Now It's a Negro Drive for Segregation
For Negroes: guns, a "black political party," then total segregation in a separate Negro nation...That's the program of "black nationalism," newest Negro movement. Here its leader, Malcolm X, tells why he is convinced that integration will never work in U.S.
When ghetto living seems normal, you have no shame, no privacy. You don't realize that you don't have these values when you've known nothing but ghetto moral conditions.
Q Won't your program lead to increased friction between the races?
A I would say that trouble is building up. The year 1963 was a dangerous year, as everybody admits. The Negro leaders used the March on Washington as an escape valve. But the Negro masses, realized that they really got nothing. They are disenchanted. When the weather warms up, they will be in the streets demonstrating. They are tired of turning the other cheek. The whites don't do it. Now you have the whites demonstrating against school integration.
When you have these two elements coming together, you are going to have an explosion.
Q Are you going to help produce this explosion?
A My movement won't promote the explosion. It would come anyway. I am not for or against violence. I am for freedom, by whatever means necessary.
Q Are you in favor of a Negro political party?
A Yes. The Negro should have his own party, a black party. Negro is the wrong word. It does not have any scientific meaning. I'll form a black political party. I won't run for any office. But I want Negroes to be politically mature. Then there will be less likelihood of their being exploited by crooked politicians.
Q What would be the party platform?
A Freedom, justice, equality for the black people of this country. It would teach them to vote black. This doesn't mean it will teach them to be anti-white. We are pro-black, not anti-white.
Q You claim that the Muslims are not a hate movement, yet you teach that the white man is a devil—
A We are speaking of the collective guilt of the white man. The Muslims are only expressing what the Negroes as a race believe. If I can point this up, it will make the white man see the seriousness of the problem.
Q What do you see as a real solution?
A The only real answer if for our people to go back to Africa. But that will come much later. Right now, we need immediate relief from suffering and oppression. We don't want welfare programs. They create laziness. We need programs by which the Negro can clean up the Negro community materially and spiritually. We need jobs.
We need to own and operate our own businesses. Instead of "sitting in" we should buy in.
If the Government does not let us go back to Africa, then we should have a black nation here.
Q Which States would you want to take over for your black nation?
A I never heard Mr. Muhammad say, I hope he has in mind Florida and California. I like it where the weather is warm.
Q How many Black Muslims are there?
A No one knows but Mr. Muhammad.
Q How many do you expect to have in your organization?
A I hope to organize the 22 million black people in America.
Reader Comments
African Americans Could Build A Better Africa
Africa is a beautiful continent...5 times larger than America. Just imagine what a beautiful place it could be if the blacks would work together, helping each other...instead of fighting and killing off each other.
Instead of fighting, they could be growing food and raising cattle to feed all the starving people we see on TV. The rest of the world would be happy to help them. But you can't really help people if the won't help themselves.
negroes
america would be better off if all negroes went home to africa our crime rate would drop by 60% and we would save millions in dole money.this move would be good for africa as our 80 i.q. negroes would raise the 70i.q.of african negroes to 75i.q. american negroes would fit right in with the violent nature of africans there they could indulge themselves in rape robbery and murder in typical negro behavior.this would be a win,win situation africa would get a better class of criminal and we would get rid of a lot of criminal parasites.
Malcolm X
Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Malcolm X was one of the most important leaders to come of the 20 century. What he said more than 40 years ago is true. It will take African American's self-determination to clen up the black gheottoes of America.
All of America suffer as a result of his death. His clarion call for self help and sel determination is still needed. Thnak you for printing this interview.
Carl
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