Lecture Notes on the Autobiography of Malcolm X (continued from 2/22)

Before I continue my commentary on the Autobiography, let me remind you again that we will see "X" tomorrow afternoon and that will last until around 5:45PM. Also, you should be thinking about the family activity in connection with the film, which I described last week on this blog.

____________________________

Chapter Sixteen: Out

A. Malcolm comments on the worsening health of Elijah Muhammad.

B. Malcolm expresses great pride in having advanced the NOI in America. But he also identifies reservations and disappointments. As he says on p. 295, near the bottom of the page: "If I harbored any personal disappointment whatsoever, it was that privately I was convinced that our Nation of Islam could be an even greater force in the American black man's struggle -- if we engaged in more action. By that I mean I thought privately that we should have amended, or relaxed, our general non-engagement policy." He goes on to note how "militantly disciplined" Black Muslims should have been present at some of the civil rights' demonstrations such as in Birmingham. Read the following paragraph as well which continues over to p.296.

1. He notes that he personally helped open over 100 mosques throughout the U.S. As you might imagine, he had an impossible travel and speaking schedule.

C. Malcolm began to hear negative remarks about him from the upper echelon of the NOI -- that he was trying to run the whole show. Evidence of envy and jealousy. There was the completely unfounded rumor that Malcolm was making a pile of money on the side. (He was as frugal as Dr. King, who had to confront similar rumors.) There is the first hint of betrayal by Elijah Muhammad, which Malcolm caught wind of from his son, Wallace.

1. The NOI paper, Muhammed Speaks, began printing as little as possible about Malcolm. Soon, he was completely balcked out.

D. Malcolm tells the story of how he learned of Mr. Muhammad's sexual promiscuity -- two former secretaries filed paternity suits against him. Malcolm spoke with them and confirmed their stories.

E. Malcolm's comment following the Kennedy assassination leads to him being silenced by Mr. Muhammad. Check out how he justified saying it was a case of "the chickens coming home to roost." (p.307 bottom)

F. Malcolm and his family get a much needed rest when then, Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) invited them down to his training camp in Florida. Note what Malcolm says about why he liked him. (p.310) Malcolm was in Clay's corner at the Clay-Liston fight (on which one of my uncles won $500 because no one, except Malcolm and a few others, thought Clay had a chance). Malcolm gave it a Muslim vs. Christian spin. After the fight, they celebrated with ice cream!

G. Back to Mr. Muhammad, Malcolm said that, ultimately, what he could not ignore was Mr. Muhammad's deceit -- wanting to cover it up or not own up to it.

H. Malcolm discovers the first direct order for his death -- the person selected to carry this out (Bejamin 2X Goodman)went to Malcolm and told him of the plot.

I. Malcolm stresses his rapport with the ghetto masses -- that he still understands the language of the ghetto hustler. He saw black anger seething just beneath the surface of the ghetto. See pp. 317-318 He goes on to point out how the black man is "sick" spiritually, economically, politically. see p. 319 bottom - 320.
Unquestionably, there is still evidence of such sickness today.


Again, either copy or print out these notes. This brings us up to Chapter 17: Mecca, which I will begin with on Thursday.