A Real Life

“Brother, a Minister Has to Be Married”

May 1957-March 1959

Chapter 5

As the title of the chapter suggests, this is the chapter where Marable gives us some insight into Malcolm and Betty’s courtship and marriage.  Personally, this chapter floored me.  I expected the chapter on Malcolm’s alleged homosexual relationship to stir me more than the dynamics of Malcolm and Betty’s relationship but it did not.  Betty heard and saw Malcolm for the first time mid-1956 at a NOI sponsored dinner. Her first impression was that he looked malnourished but when they conversed later she found him charming.

Of course having watched the Spike Lee biopic of Malcolm X more times than I can count, I anticipated a heart tugging love story but Marable details the complete opposite. Betty’s intital thoughts of the NOI were that it was “bewildering.” After that initial meeting with Malcolm it did not take her long to join the NOI.  Her friends suspected her dedication had more to do with him than the NOI.  Malcolm seemed to be so caught up with the going ons of the NOI that he didn’t really dwell on companionship. He knew that it would “look” better if he had a wife. Evelyn Williams was Malcolm’s long term girlfriend whom he had known since his days of being “Detroit Red.” Williams later joined the NOI as well.  In 1956, Malcolm actually proposed to Evelyn and another woman, Betty Sue X Williams. He retracted his proposal to Evelyn a few days after he proposed and very little  is known of Betty Sue.  Malcolm claimed that he did not want a spouse tied to his former life. Malcolm had a strong distrust of women and he was paralyzed by thoughts of rejection.  It’s no secret of how “big” I have made Malcolm in my own mind but the more I read this book the more human/fallible he becomes.

Malcolm,32 finally makes the decision to marry Betty,23.  Betty was not equipped for married life. She could not cook and had a independent streak that Malcolm did not tolerate. Ultimately, I got the feel that Malcolm felt betrayed by Betty which further confirmed his distrust for women.  When they got married and returned to temple one sister made the comment to Betty, “You got him!” Malcolm stated that he would never forget that statement and his actions proved such. Betty complained of Malcolm’s bedroom performance and he rarely displayed affection towards her.  Even the birth of their children seemed uneventful for him. Another outstanding fact that Marable gave was that during their seven year marriage Malcolm only took Betty to the movies once.  Overall I got the feeling that Malcolm and Betty’s marriage was more labor than love.

 

“The Hate That Hate Produced”

March 1959-January 1961

Chapter 6

In college I had a note riddled copy of an interview between Louis Lomax and Malcolm that I still refer to. I have watched, ”The Hate That Hate Produced,” numerous times as well. Of course Marable’s background information on how the production came to be was very interesting. We learn that the now famous Mike Wallace was trying to find his big break and thought the controversial NOI would be the best target.  Wallace decided to link up with Louis Lomax , a young African-American journalist who was preparing a TV series on the NOI.  We also learn that Lomax did jail time for being involved in a car leasing scam. When “The Hate That Hate Produced” aired it set off a fire storm throughout the nation. Those in the NOI blamed Malcolm for the negativity that Hate generated. Malcolm  thought that it demonized the NOI but could not deny how it introduced the NOI to a larger audience.  Wallace, of course, went on to work for 60 Minutes while Lomax became a well-known writer.

 Marable continues to describe Malcolm and Betty’s marital problems in this chapter. Malcolm saw her as nuisance and Betty taunted him sexually. Malcolm wrote and shared Betty’s concerns with Elijah Muhammad who also shared the information with others. As we read we can see Malcolm give himself in a greater capacity to the NOI instead of facing his family issues head on.  It’s during this time Malcolm begins to understand Islam on an international level because he makes a trip to Cairo.  It is on this trip that he begins to see that unlike the NOI the Orthodox Islamic community is colorblind. Shortly after Malcolm traveled to Cairo, Elijah Muhammad made a spiritual journey to Mecca. Muhammad’s trip, like Malcolm’s,  had a profound impact on how he began to view the beliefs of the NOI. Upon Muhammad’s return he began to implement some of the more orthodox Islamic beliefs. One major change was that he orded all the NOI’s temples to be called mosques.

“Hate” spurred Malcolm onto University debate circuit where he thrived. While speaking to larger “whiter” audiences, Malcolm found it harder and harder to adhere to Elijah Muhammad’s strict instructions for NOI members not to become politically involved. Muhammad was very upset when Malcolm met with Fidel Castro privately in 1960 when he attended the UN General Assembly and stayed at the famous Hotel Theresa in Harlem. Marable also gives the sketchy details of the private meeting with the Ku Klux Klan. Marable describes this meeting as the most controversial incident of Malcolm’s career. Malcolm would regret the meeting for  years to come often shying away from it all together.

Malcolm also has to tend other family issues during this time. There was problems at the  Boston Mosque headed by Louis X Walcott (Farrakhan) with Ella his sister. Ella had a strong dislike for Louis X Walcott (which could have been early discernment for later accusations) and stopped attending the mosque.  Malcolm ever loyal to the NOI had Ella expelled.

 

“As Sure as God Made Green Apples”

January 1961-May 1962

Chapter 7

“You will grow to be hated when you become well known.” -Elijah Muhammad to Malcolm X

From this chapter we can clearly see Malcolm outgrowing the NOI. There is a mental and emotional tug of war that he is having within. The more he moves out front the more he  notices that the NOI can’t continue to be removed from the politics of the time.  Malcolm continued his rigorous speaking/debate schedule but Muhammad forbid hid to express his independent opinions. Malcolm was told to always make the public seek Muhammad for answers. One of the main conflicts that began to arise was that even though Malcolm spoke on behalf of the NOI and the need of an independent black state he saw no progress towards this independent state. What is actually happening is that the Chicago headquarters was putting more pressure on the local mosques to raise more money to send their way. 

Betty and Malcolm’s relationship has gotten no better when their second daughter arrives. One account given by one of Malcolm’s drivers was that he avoided going home if he could. You get the feel that Malcolm totally resents Betty. In the meantime, Evelyn Williams, gave birth to daughter fathered by Elijah Muhammad. Marable gives great detail of Elijah Muhammad’s extramarital affairs. The infractions most of his members was disciplined and even expelled for Elijah Muhammad practiced regularly.

Betty was growing increasingly suspicious of the NOI leadership but Malcolm would not hear any of it. I believe in his heart he too was becoming increasingly suspicious of the NOI. The incident that shook Malcolm to his core was the death of a member at the Los Angeles mosque during a raid by the LAPD. Malcolm has assembled a team to go to Los Angeles and attack the LAPD but Muhammad made him back down. The retreat by the NOI humiliated Malcolm. The reality was that Muhammad was more interested in protecting his wealth than  fight for the people. This was the beginning of a new phase in the NOI for Malcolm.