European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 15, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                \ i k s k by j from the cover Only Uncle Toms were satisfied with the crumbs from the table of White America. Quot a a marked the end of Uncle Tom Ery and turning the other Cheek. Quot a a marked the Start of armed self defense. In the 1960s, millions of americans had an explanation or definition of who and what Malcolm x was. Today Many Young people arc trying to find out what Malcolm x meant. It has become fashionable in some circles to ignore the Early Malcolm for the Malcolm of his last years when he stopped his racial provocations. But he never became the a join hands and sing we arc the world Type some would make of him today. Malcolm was potent stuff that most people found hard to take because he pushed them off the Fence made them take sides. In the Early 1960s, White America hated or feared him. The african american Community was divided in its opinion. White America thought Malcolm x could Start a full fledged race War with his rhetoric. Most of Black America agreed with what he said but few wanted to openly admit it. Malcolm x made White America love Martin Luther King. King was labelled by Fri chief j. Edgar Hoover As a greater threat to America than communism but when Malcolm advocated armed self defense King became the lesser of two evils. Malcolm a rhetoric hit everyone Whites were a Blue eyed devils a and there were Only two kinds of african americans a Field niggers or House niggers. The latter were Cap in hand bowing and scrapping lackeys. The former were the revolutionary kind a the kind who would take the slave owners head even though it Cost him his life. King marched and mustered perhaps the first Rainbow coalition in the country against racism. His followers were abused and murdered in their non violent demonstrations. The 1960s were a time of a wrap a Octha and  that stood for a h. Rap Brown the eloquent student agitator from the student non violent coordinating committee and author of the Book die Nigger die which he called americans message to the Black Man. A aretha Franklin with her songs respect and the House that Jack built whose message was to remember who helped build the country and it wont be Worth living in without racial Harmony. A civil rights actions by such student groups As a acc students for a democratic society and Congress on racial Equality plus the Black panthers and the National association for the advancement of coloured people. There was a curious chemistry at work Between seemingly opposing african american organizations in the �?T60s. The More King was attacked the louder Malcolm became and the More visible the panthers appeared with their guns in Oakland and around the country. Malcolm x and Martin Luther King shared Center stage during the struggle for civil rights. King took the Brunt of criticism from african americans for his policy of non violence while Malcolm preached armed self defense. A search of Malcolm a writings and sayings cannot turn up a thought that goes beyond that concept. Both men were struck Down by assassins bullets at age 39. That fact has also been interpreted by african americans As White americans message to them we done to care How you approach it you la not find Justice in this country. The advice to whiles from the african american anti King coalition was to follow John Brown a the White abolitionist who led armed raids into the South to free slaves. A if you arc forme and my thing a and when i say me i mean my people a then you must be prepared to act like old John Brown a Malcolm said. A if you can t act like John Brown then at least give us weapons a said h. Rap Brown. Malcolm said the muslims do not preach segregation but separation. The difference is that segregation Means having your life determined by someone else separation Means self determination. Malcolm x was born Malcolm Little in Omaha neb., in 1925. His father the Rev. Earl Little died a violent death. Malcolm believed his father was purposely run Over by a Streetcar. His father was a staunch Follower of Marcus Garvey the West Indian who founded the Universal negro improvement association a self help organization for african americans. Garvey also preached that the african american would never find Justice in the United states and worked out a scheme to return to Africa. The plan later fell apart and thousands were bilked out of Money they had invested. Malcolm fell into a life of crime in the 1940s. He was Well known in the underworld in new York Detroit and Boston where he ran a gang specializing in break in robberies. While serving a six year term in prison he came into Contact with the muslims and converted. He gave up As he put it a the evils of tobacco liquor drugs crime and the flesh of Swine pork a upon release from prison in 1952, he took the name Malcolm x and devoted his life to preaching the word of Elijah Muhammad and his religion dubbed a Black Muslim Quot by the press for devotees themselves they were simply muslims. In the Black Muslim code the a  signifies All that has been lost a spiritually and culturally. It is bestowed Only after successful study of the Muslim religion and is used by an individual until such time As that person connects w Ith his True identity. At that time the x is replaced with a name usually of islamic or arabic origin. Malcolm a conversion to islam also led to strange bedfellows. Because the Black muslims under Elijah Muhammad preached the separation of races it was Only logical that this would find the approval of the Kun Klu klan. Later Malcolm called it the Low Point in his career when he met with klan members to gain support for the Muslim demand for five separate states in the United states. Malcolm was successful in his recruitment travels across the country. Thousands drawn by the charismatic speaker flocked to join the muslims and above All hear him speak the thoughts they  articulate. Alex Haley the author who helped Malcolm write his autobiography wrote he was astonished at Malcolm a magnetism. The Muslim would walk through Harlem admonishing people for their errant ways and they would answer by joining the mosque and changing their lives. In 1964, Malcolm split with Elijah Muhammad and founded the Muslim mosque inc. The breakup was sparked by Malcolm a comment on the murder of president Kennedy. He said the assassination was a the chickens coming Home to Roost and it made him a glad a Elijah Muhammad fearing reprisals for the remark threw Malcolm out of the mosque but head been looking for an excuse Long before that. Malcolm had become too popular and outspoken and raised the ire of White America. After excommunication Malcolm founded the secular organization for afro american Unity which was devoted to an International approach for human rights. His goal was to take american racism to the United nations. This came during Malcolm a last metamorphosis on human relations. Haley quoted from a letter he received from Malcolm after the tatters 1964 pilgrimage to Mecca ii holy City of islam in saudi Arabia. A i have eaten from the same plate drunk from the same Glass prayed to the same god with fellow muslims a Hwy eyes were the bluest of Blue whose hair was the blondes of Blond whose skin was the whitest of White and truly we were All the same a Malcolm wrote. He returned Home from his travels abroad a new Man with a new name Al Hajj Malik Al Shabazz. At a press conference Malcom said his trip to Mecca opened his eyes. A i have adjusted my thinking to the Point where i believe that Whites Are human beings As Long As this is borne out by their humane attitude toward  but Malcolm a change did not make him advocate non violence. He vowed to Send Black guerrillas to Mississippi a or anywhere where Black Peoples lives were threatened by White racists. In 1964, Malcolm travelled to Africa for a second time. His plan was to convince several african Heads of state to criticize the United states in the United nations and to Call for an International tribunal on human rights. Years later when Haley visited Frankfurt Germany to publicize his Book roots he said a after Malcolm strips to Africa and the strange things that happened to him such As being followed or denied entry into some countries was when he realized there were other forces besides the Black muslims interested in his  there were several attempts on his life and those of his family members after his break with Elijah Muhammad. On feb. 21,1965, Malcolm was shot Down by four gunmen while speaking in Harlem a Audubon ballroom. His wife Betty Shabazz who was seated with their four daughters near the stage reacted by throwing the girls under chairs and covering them with her body. The legend continues that the muslims in conjunction with the Fri and Cia conspired to kill Malcolm. To this Day Malcolm a widow refuses to have anything to do with Louis Farrakhan or his Muslim sect because he was one of the first to Issue warnings to her husband after the break with Elijah Muhammad. A the die is set and Malcolm shall not escape. Such a Man As Malcolm is worthy of death a Farrakhan announced in a Muslim newspaper shortly before Malcolm a murder. Twenty seven years after his death Malcolm x is a hero to millions of americans and the subject of what promises to be a blockbuster movie. He has left another legacy. His daughter Attallah has joined Kings daughter Yolanda in an organization called nucleus which travels the country putting on programs of Unity within the Black Community. Page 4 a sunday november 15. 1992