Minneapolis spokesman., 1963-05-09
ISSUES: GOOD
AND BAD
BY p. L. PRATTTS

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dangerous thing is amply demon
strated in the world around US
every day. This can become a mat
ter Of great concern to our people.
For at least the last five or six
years there has been growing an1d-
ETY. among white people (espec-
tally Jews) about the Black Mus
Inns - the number Of them and
their influence in the Negro COM
munity. Most Of the Leadership Of
the Black Muslims comes from
men Of little true learning. This Is
certainly not true Of all the leader
ship, and it would be wrong to i'm
ply that even those Of little learn
ing do not strive for more.
I know some Of the Black
Muslin leaders. These include
Mr.. Muhammad and Malcolm X.
respect certain aspects Of their
leadership. When they change the
character Of some Negroes from
bad to good, I am bound to laud
them. When they teach Negroes
to be self-reliant, I must approve.
When they instil pride and deter
mination into their disciples, I
think they render an invaluable
service to all Of us.
But when they separate me
from the rest of the human race,
except for those who are brown
and yellow, when they preach
that all who are white MUST be
bad and that there Is inherent
and supreme good In all who are
black, brown and yellow, I must
take issue with them.
Malcolm x has submitted to an
interview published in the latest
issue Of Playboy which, despite its
title, touches frequently upon seri-
Gus subjects. I know Malcolm x
very well. I have read his answers
to questions asked by the editors
of Playboy. I should like for him
and the editors of Playboy to know
that I disagree violently with most
of the conclusions Of Malcolm x.
For example, the Black Muslims
preach that all whites are devils
and not to be trusted by blacks.
He says that the Black Muslims
say this out loud but most Ne
groes feel this in their hearts even
though they do not express them
selves. He projects the notion that
although there may be only a quar-
ter of a million Black Muslims,
there are some twenty million
blacks in this country who think
that all whites are devils but won't
speak out for one reason or an
other.
1 don't believe that what NAL
colin x says Ii true and I be-
Heve that he Is led into this and
other generalization because ac-
tuaIly he Is a man of little learn
ing and knowledge.
He Is proud of the notoriety he
has won and he is prepared to
make the most Of 1t. He Is proud
that he never finished the eighth
grade, that he spent years in jail
and that in spite Of these handi-
caps he was invited to speak at
Harvard university.
This has given Malcolm x a
feeling Of self-importance. He dons
the mantle Of leadership and an
swers with artful ambiguity any
question you ask him.
I don't think I have to defend
the whites who have been true
friends of the Negro ever since he
was brought to this land against
his will. Now, he Is here, and this
is his country. With his blood,
sweat and tears" he helped to
build and preserve 1t. I do not in
tend to yield my share Of what my
forefathers earned
I am not the least alarmed by
Malcolm x and the Black Muslims.
We have had all sorts of cults and
isms to come and go among Ne
groes In this country. The Black
Muslims have not yet attained the
reach and the grasp Of the Garvey-
ties - long since dead.
Those who build upon hate build
upon sand and their days are al
ways numbered.
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