THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 17, 1995 TAG: 9501170274
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Marc Tibbs
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
The observance of Martin Luther King's birthday was bittersweet this year. Somehow, I couldn't stop thinking about the life of his ideological nemesis, Malcolm X.
I was just 7 years old when Malcolm was murdered in New York City's Audubon Ballroom on Feb. 21, 1965. About all I remember about his assassination is the sinking feeling my family and I felt when we learned that his killers were black.
That feeling resurfaced last week with the announcement that one of Malcolm's daughters, Qubilah Shabazz, has been charged with plotting to kill Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan.
Shabazz was only 4 when her father was gunned down before her eyes. Her mother, Betty Shabazz, has long accused Farrakhan of playing a role in her husband's demise. Still, to learn that there may have been a plot against Farrakhan's life by one of Malcolm's offspring was shocking.
Strong, charismatic leaders have been hard to come by, particularly in the black community. We couldn't afford to lose them 30 years ago, and we can't afford to lose them now.
Like him or loathe him, Farrakhan's is a voice to be reckoned with on today's political landscape. He speaks viably to large segments of the black community. Much like Malcolm, he preaches responsibility and economic independence to the black masses.
Farrakhan has admitted contributing to ``the atmosphere that led to the assassination of Malcolm X,'' but he denies having been involved in it. In fact, he says he has learned from it.
In a published interview two years ago with Spike Lee, director of the film on Malcolm's life, Farrakhan candidly talked about that ``atmosphere.''
Malcolm had left the Nation of Islam, and was engaged in a bitter struggle with its founder, Elijah Muhammad.
``(A)s Malcolm attacked Elijah and as we attacked Malcolm, we were creating an atmosphere of murder not just within the Nation,'' Farrakhan said in the interview. ``The time was right for any outside force that wanted Malcolm out of the way.
``If you kill Malcolm X, blame it on Elijah Muhammad, you've killed two birds with one stone. We, in our ignorance and zeal, created this atmosphere.''
Farrakhan, himself no darling of the so-called establishment, was informed of the plot against his life by the U.S. Justice Department. The FBI contends it had Qubilah Shabazz under surveillance as she allegedly made arrangements with an FBI informant to have Farrakhan killed.
For his part, Farrakhan has come out in support of Shabazz. He says the entire case is an example of the same ``divide and conquer'' tactics that resulted in Malcolm's death.
One statement in that interview seems almost prophetic in its insight: ``I would hope that the children of Martin, Malcolm, Elijah, Farrakhan, Tutu and Jesse can see the mistakes of their fathers and mothers. Not to condemn, but to learn from, that these can write a new chapter in the future of our people.'' ILLUSTRATION: Malcolm X: slain in New York City's Audubon Ballroom on Feb. 21,
1965.
by CNB