Source: Les Payne. The Dead Are Arising - The Life of Malcolm X (2020)
After almost twelve years of loyalty to Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X started to have serious doubts concerning the leader of the Nation of Islam. As early as 1959, when he was with EM in Mecca, doubts surfaced, but Malcolm X prayed, fasted, and ramped up his defenses of his religion. Despite the surfacing doubts, the NOI had been a key factor in Malcolm X reinventing himself and changing his life for the better. After his release from prison to 1963, Malcolm X had a strategic approach to everything in his life, except when it came to EM. It proved to be far easier for Malcolm X to deal with opposition outside of the NOI, such as the media and African-American Civil Rights Leaders.
The Ronald Stokes Affair in 1962 left an indelible mark on Malcolm X. On 27 April 1962, two LAPD officers confronted two Muslim men near Temple #27, which escalated into a battle between dozens of police officers and Muslims from the temple. Police shot seven Muslims, and killed Ronald Stokes, a NOI stalwart and friend of Malcolm X. The decision of the coroner’s inquest was justifiable homicide, even though some witnesses testified that Stokes had his hands up in the air when he was shot.
The Ronald Stokes Affair in 1962 left an indelible mark on Malcolm X. On 27 April 1962, two LAPD officers confronted two Muslim men near Temple #27, which escalated into a battle between dozens of police officers and Muslims from the temple. Police shot seven Muslims, and killed Ronald Stokes, a NOI stalwart and friend of Malcolm X. The decision of the coroner’s inquest was justifiable homicide, even though some witnesses testified that Stokes had his hands up in the air when he was shot.
Malcolm X wanted some sort of direct action in response that at least would somewhat match the harsh rhetoric of the NOI, and the Fruit of Islam (FOI) was that arm of the NOI for that kind of action. However, the FOI goon squad had to that point almost entirely been used for internal discipline within the NOI, e.g. spousal abuse, shenanigans with NOI money, violation of temple rules, etc. The FOI expected to be called into action after the killing of Stokes, plus the many injured NOI at the hands of the LAPD. But EM never issued any orders to the FOI to act; EM even ordered Malcolm X to refrain from harsh rhetoric as a response. The result was that Malcolm X lost face with the FOI due to EM.
Malcolm X didn’t know if EM was indifferent or a coward, but he held his tongue and soldiered on. The Stokes Affair rankled the young members of the NOI who wanted to back up the harsh rhetoric with action. A very frustrated Malcolm X kept up his public loyalty, but he strongly sympathized with those in the NOI that wanted to act but were held back by EM. The Stokes Affair was the turning point in terms of Malcolm X moving away from EM; he was no longer blindly loyal and unquestioning.
Malcolm X didn’t know if EM was indifferent or a coward, but he held his tongue and soldiered on. The Stokes Affair rankled the young members of the NOI who wanted to back up the harsh rhetoric with action. A very frustrated Malcolm X kept up his public loyalty, but he strongly sympathized with those in the NOI that wanted to act but were held back by EM. The Stokes Affair was the turning point in terms of Malcolm X moving away from EM; he was no longer blindly loyal and unquestioning.
February 1963, Chicago: Malcolm X had a long discussion with one of EM’s sons, Wallace D. Muhammad. While he was in Chicago, Malcolm X picked up gossip and chatter about the luxurious lifestyles of EM and the “Royal Family” in Phoenix. Malcolm X brought up questions, rumors, and suspicions about EM with Wallace. Malcolm X really wanted Wallace’s perspective of EM, since he was the heir apparent. Wallace confirmed some of EM’s philandering, especially with one “secretary” of which Malcolm X had a previous interest.
Under Malcolm X’s questioning, Wallace was very forthcoming with his revelations, confirming that EM had many illegitimate children with his “secretaries”. To Malcolm X, Wallace’s revelations were a “Smoking Gun”, and action was required. Chances are strong that in his autobiography, Malcolm X exaggerated EM’s infidelities, which makes sense since the very loyal to the other way when they feel betrayed. Also, finding out at least some of the truth of Fard Muhammad (that he wasn’t “all that”) rocked Malcolm X to his core as well. Malcolm X discovered that Fard wasn’t Allah, and therefore EM wasn’t “The Messenger”; Wallace had shown Malcolm X that EM was a religious and secular failure/hypocrite.
Under Malcolm X’s questioning, Wallace was very forthcoming with his revelations, confirming that EM had many illegitimate children with his “secretaries”. To Malcolm X, Wallace’s revelations were a “Smoking Gun”, and action was required. Chances are strong that in his autobiography, Malcolm X exaggerated EM’s infidelities, which makes sense since the very loyal to the other way when they feel betrayed. Also, finding out at least some of the truth of Fard Muhammad (that he wasn’t “all that”) rocked Malcolm X to his core as well. Malcolm X discovered that Fard wasn’t Allah, and therefore EM wasn’t “The Messenger”; Wallace had shown Malcolm X that EM was a religious and secular failure/hypocrite.
Malcolm X then found out that EM had expelled from the NOI those “secretaries” with which he had illegitimate children under the charge of adultery. Basically, Malcolm X had the wind knocked out of his sails, and he tried to figure out how he could have been taken in by EM so easily. Malcolm X vented his spleen to Wilfred, who said he knew all about the actions of EM and the “Royal Family”. Malcolm X wanted to know why Wilfred didn’t tell him, and Wilfred said that if he did, Malcolm X would have gone straight to EM and “ratfinked” on his older brother; Malcolm X reluctantly admitted that probably would have been the case.
Malcolm X wrote EM about the illegitimate kids and “secretaries”, even mentioning Wallace’s name (but not Wilfred). As far as Malcolm was concerned, EM had transitioned from blasphemy to heresy. Malcolm X was not entirely circumspect about his feelings about EM, and chatter started to spread in the NOI network. The external competition with MLK yielded to the internal struggle with the NOI. The NOI HQ targeted Malcolm X, the very person that made the NOI what it was, and the person that was the source of the luxurious Phoenix lifestyle.
Malcolm X wrote EM about the illegitimate kids and “secretaries”, even mentioning Wallace’s name (but not Wilfred). As far as Malcolm was concerned, EM had transitioned from blasphemy to heresy. Malcolm X was not entirely circumspect about his feelings about EM, and chatter started to spread in the NOI network. The external competition with MLK yielded to the internal struggle with the NOI. The NOI HQ targeted Malcolm X, the very person that made the NOI what it was, and the person that was the source of the luxurious Phoenix lifestyle.
22 November 1963: JFK’s Assassination. On 1 December 1963, after speaking, Malcolm X was asked as he was leaving the podium, what he though of the assassination. Malcolm X’s “chickens coming home to roost” quote (he thought he was “off the record”) referred to JFK’s involvement in the assassination of Diem in early-November 1963. EM had absolutely forbidden NOI temple leaders from saying anything about JFK’s Assassination - EM “silenced” Malcolm X for ninety days. Even at this point, Malcolm X was confident he could salvage his relationship with EM and the NOI HQ.
However, the NOI HQ had no intention of allowing Malcolm X back in , and several members within EM’s “Royal Family” stated that they wanted Malcolm X dead. In effect, Malcolm X was in exile from the NOI. Wilfred visited him in Queens, telling Malcolm X that he sure took his sweet time to figure out that the NOI HQ wanted him dead. Wilfred criticized Malcolm X for writing EM to say that if he ordered his “Royal Family” to leave him alone, he would leave EM alone. EM never issued that order, and during March 1964, Malcolm X announced that he was leaving the Nation of Islam.
However, the NOI HQ had no intention of allowing Malcolm X back in , and several members within EM’s “Royal Family” stated that they wanted Malcolm X dead. In effect, Malcolm X was in exile from the NOI. Wilfred visited him in Queens, telling Malcolm X that he sure took his sweet time to figure out that the NOI HQ wanted him dead. Wilfred criticized Malcolm X for writing EM to say that if he ordered his “Royal Family” to leave him alone, he would leave EM alone. EM never issued that order, and during March 1964, Malcolm X announced that he was leaving the Nation of Islam.