
, a daily newspaper published in New York, New York, of March 27, 1964, page 4.
New York Herald Tribune
, a daily newspaper published in New York, New York, March 28, 1964, page 5.
The March 29, 1964 edition of the
Chicago Sunday Tribune
, a newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois, contained an article on page 20, which reflected that subject was not upset by his brother PHILBERT's attack against him, and subject claimed that PHILBERT was using someone else's words and was forced to make the statements he made.
[BUREAU DELETION] of the NOI described subject as a traitor to ELIJAH MUHAMMAD who always wanted to be in the limelight and who left the NOI for personal gain. He further described subject as a disobedient follower who was not satisfied with being the Number Two man in the NOI.
[BUREAU DELETION]
The April 4, 1964 edition of
The New Crusader
, a weekly Negro newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois, contained an article by ELIJAH MUHAMMAD entitled “Mr. MUHAMMAD Speaks.”
In this article subject's break with the NOI was discussed. ELIJAH MUHAMMAD stated that subject disobeyed him by failing to keep quiet after his suspension, and when told he would
have to remain quiet for a longer time subject went out on his own. ELIJAH stated in the article that he places his trust in ALLAH, while subject is going to trust himself. He then stated, “I am sorry for the poor fools who refuse to trust the god of the Honorable ELIJAH MUHAMMAD, and follow MALCOLM for self-victory.”
MOSQUE, INCORPORATED
On March 12, 1964, Special Agents of the FBI attended a press conference by subject in the Park Sheraton Hotel, New York City, from 11:00
A.M.
to 1:00
P.M
. which was attended by approximately sixty representatives of the press. At this press conference subject publicly announced the formation and incorporation of his new organization named “Muslim Mosque, Incorporated.”
On March 16, 1964, [BUREAU DELETION] New York County, New York, New York, advised that on that date a Certificate of Incorporation was filed for the MMI pursuant to Article IX of the Religious Corporation Law of the State of New York. The certificate was filed under number 2330 for 1964. The certificate was executed on March 9, 1964, notarized on March 10, 1964, and filed on March 16, 1964 by EDWARD W. JACKO, JR., attorney at law, 217 West 125th Street, New York City.
The certificate reflected that on March 9, 1964, in conformity with Section 192 of the Religious Corporation Law, a meeting to decide for incorporation was held at 23-11 97th Street, Queens, New York. Present at this meeting were MALCOLM X LITTLE, who presided, EARL GRANT and JAMES M. K. WARDEN. At this meeting it was decided to incorporate and the name chosen was “Muslim Mosque, Incorporated.” It was also decided at this meeting that there would be no less than three nor more than twenty-one trustees, and the meeting then proceeded to elect LITTLE, GRANT and WARDEN as its trustees to serve until the first Sunday of March, 1965. On that date a second election of trustees would be held, and thereafter a new election of trustees would be held
on the
first Sunday of each calendar
year. The certificate further indicated that the principal places of worship were to be in the borough of Manhattan, New York County, New York.
[BUREAU DELETION] that JAMES X (WARDEN) is a former FOI Lieutenant of NOI Mosque No. 7, New York City. In March, 1964, he went over to MALCOLM X's new organization, the MMI, and he is MALCOLM X's Chief Assistant.
The above incorporation record of the MMI set forth its purposes as follows:
(a) To provide a suitable place of worship for its members and others in accordance with the Islamic Faith.
(b) To maintain a house of study for the advancement of the Islamic Faith and Religion.
(c) To stimulate interest among the members in the formation, maintenance and the teachings of the Islamic Faith.
(d) To publish textbooks, pamphlets, brochures, and to solicit, collect and in other manners raise funds for the hereinabove and hereinafter enumerated purposes.
(e) To work for the imparting of the Islamic Faith and Islamic Religion in accordance with the accepted Islamic Religious principles.
(f) To purchase, lease, acquire, sell and mortgage improved or unimproved real property and any interest therein.
(g) The foregoing clauses shall be considered both as objects and purposes, and it is hereby expressly provided that the foregoing enumerated specific objects and purposes shall not be held to limit or restrict in any manner the powers of this corporation, but that this corporation shall be entitled to enjoy all the powers that a religious corporation may have under and by virtue of the Laws of the State of New York.
RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS AND LEADERS
The March 11, 1962 edition of the
New York Journal American
, on page 2 contained an article which reflected that JAMES
FARMER, National Director of CORE, and WHITNEY YOUNG, Head of the National Urban League, downgraded the influence in the Negro community of MALCOLM X and other black supremacists. They stated that the goals of MALCOLM X did not mesh with the overall civil rights effort since the latter are pledged to integration and not separation, and their modus-operandi is non-violence.
The March 15, 1964 edition of the
New York Herald Tribune
, a daily newspaper published in New York, New York, contained an article which reflected that Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference denounced the suggestion of MALCOLM X that Negroes form rifle clubs to defend themselves as “a grave error” and an “inefficient and immoral approach.”
The March 21, 1964 edition of
The New Crusader
, page 5, quotes New York Congressman ADAM CLAYTON POWELL as saying that MALCOLM'S plan to arm Negroes is “totally and completely wrong.” He predicted failure for MALCOLM since he is dedicated to separation, while the entire civil rights movement is for desegregation.
The April 26, 1964 edition of the
New York Herald Tribune
contained an article on page 10, relative to the racial situation, by former professional baseball player JACKIE ROBINSON. In a prelude to the article, ROBINSON was described as a “loud and influential voice in the Negro battle for equal rights,” who is bitterly opposed to the forces fighting civil rights legislation in Congress, and equally opposed to irresponsible Negro leadership and tactics.
In the article, Mr. ROBINSON wrote that he could not understand why the national “white” press, in reporting on civil rights and racial matters, persisted in “glorifying on their front pages the very persons they condemn in their editorials.”
Mr. ROBINSON cited MALCOLM X as an outstanding example of this reporting and he then made the following comments on MALCOLM X:
Mr. X, as he is projected by what we regrettably call the “white press,” doesn't even exist. As Dick Gregory has said,
Malcolm was “invented” by the people who edit big newspapers, control big television and radio and publish big newspapers and magazines.
Malcolm has big audiences, but no constructive program. He has big words, but no records on deeds in civil rights. He is terribly militant on soapboxes on street corners of Negro ghettos. Yet, he has not faced Southern police dogs in Birmingham as Martin Luther King has done, nor gone to jail for freedom as Roy Wilkins and James Farmer have done, nor brought about creative dialogue between business and civil rights leaders as Whitney Young does daily.
In fact, here is a man who has been exposed and disowned by the very organization which he had so eloquently espoused-âthe Black Muslims. In spite of all this, Mr. X receives more publicity in national media than is given to all the responsible Negro leaders we have mentioned above. White colleges flood him with speaking engagement offers. You can count on one hand Negro colleges which have invited him if there are any.
It is the function of media to report, yes. But the Malcolm X image has been distorted rather than reported; distorted so that many whites imagine that Malcolm has a popular following; distorted so that a number of whites and colored people, more concerned with public attention than with civil rights, more hungry for headlines than for jobs and justice, have suddenly reached for mantles of leadership which they are not prepared to wear.
B. Alleged Threat Against Subject's Life
The March 21, 1964 edition of the
New York Amsterdam News
contained an article on page 50 which reflected that subject claimed that officials at NOI Mosque No. 7 had tried to persuade NOI members that he was insane after his suspension in December, 1963. After these NOI officials believed they had turned enough NOI members against him, subject alleged that they sent a brother out to kill him in cold blood during February, 1964, but
because truth was stronger than falsehood the brother did not believe the charge and instead of killing him told him of the plot and of the actions of NOI officials. Subject claimed that when he demanded an opportunity to refute these charges before NOI Mosque No. 7 his request was refused.
[BUREAU DELETION] had no information to indicate that an attempt was ever made or contemplated against the life of subject by members of the NOI, and that subject had never made such a complaint [BUREAU DELETION].
C. Association With Sports Figures
The January 25, 1964 edition of the
New York Amsterdam News
contained an article on page 1 that subject and his family were in Miami during the past week, vacationing as the guests of Heavyweight Boxing Contender CASSIUS CLAY.
The February 1, 1964 edition of the
New York Amsterdam News
contained a photograph on page 1 of subject, his wife BETTY, and their three daughters sitting together with CASSIUS CLAY in Miami, Florida.
The March 20, 1964 edition of the
New York Herald Tribune
contained an article on page 6 which reflected that subject was in Miami Beach, Florida, presumably to attend the heavyweight boxing championship fight between CASSIUS CLAY and SONNY LISTON.
The March 9, 1964 edition of the
New York Post
contained an article on page 4 which reflected that subject, who had broken with the NOI, had stated that he would not take CASSIUS CLAY with him out of the NOI. The article indicated that subject was generally accredited with CLAY'S joining the NOI.
The March 10, 1964 edition of the
New York Journal American
contained an article on page I which reflected that CASSIUS CLAY indicated he would not leave the NOI to follow subject.
The May 18, 1964 edition of the
New York Post
contained an article on page 4, datelined “Accra, Ghana.” This article indicated that the allegiance of CASSIUS CLAY to Rebel Muslim Leader MALCOLM X seemed to be over. The article indicated that during the separate African tours of subject and CASSIUS
CLAY they met in Morocco on April 17, 1964 and CLAY made the following remarks concerning subject:
“Man, did you get a look at him? Dressed in that funny white robe and wearing a beard and walking with a cane that looked like a prophet's stick? Man, he's gone so far out he's out completely.” Then, turning to HERBERT MUHAMMAD, the son of ELIJAH MUHAMMAD, who is accompanying CLAY on his African tour, CLAY stated, “Doesn't that just go to show that Elijah is the most powerful? Nobody listens to that Malcolm anymore.”
D. Efforts by NOI to Evict Subject from Residence
As reflected in
Section 1
, Part A, above, subject resides with his family at 23-11 97th Street, East Elmhurst, Queens, New York.
[BUREAU DELETION] advised that after ELIJAH MUHAMMAD learned subject had broken with the NOI on March 8, 1964, he instructed [BUREAU DELETION] to tell subject that he must give up his residence, which is owned by the NOI.
[BUREAU DELETION] advised that [BUREAU DELETION] sent the following letter under date of March 10, 1964 to subject:
. . . Dear Brother Malcolm,
You have several items such as letters, Mosque film, Negro documents, etc., relative to the Muslims and their affairs . . . [T]he laborers and believers hereby request your cooperation in turning these items over to Muhammad's Mosque No. 7 immediately. Also you are residing in a building which was purchased by Muhammad's Mosque No. 7 for the use by a laborer as designated by the leader and teacher, the honorable Elijah Muhammed, who may serve in ministerial capacity or whatever position he places them. As you no longer hold this position we the laborers and believers request that you vacate premises located at 23-11 97th Street, East Elmhurst 69, New York, upon receiving this letter.
Upon a call to Captain Joseph arrangements can be made to have personal items belonging to the Nation of Islam picked up. This letter will also serve notice your car insurance is in Muhammed's Mosque No. 7. We are requesting that you discontinue using the name of Muhammad's Mosque or the Nation of Islam for your personal effects. We can effect a transferral of title. Also you can bring the necessary papers to make this change. If you continue to use the Nation's name on your car then the Mosque will have to take possession of the car, which we do not want to do because this car is your personal property. The Mosque only desires the withdrawal of its name from your personal effects, etc. This letter also serves notice that Muhammed's Mosque No. 7 will discontinue handling expenses on utilities at said 23-11 97th Street.
At the FOI meeting at NOI Mosque No. 7, New York City, on March 16, 1964, it was publicly announced by [BUREAU DELETION] that efforts will be made to get MALCOLM out of his residence which is owned by Mosque No. 7.
[BUREAU DELETION]
[BUREAU DELETION] Landlord and Tenants Proceedings, Civil Court of the City of New York, Queens County, 126-06 Queens Boulevard, Queens, New York, advised that eviction proceedings were filed by MUHAMMAD's Temple of Islam Incorporated (NOI) on April 8, 1964, and are filed under index number L&T 4845 for 1964. Subject answered on April 13, 1964, and a hearing was set on April 17, 1964. This hearing was postponed until May 26, 1964, and postponed again until June 3, 1964. [BUREAU DELETION] made the papers in the file available.