FROM THE DESK OF…

Tyree Amala

6/02

Peace and Blessings Family,

I was alerted to this web site the other day.  The title was interesting so I checked it out.  Please, look at it before you read another word of this editorial.

http://www.momentsintime.com/Malcolm%20X.htm *The actual pictures have been removed from the site. *

If you want to see the actual pics, go to; http://www.nathanielturner.com/malcolmxletter.htm

 I have a few questions as normal, but this time I will not answer them, I would like you to come to your own answers as I did.  Allowing that we may not have come to the same conclusions, the questions presented are pertinent and beg answers.

How in the world did this letter, assuming it’s authentic, get into the possession of Moments in Time Inc.?

Why doesn’t the family have it as part of Bro. Malcolm’s legacy?  Was it offered to the Shabazz family PRIOR to being up for auction on the Internet?

What is the reaction of the Shabazz Family to its existence, it’s being auctioned and in the manner it’s being auctioned?

Let’s look at it from another perspective.  Could the letter be the property of the family of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad (THEM) since it was addressed to him, or is this Malcolm’s personal copy?  If it is the property of THEM, how did it get into the hands of this company?  Does the family of THEM know it is in the public domain?  What is the reaction of the family of THEM?

How can some one publish so intimate, so personal a letter from Bro. Malcolm to his mentor, The Honorable Elijah Muhammad (THEM)? 

What besides money, does the auctioneer have to gain by revealing such an intimate letter by a Black Man who is and has been held in high esteem throughout the world?

Would any letter written by a Minister to his Supervisor be revealed in such a manner?  Would Rev. Billy Graham’s?  Would your Minister or mine?

Why does this letter have the highest asking price while the site offers autographs and pictures including but not limited to John F. Kennedy, Adolph Hitler, the Beatles, George Patton, and Sigmund Freud?

Are such words by Bro. Malcolm really worth $125,000.00 to the world?  (Update, The price, as of this date, has dropped to $75,000.00) If so, why?  Are we, as a society, so used to seeing or reading such intimate details of people’s lives, we would willingly pay that amount to own such a document?

Have we lowered ourselves to our basest level by not allowing others any privacy??  Why in the world would anyone want to read such an item well less own it??

Please examine these questions and any others that come to you. When documents of this nature suddenly appear in the public domain, one must ask oneself some very serious questions as to the motive for revelations of this nature.  One's reputation is very serious, and we should always be wary of anything that brings someone's reputation into question.

I am not saying this letter makes Malcolm any more or less a Man or a Revolutionary, by no stretch.  I am, however,  very wary of this document on may levels i.e., family,  propaganda, disrespect for two of our esteemed Elders, The Black Family, the audacity of the seller - and I say seller, cause no way can he legally be an owner unless some one in either THEM's or Malcolm's family sold it to him.  Any other way is illegal as all get out.

Revised: 02.12.2004

02.12.2004 : Note:  Since we know things change on the internet daily, below is what I saw a minute ago when I went back and checked his site.  It seems many think this may have been in the documents donated to the Historic NY City Schomburg Museum.