Malcolm X for some reason suddenly began to deliver a spate of attacks againstElijah
Muhammad, making more bitter accusations of "religious fakery" and "immorality" than he ever
had. Very possibly, Malcolm X had grown increasingly incensed by the imminence of the court's
deadline for him to have to move his wife and four little daughters from the comfortable home in
which they had lived for years in Elmhurst. And Sister Betty was again pregnant. "A home is really
the only thing I've ever provided Betty since we've been married," he had told me, discussing the
court's order, "and they want to take that away. Man, I can't keep on putting her through changes,
all she's put up with-man, I've got to love this woman!"
A rash of death threats were anonymously telephoned to the police, to various newspapers, to the
OAAU office, and to the family's home in Elmhurst. When he went to court again, fighting to keep
the house, he was guarded by a phalanx of eight OAAU men, twenty uniformed policemen, and
twelve plain-clothes detectives. The court's decision was that the order to vacate would not be
altered. When Malcolm X reached home in Long Island, one of his followers, telephoning him
there, got, instead, a telephone company operator who said that the OL 1-6320 number was
"disconnected." A carload of his OAAU followers, racing to Long Island, found Malcolm X and his
family perfectly safe. Inquiry of the telephone company revealed that a "Mrs. Small" had called
and requested that the service for that number be disconnected, "for vacation." The OAAU
followers drove back to Harlem. There was an ensuing confrontation between them and followers
of Elijah Muhammad in front of the Black Muslim restaurant at 116th Street and Lenox Avenue.
The incident wound up with policemen who rushed to the scene finding two guns in the OAAU
car, and the six OAAU men were arrested.
Malcolm X had a date to speak in Boston, but he was too busy to go, and he sent an OAAU
assistant who spoke instead. The car returning him to the Boston Airport was blocked at the East
Boston Tunnel by another car. Reportedly, men with knives rushed out of the blockade car, but
the Malcolm X forcesshowed a shotgun, and the attackers dispersed.
Malcolm X steadily accused the Black Muslims as the source of the various attacks and threats.
"There is no group in the United States more able to carry out this threat than the Black Muslims,"
he said. "I know, because I taught them myself." Asked why he had attacked the Black Muslims
and Elijah Muhammad when things had seemed to be cooled down, he said, "I would not have
revealed any of this if they had left me alone." He let himself be photographed in his home
holding an automatic carbine rifle with a full double clip of ammunition that he said he kept ready
for action against any possible assassination efforts. "I have taught my wife to use it, and
instructed her to fire on anyone, white, black, or yellow, who tries to force his way inside."
I went to New York City in December for Malcolm X's reading of final additions to the manuscript,
to include the latest developments. He was further than I had ever seen him from his old assured
self, it seemed to me. He kept saying that the press was making light of his statements about the
threats on his life. "They act like I'm jiving!" He brought up again the Saturday Evening Post
editorial. "You can't trust the publishing people, I don't care what they tell you." The agent for the
book sent to my hotel a contract dealing with foreign publication rights which needed Malcolm X's
and my signature. I signed it as he observed and handed the pen to him. He looked suspiciously
at the contract, and said, "I had better show this thing to my lawyer," and put the contract in his
inside coat pocket. Driving in Harlem about an hour later, he suddenly stopped the car across the
street from the 135th Street Y.M.C.A. Building. Withdrawing the contract, he signed it, and thrust it
to me. "I'll trust you," he said, and drove on.
With Christmas approaching, upon an impulse I bought for Malcolm X's two oldest daughters two
large dolls, with painted brown complexions, the kind of dolls that would "walk" when held by the
left hand. When Malcolm X nextcame to my room in the Hotel Wellington, I said, "I've gotten
something for you to take to Attallah and Qubilah for Christmas gifts," and I "walked" out the dolls.
Amazement, then a wide grin spread over his face. "Well, what do you know about that? Well,
how about that!" He bent to examine the dolls. His expression showed how touched he was. "You