Spring Break
'MISUNDERSTOOD'
New Views On Malcom X Presented
Andrew Peters
Issue date: 2/2/07 Section: News
Malcolm X sustained 13 significant wounds to his heart and chest, according to Marable. He toppled over backward and was gushing blood. By the time help arrived, it was too late.
After recounting the story of Malcolm's assassination, Marable departed from traditional history and offered his own account of the murder and the events leading up to it.
He charged that FBI members were present at the Audubon Ballroom that night, taking flash pictures just before the assassination attempt. Marable also said the assassination was planned by six men, not three and that Thomas 15X Johnson, who was later convicted of the murder, was not actually at the meeting.
"There's only one way [for the FBI] to reconstruct the scene with that degree of accuracy," he said. "That's with a `photographic memory' - hence the flashing lights."
He went on to dispute other misunderstandings about Malcolm's life and legacy.
Malcolm X had a troubled youth, according to Marable, and ended up in prison. There, he discovered the works of Elijah Muhammad, and joined the NOI upon his release in 1952.
"He built [the NOI] from insignificance to a black power organization," Marable said.
But Malcolm eventually fell out of favor with the NOI. In 1964, he converted from the NOI to Orthodox Islam and tensions between the two groups elevated.
"Malcolm X continually challenged [the NOI]'s practices," Marable said. "Many were angered by his newfound support for racial cooperation and women's rights [in 1964.]"
Marable also addressed myths about Malcolm's personality. He said though Malcolm was passionate about his beliefs, he was a subdued person more often than not.
"His rhetoric was charged in order to incite provocative racial discussion," Marable said. "Whites would be placed on the defensive in a new dialectic of racial roles."
"He was the hustler and trickster and the preacher and minister both," Marable said. "His speeches mesmerized audiences because he orchestrated all these things seamlessly."
After recounting the story of Malcolm's assassination, Marable departed from traditional history and offered his own account of the murder and the events leading up to it.
He charged that FBI members were present at the Audubon Ballroom that night, taking flash pictures just before the assassination attempt. Marable also said the assassination was planned by six men, not three and that Thomas 15X Johnson, who was later convicted of the murder, was not actually at the meeting.
"There's only one way [for the FBI] to reconstruct the scene with that degree of accuracy," he said. "That's with a `photographic memory' - hence the flashing lights."
He went on to dispute other misunderstandings about Malcolm's life and legacy.
Malcolm X had a troubled youth, according to Marable, and ended up in prison. There, he discovered the works of Elijah Muhammad, and joined the NOI upon his release in 1952.
"He built [the NOI] from insignificance to a black power organization," Marable said.
But Malcolm eventually fell out of favor with the NOI. In 1964, he converted from the NOI to Orthodox Islam and tensions between the two groups elevated.
"Malcolm X continually challenged [the NOI]'s practices," Marable said. "Many were angered by his newfound support for racial cooperation and women's rights [in 1964.]"
Marable also addressed myths about Malcolm's personality. He said though Malcolm was passionate about his beliefs, he was a subdued person more often than not.
"His rhetoric was charged in order to incite provocative racial discussion," Marable said. "Whites would be placed on the defensive in a new dialectic of racial roles."
"He was the hustler and trickster and the preacher and minister both," Marable said. "His speeches mesmerized audiences because he orchestrated all these things seamlessly."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Kim O'Brien
posted 2/03/07 @ 1:26 PM EST
Books containing Malcolm X's speechs are available from Pathfinder Press, College Park, GA.
http://www.pathfinderpress.com
I have posted this for infomational (not profit) purposes only. (Continued…)
Shelby
posted 12/01/07 @ 9:15 PM EST
I don't understand what is "new" about this info about Malcolm X. Everything that I have read has not revealed somethind that I did not know. I feel that this book is going to be pointless and that everyone should just read Alex Haley's life changing "The Autobiography of Malcolm X. (Continued…)
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