Contentsattallah Shabazz:Foreword

    M. S. HANDLER: INTRODUCTIONCHAPTER ONE: NIGHTMARECHAPTER TWO: MASCOTCHAPTER THREE: "HOMEBOY"CHAPTER FOUR: LAURACHAPTER FIVE: HARLEMITECHAPTER SIX: DETROIT REDCHAPTER SEVEN: HUSTLERCHAPTER EIGHT: TRAPPEDCHAPTER NINE: CAUGHTCHAPTER TEN: SATANCHAPTER ELEVEN: SAVEDCHAPTER TWELVE: SAVIORCHAPTER THIRTEEN: MINISTER MALCOLM XCHAPTER FOURTEEN: BLACK MUSLIMSCHAPTER FIFTEEN: ICARUSCHAPTER SIXTEEN: OUTCHAPTER SEVENTEEN: MECCACHAPTER EIGHTEEN: EL-HAJJ MALIK EL-SHABAZZCHAPTER NINETEEN: 1965ALEX HALEY: EPILOGUEOSSIE DAVIS: ON MALCOM [sic]

　　ATTALLAH SHABAZZFOREWORDBehold, America. Just when our country's cultural evolution appears to have stagnated and we'vegrown insensitive to justice, the U.S. Postal Service has issued a commemorative stamp to honor oneof our country's most outspoken revolutionaries-my father, Malcolm X Shabazz. This nationalcommemoration, three decades after his lifetime, pays tribute to his immeasurable contributions onbehalf of one's innate right to self-preservation and human dignity.

　　Although Malcolm X is no longer with us physically, tens of millions have gotten to know himthrough this timeless volume that you now hold in your hands. _The Autobiography of Malcolm X_has served as an everlasting testament to my father's life and legacy. In light of the cultural andpolitical climate of the 1960s, when the book was first published, both my father and my godfather,Alex Haley, would feel great peace in knowing that Time magazine's "Best of the Century" issuenamed _The Autobiography of Malcolm X_ one of the top ten works of nonfiction of this century. Myfather's life story stands alongside such monumental works as _The Diary of Anne Frank_ and others.

　　A lover of language, my father believed very much in the power of words to influence and transformlives.

    His own life stands as an affirmation of that power. Our literature and our history are filled withstories of men and women whose will and inner strength nourished their rise from impoverishment towealth, whether material, spiritual, or educational. My father's life and its stages of personalmetamorphosis and enlightenment documented in this text stand as a confirmation of how one can,through witness and transformation, ultimately claim one's own divine path. At this point in my life,and significantly as his daughter, it is quite meaningful for me to contribute my prose to this livingrecord.

　　My godfather, Alex Haley, bequeathed me the opportunity to write this foreword to my father'sautobiography. He had set the process in motion almost a year before the offer was formally broughtto my attention in the fall of 1992. It was, indeed, a spiritual gift of timing. Eight months earlier, inFebruary 1992, the man who was the author of the internationally acclaimed _Roots_ passed awaysuddenly in the middle of the night. Alex Haley and I had discussed the possibility of my writing hisautobiography to acknowledge our literary circle, our family of writers-my father to him and him tome.

　　Six years have passed since I received this initial request to prepare a new foreword for my father's lifestory. My godfather's wish was that I commemorate my father's life by writing about some of thesignificant events that have served as a postscript for his extraordinary life story, but to do this it isessential to begin with the legacy that my father himself was heir to from the beginning.

　　In 1919, my paternal grandparents, Earl and Louisa Little, married and began their large family ofeight children. At the same time they both worked steadfastly as crusaders for Marcus Garvey'sUniversal Negro Improvement Association, acting as chapter president and writer/translator for morethan a decade. Their children were deeply involved and inspired by their parents' mission toencourage self-reliance and uphold a sense of empowerment for people of the African Diaspora.

　　Given the turbulence, fear, and despair of the depression era, with its economic droughts and racialand social inequities, my grandparents could never have imagined that one of their own childrenwould have his likeness on a United States postal stamp before the century's end.

　　Eighty years later, on January 20,1999, pride filled Harlem's historic Apollo Theatre as six of Earl andLouisa Little's granddaughters sat encircled by a body of fifteen hundred, as family, friends, esteemedguests, and well-wishers gathered to celebrate a momentous occasion-the unveiling of the UnitedStates Postal Service's newest release in its Black Heritage Stamp Series.

　　The issuance of the stamp with the image of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz-known to the world as MalcolmX and fondly loved by myself and my five sisters as Daddy-will provide a source of eternal pride tohis children. While this was indeed a glorious moment, it does not cancel the pain of the loss of bothour parents, or even kiss away the ache of their absence. What it certainly does is add to the blessingsof our dowry.

　　The stamp also serves as a reminder of the stock from which we were born and confirms significantlythat how one lives his or her life today stands as a testament to one's forever after.

　　In his genuine humility and pure dedication to service, my father had no idea of the potency of hisdeeds, of the impact his life would have on others, or of the legacy that was to unfold. As he and mygodfather, Alex Haley, worked diligently to complete this classic work-in person, from airporttelephones, via ship to shore, or over foreign wire services-he could never have imagined byAmerica's tone in his final days that his words, philosophy, and wisdom would be so appreciated andhonored around the world, or that it would still offer inspiration and guidance to so many.

　　In my father's absence, my mother nurtured and protected the significance and value of her husband'sendless devotion to human rights. She was thrilled by the opening discussions about her husband'simage appearing on a U.S. postal stamp. From her perspective, it was not as inconceivable as othershave found it. To my mother, it was his due.

　　As the house lights dimmed in the Apollo Theatre, the flickering images of black-and-whitephotographs and film clips on the screen chronicled my father's life. Bittersweet, his youthful face andbroad smile caressed my heart. As the documentary film moved forward, the voice-over of our dearfamily friend and loving "uncle" actor Ossie Davis delivered the eulogy from my father's funeral in1965. This became the backdrop for the montage of nostalgic childhood memories that played in mymind. Life with both parents and my little sisters. Life joyous and uninterrupted.

　　When people ask how my mother managed to keep my father's memory alive, all I can say is-for mymother, he never left. He never left her. He never left us. My father's spiritual presence is whatsustained my mother. And we, their children, were the beneficiaries of their timeless love for oneanother.

　　Born and raised in a family that was culturally varied, I innately gravitated to the rhythms of theworld. Mommie was our constant, as many mothers are. Daddy was the jubilant energy in our world.

　　He was not at all like the descriptions I grew up hearing. In addition to being determined, focused,honest, he was also greatly humorous, delightful, and boy-like, while at the same time a strong, firmmale presence in a house filled with little women. His women. My sisters, me, and our mother. Acollaboration of qualities that enchants me even now.

　　". . . If you knew him you would know why we must honor him," Uncle Ossie's voice continued.

　　"Malcolm was our manhood, our living, black manhood. . . . and, in honoring him, we honor the bestin ourselves. . . ."A spotlight on the Apollo podium brought me back to the present as the announcer introduced RubyDee and Ossie Davis, the first of an intimate selection of my father's esteemed comrades andappreciators from the "front line" to speak and share their remembrances.

　　Aunt Ruby opened, "What a privilege to witness the radical gone respectable in our times. . . ." UncleOssie continued, "We in this community look upon this commemorative stamp finally as America'sstamp of approval. . . ."When I had mentioned the issuance of the stamp to others, the news simply stopped folks in theirtracks. Touched. Teary-eyed. They could hardly believe it. They had to catch their breath, or ask me torepeat myself. "How can this be?" they wondered. "A stamp with Brother Malcolm's face on it?" "Whatdoes it mean?" "Is America really ready for a Malcolm X stamp, even if it is thirty-four years after hisassassination?"I reflected on the message of Congressman Chaka Fattah, the ranking Democrat on the Postalsubcommittee, who commented, "There is no more appropriate honor than this stamp becauseMalcolm X sent all of us a message through his life and his life's work.

　　"Stamps are affixed to envelopes that contain messages, and when we receive an envelope with thisparticular stamp on it hopefully it is a message that will speak again to the conscience of this nation.

　　Hopefully not just to those of African descent in America but to those who want to speak and be heardon the question of human rights throughout the world. To this day Malcolm X stands as a leader. Histhoughts, his ideas, his conviction, and his courage provide an inspiration even now to newgenerations that come."I've asked myself, What change in our society today permits the reevaluation of my father'sconvictions or his stance on the human injustices that plagued the international landscape? For years,he's been the subject of a patchwork of commentaries, numerous judgments, and endless characterassessments from a spectrum of self-appointed experts. But, in spite of the psychoanalysis, Malcolmwill always be exactly who he is, whether or not we as a society ever succeed in figuring him out.

　　Truth does not change, only our awareness of it.

　　Not everyone agreed with my father's philosophy or methodology; he was considered complicated,intricate, and complex. Nevertheless, he was always a focused man with a commitment and aprogram. His plan of action, regardless of the stages of his life, his agenda, and his perspective werealways poignantly clear.

　　Malcolm X never advocated violence. He was an advocate of cultural and social reconstruction-until abalance of equality was shared, "by any means necessary." Generally, this phrase of his was misused,even by those who were his supporters. But the statement was intended to encourage a paralyzedconstituent of American culture to consider the range of options to which they were entitled-the"means." "By any means necessary" meant examine the obstacles, determine the vision, find theresolve, and explore the alternatives toward dissolving the obstacles. Anyone truly familiar with myfather's ideology, autobiography, and speeches sincerely understands the significance of the now-famous phrase.

　　My father affected Americans-black and white-in untold measure and not always in ways as definitiveas census charts and polls have dictated. We've misrepresented the silent majority on both sides. There were black folks who carried as much disdain for my father as some white folks did, and then therewere some white folks for whom his life's lessons were as valuable a blueprint for personal andspiritual development as they have been for many black folks. Nevertheless, within the range of theboisterous and the silent there are still folks brown, red, and yellow on this continent and elsewherewho honor and respect the true message of Malcolm X Shabazz.

　　Fortunately, as a child, my surroundings were filled with my father's partners for social change. Thiswarm, devoted circle of people was always on the front lines of the struggle, working to ensure therightful equilibrium of human rights-not just domestically, but globally-"by any means necessary."Whether they were persons of note or simply hardworking citizens, these individuals in my early lifewere missionaries of justice, each committed to doing his or her part.

　　As the dedication ceremony continued at the Apollo, the master of ceremonies, activist-entertainerHarry Belafonte-yet another childhood "uncle"-framed the importance of this historic moment for theaudience assembled.

　　"Each year the Postal Service receives more than forty thousand requests recommending subjects forU.S. stamps. Only thirty or so are chosen. Short of a national monument in Washington-and that's nota bad idea-a stamp is among the highest honors that our country can pay to any of its citizens."The El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz/Malcolm X stamp is the twenty-second in the Black Heritage Series,which was inaugurated in 1978. It joins such luminaries as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, A.

　　Philip Randolph, Mary McLeod Bethune, Martin Luther King, Jr., and others. I am hopeful that theinitial printing of 100 million stamps will be some inspiration to those who collect them or pass themon as gifts to represent or encourage one's personal enlightenment and triumph.

　　What my father aspired to be and what Allah had destined for him was nurtured chiefly by the fertiletutelage of his parents while his family was still together and thriving as a unit. This was before hisfather's murder by the Klan, his mother's emotional breakdown, and the subsequent scattering of hissiblings and himself into an inadequate and inattentive foster care system.

　　My grandmother had a direct hand in the cultural, social, and intellectual education of her children.

　　The attitude of people of color during the '20s and '30s festered with racial tension that producedvarying degrees of misguided social and personal paralysis. Knowing this and being globallyeducated members of the Garvey movement cognizant of the true origins of the African in theWestern Hemisphere, both my grandmother and her husband were intent on equipping their childrenwith a clear awareness of the seed of their origins and its ancestral power. They knew that this wouldprovide a base of strength for their children. My grandmother knew that in spite of America's socialclimate, her children would be able to discern for themselves when an act was generated by pureracism, or simply by ignorance.

　　For example, there are many who know the story about when my father, while on the honor roll andthe eighth-grade class president, was told by his white teacher that his dream to be a lawyer was unrealistic for a "colored boy." Maybe he should consider carpentry. . . . He shared this story with usdirectly. The teacher actually admired my father greatly and didn't want to encourage him to enter afield of study that he believed wouldn't allow my father to excel. Misguided, yet well intended. Ateacher crippled by a country that offered little promise or future for its indigenous and coloredinhabitants.

　　Without the strong support of life with his parents and siblings under one roof and chafing underfoster parents and teachers imposing limited state policies, Malcolm simply dropped out.

　　This is usually where the recounting of my father's life begins. In the street. Hustling, numbersrunning, stealing . . . Indeed these accounts were factual and he was always the first to tell them. But ifhis first fourteen years hadn't been rooted in a healthy diet of education and the richness of hisheritage, Malcolm wouldn't have found himself gravitating to the prison libraries after he wasincarcerated. The movie _Malcolm X_, which was originally contracted as _X: The Movie_, shows himlearning how to read the dictionary as if he didn't already know how. The truth is, it had been a whilesince he'd read anything. But after being reacquainted with books, he proceeded to out-read thelibrary stock. I've seen letters that my father wrote from prison in his early twenties, eagerly lookingfor the third volume of a text, or wanting help to track down out-of-print books, or even suggestingbooks to his friends and family on the outside.

　　The honor roll student reappeared as the layers of street life faded. He read so much that he had tobegin to wear glasses.

　　With the encouragement of his brothers, he began studying the tenets of the Nation of Islam. Whilethe Little brothers didn't adhere to all of the teachings personally, they did believe it was the onlycurrent American-based ideology that had the potential to unify black people and teach self-pride theway their childhood affiliation with the Garvey movement had done. Also, the brothers believed thatthrough the Nation of Islam they could finally become part of a larger family that could reunite themonce again.

　　It was as a result of the documentary he was producing on the Nation of Islam that Mike Wallace, anuncompromising, truth-seeking pioneer of broadcast journalism and now the senior correspondent of_60 Minutes_, first met my father on an assignment. He recalled those early meetings in his remarks atthe stamp's unveiling:

　　"It was forty years ago, back in 1959, that I first heard about a man who called himself Malcolm X. Weat Channel 13 had set out to produce a documentary that we had intended to call 'The Hate That HateProduced.' It was a report about a group and a man just beginning to get some attention in the whiteworld. The group was the Black Muslims and their leader was Elijah Muhammad. [When] we finallybroadcast the documentary, America at large finally learned about the Nation and their desire toseparate from the white man. Their hatred of the white man for that effectively was their credo backthen: The white man hates us, so we should hate the white man back. Not long after the broadcast,which caused a considerable stir, Louis Lomax invited me to sit down for breakfast for my first meeting with Malcolm, and strangely and rather swiftly after that morning a curious friendship beganto develop, and slowly a trust. And on my part a growing understanding and eventually anadmiration for a man with a daring mind and heart. And gradually it became apparent to me that herewas a genuine, compassionate, and far-seeing leader in the making. A man utterly devoted to hispeople, but at the same time he was bent on reconciliation between the races in America.

　　"And that, of course, that was heresy to the Nation of Islam at the time.

　　"Malcolm was still evolving, still finding his way, still finding his constituency back then when he wasstruck down-to him not unexpectedly-struck down by forces who feared that his way, his leadership,might be a serious threat to their power. I have treasured the memory of the Malcolm that I knew. Iknow he trusted me as a reporter, but in the few years that I had the chance to know him, he sent meon my own voyage of reportorial discovery and understanding.

　　"[The] stamp that honors him today is the kind of recognition he deserves as a courageous Americanhero."In time my father's growth and independence would be his undoing. The Nation reprimanded him,stripped him of all powers of attorney, silenced him, and then exiled him. At first his expulsion lefthim feeling like a man without a home, much the way it had been in his childhood. Ultimately,however, it gave him the freedom he needed.

　　He finally began accepting long-standing invitations he'd received to travel abroad. There were manyforeign heads of state and prime ministers who had long taken note of this charismatic champion ofthe people.

　　With my mother's blessings for his journey, my father set out to visit Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana,Nasser of Egypt, Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia, and more. The warm welcomes and instant paternalrelationships became an essential component of his cleansing and rebirth as he traveled throughoutEurope, Africa, and the Middle East, culminating in his great pilgrimage to Mecca.

　　As my father's philosophy expanded, he began to empower, enlighten, and embrace an untoldpopulace extending far beyond the limits of governmental control. However, as long as Dr. MartinLuther King, Jr., remained in the South, and my father in the North, neither was too difficult tomonitor. But when my father and Dr. King became colleagues and decided to bridge their twophilosophies and unite the American commonwealth toward a greater goal, they both becametremendous threats to the status quo. Sadly, this fear was shared by some of their own constituentsand supporters who believed that the union of both would weaken or detract from the strength ofeach movement.

　　One man whose brethrenship never wavered was the Honorable Percy Sutton, my father's attorneyand a perpetual drum for our family, who approached the podium at the Apollo. He pausedreflectively and warmly paid tribute to my father, while placing my father's life in its proper perspective:

　　"It is a miracle, really, if you think about it!" The audience burst into applause. ". . . The journey ofMalcolm X was long and hard. . . . I can remember a Minister Malcolm that nobody wanted to be near;lawyers, accountants, persons of consequence to the black community . . . were afraid to be identifiedwith him, afraid to be seen with him"We would invite them to come because we needed lawyers, we needed doctors, we needed personsof ability, but they were frightened, they were frightened by other people's attitudes toward MinisterMalcolm. . . .

　　"Let me for a moment tell you who Malcolm X was. Malcolm was not a spiteful man. Malcolm X was arevolutionary. But he was not a mean-spirited revolutionary, he was a gentle man. A kind man, aconcerned man.

　　"It was so bad, ladies and gentleman, that even at Malcolm's death there were people who were afraidto come to the funeral. . . . There was not a major black church in the entire city of New York that waswilling to let us bury him from their edifices. It was a small church up on Amsterdam Avenue [theFaith Temple Church of God] that permitted us to come."Looking into Mr. Sutton's face and seeing him diplomatically balance all that he knew of my parents'

　　challenges brought back an old sadness, one that had not healed since the loss of his "little sister," mymother, Betty. Feeling Mr. Sutton's steadfast devotion, I found myself massaging the ache from myown heart as I reflected on America's treatment of my parents during my childhood. Despite myyouthful joys and sense of safety, the trials my parents faced were unrelenting. As well, the way myfather was regarded during his lifetime robbed him of any peace in knowing that his life andcontributions mattered, and that his family would live without jeopardy or repercussion.

　　Now, perhaps sanctioned by a karmic wave of "in due time," America is acknowledging Malcolm yetagain.

　　The Honorable S. David Fineman, member of the Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service,commented on the appropriateness of this acknowledgment during his introduction to the stamp'sofficial unveiling, "Today we honor not only a great African American but a great American. MalcolmX was one of the most charismatic and pivotal figures of our time. He was a passionate and persuasivevoice for change, and his controversial ideas helped bring race relations to a national stage.

　　"[Malcolm] X poured his energy and anger into speaking the truth about the plight of AfricanAmericans. He spoke with a rare passion and eloquence. He became a worldwide hero. A symbol ofstrength and defiance. He wasn't shy about telling us where society was going wrong.

　　["Although] it has been thirty-four years since we lost Malcolm X, his words, his voice, his vision, hisstory of transformation lives on. They have become part of us in a journey to wholeness.

　　 "We must never forget the challenge Malcolm X issued to us. 'Let us learn to live together injustice andlove.'" I had long known of the individual and cultural values that others placed on my father's life. But Iwould learn of another measurement and display of that value in the marketplace.

　　On October 2, 1992, I was on location in southern Africa producing a segment for a documentary film.

　　During a break in the day, I returned to my hotel room for my afternoon siesta.

　　This particular afternoon, I turned on my television and searched until I found a CNN broadcast.

　　Global news commentaries now became the backdrop in my room. I then pulled down the top sheetand blanket on my bed so I could rest. No sooner had my head touched the pillow, I began to fade,exchanging conscious sounds of the television for those of my inner thoughts. But in a matter ofmoments I was interrupted by the broadcaster stating, "Earlier today the Alex Haley estate auctionedoff his items. . . ." I instantly sat up and listened in disbelief. The newscast continued, "Among theitems sold was the original manuscript of _The Autobiography of Malcolm X_, with actualhandwritten notes by Malcolm X himself."I cannot possibly recapture in words how I felt at that instant. It seemed inconceivable that such apersonal and historic document could be bartered away so carelessly.

　　It was yet another loss to contend with. I was still brokenhearted about my godfather being gone, andgreatly disappointed by the decision to diminish the value of his life's contributions by way of theauction block, a symbol that he fought so hard to dismantle in the telling of _Roots_. Doubly painfulwas the fact that this bidding war included a part of me and my family with neither our permissionnor participation. Had anyone thought to offer my father's wife and children first right of refusal?

　　I jotted down as much data as possible during the news coverage and then called the legal firmhandling my godfather's estate auction in Tennessee. Although I did reach a representative, littleInformation was given over the telephone so I scheduled a subsequent call following my return to theStates.

　　During my long hours of travel across the Atlantic, I worried about how this gross display may havebeen tugging at my mother. How was she feeling about it all? As it was, she'd become increasinglybusy due to the explosion of interest about her husband, and the preparations for the release of X: TheMovie.

　　Malcolm X had been reborn during this period. It was approximately six weeks prior to the worldpremiere and my mother and I were about to embark on a press junket that was to exceed a hundred interviews-print, electronic, video-to promote the film and discuss the resurgence of Malcolm.

　　The vibrant, pop-culture marketing of the film gave people permission to claim and learn aboutMalcolm in a forum that was not threatening. For people who didn't know anything about his life,America now provided a healthier, safer atmosphere to do so. It also gave the public the freedom andopportunity to talk about Malcolm out loud, as opposed to in the murmured huddles that reflected theclimate of the previous generation.

　　So much of the public and the media were under the impression that the making of _X: The Movie_was a new venture. That its director had to battle alone, tooth and nail, on behalf of 35 million blackAmericans. Things aren't always as they seem. The components in the making of this film were verysignificant and intertwined like the main branches on a family tree. They were not to be forgotten.

　　Shortly after my father's assassination in 1965 and the publication of _The Autobiography of MalcolmX_, Marvin Worth, a friend of my father's from their teenage years, approached Alex and my motherabout making a film about my father's life. Once both agreed, Marvin brought James Baldwin onboard to write the script and Arnold Perl to modify the screenplay. During what was to take twenty-five years to realization, Marvin Worth produced the Warner Bros, documentary _El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz_. This was the first definitive film stock collection of the life of Malcolm X and it traveledextensively throughout the nation's university circuit as well as to civil rights and Afro-Americannationalist events. In the meantime, this fraternity of men worked diligently against all setbacks andodds to create a film respectfully representative of their brother, now gone-the man who, in their eyes,America had betrayed.

　　But old attitudes and distorted stubborn impressions of my father outlived Arnold Perl and JamesBaldwin. Marvin Worth was the lone torchbearer, a thorn in Hollywood's side, holding true to theinitial dream for almost twenty-five years, despite the taboo image of my father. Single-handedly,while keeping my mother abreast of all updates, he continued to commission writers again and again.

　　Marvin's tenacity was astonishing, to the dismay of many. His dedication and faithfulness were due tohis own personal loyalty to my parents and his passion for displaying onscreen the integrity andpower of my father's message.

　　In the late '70s, Marvin began to include me informally in the process of the film development. Thisbecame very cathartic for me. I accompanied him to meetings with prospective directors and writers.

　　Shortly thereafter, I began reading through different drafts submitted, and I recall him telling me,"Some of them are overwriting. They are trying to 'create' Malcolm as the hero. I just told them to startfrom scratch; if you write honestly, the hero will emerge."Those who knew Malcolm X Shabazz personally wanted to be sure that the negative myth around hismemory would be erased by portraying the truths of his mission, and the depth of his heart.

　　Finally, it was the right time. In 1991, without any further delays, the deal to make the film of my father's life came through. A long-awaited dream was to be realized. But before it made it to thescreen, we lost Alex.

　　My father, James Baldwin, Arnold Perl, and my godfather, Alex Haley, were all with us in spirit as mymother, her daughters, and Marvin Worth journeyed forth toward the final realization of this history-making film, which not only made it come to life, it ignited a cultural phenomenon.

　　During this period, total sales of _The Autobiography of Malcolm X_ reached record numbers. Nearly3 million copies have been sold worldwide. At least twenty new literary works that used my father'slife as a subject appeared on bookshelves. Young males, newly born, were being named Malcolm,Malik, and Omowale after my father. His philosophy, speeches, and life transitions were now beingadopted by a whole new generation of youngsters, internationally.

　　Adult appreciators were coming out of the closet, waving their Malcolm banners boldly. BothAmerican and foreign students utilized him as their prototype for human development, spiritualdedication, and equality.

　　Parents of the '90s were not as apprehensive as the parents of the '60s, '70s, and '80s. Instead, as theirmany letters and comments informed me, they were relieved that at a stage when their children'sdiscipline and social mores were being challenged, their son or daughter had claimed characteristicsand habits associated with Malcolm's.

　　Psychologists, professors, journalists, and critics rediscovered Malcolm X for review and generalanalysis. New documentaries unfolded, revealing film footage long existing yet previously editedfrom cultural consumption.

　　The sensations, passions, and sincerities of this black American crusader, plus his new crossover andinternational marketability, now challenged all the preceding assessments of twentieth-centuryhistorians, social experts, the media, and most pointedly our government.

　　The resurrection of Malcolm X also precipitated a new wave of unauthorized exploitation of hisimage. In the early days-the '60s, '70s, and '80s, before my father's likeness had become a licensedcommodity-my mother didn't mind the bootlegged T-shirts, cassette tapes, and framed photos beingsold at various events around the country during his birthday, Black History Month, and the like. Inthose years she felt it was one of the pulses that kept Malcolm alive on campuses, in communitycenters, and on cultural occasions. As a mother and educator, she was comforted by the thought thatsuch remembrances would enable young people to have an opportunity to be exposed to her husband,ask questions, learn, and achieve. Pass it on!

　　When people commented on the exploitation, she'd generously reply, "It's love that's making them dothis for my husband."On the other hand, if the intentions of the merchant were not honorable, you'd better believe that she'd be heading in their direction to inform them of their malfeasance and impropriety. It was imperativeto my mother that the memory of her husband be respected with the honor she knew he deserved. Itwas not okay to mistreat her husband. _Not okay_. In his absence, for more than thirty years, shetirelessly guarded his legacy and fought to ensure that his ideology was clear. For her, it was essentialthat if she was going to lose her lifemate to the struggle, then those for whom he had struggled mustbe educated. They must be made aware of the conviction, dedication, and sacrifices he made on behalfof his faith in humanity and his mission to unite us as one community, certain of our inherent right toour own destiny. My mother took note of anyone who maligned any characteristic of her husband oranything associated with him.

　　To my mother, Malcolm X Shabazz was reserved for herself, her children, and the many persons,young and mature, who have been fortified, caressed, and inspired to employ aspects of my father'slife lessons and personal discoveries as a bridge to their own inner strength and as a foundation fortheir "personhood.""Personhood" is a word I first heard as I listened to the eloquence of Brother Randall Robinson,president of the TransAfrica Forum, during his remarks at the Apollo commemoration. While he is ageneration younger than my father, both he and his elder brother Max always symbolized a genuineand authentic continuity throughout the struggle. They are men of their word, like Haki Madhubuti,Kweisi Mfume, and Danny Glover-the few in their generation who say it, mean it, and live it. ThankGod for them as they continue to make certain that my father's beat goes on.

　　"I grew up in the Old South in Richmond, Virginia," said Brother Randall Robinson.

　　"I am one of the unfortunate millions who never knew or met Malcolm X.

　　"So perhaps I can presume to speak for those millions like me, then and now, when I say that MalcolmX was a shining model for a new, whole, and proud black personhood.

　　"_Before_ we in the South could see through the mean veil of Southern segregation-there was MalcolmX.

　　"_Before_ we could function beyond the humiliation of Southern bigotry-there was Malcolm X.

　　"_Before_ we could come to know Africa's glorious past-there was Malcolm X.

　　"_Before_ we could find our self-esteem and self-respect-there was Malcolm X.

　　"And we owe him so dearly in ways our young must never be allowed to forget.

　　"Where we have now the very possibility of courage-we _owe_ Malcolm X.

　　"Where we have the wisdom to search for our history before the Atlantic slave trade-we _owe_ Malcolm X.

　　"Where we have the political integrity to simply stand for something because it is right-we _owe_Malcolm X.

　　"It is not often that an American government institution honors those who embody a whole anduncompromised truth. But today is one such rare occasion. And I will keep it in my heart for the restof my life." At that moment, Brother Robinson spoke for all of us, and I will forever carry in my heart thesincerities of that ceremony. In particular, I will remember that as my five younger sisters and Igathered onstage for Harry Belafonte's closing remarks, I remained full. As I listened to the final notessung by the Boys Choir of Harlem their song's message still lingered in my heart: "All black boys areborn of heroes."I thought of my father and his parents, my mother and her parents, each family's respective lineageand history of participation in social movements-Garvey on one side and Booker T. Washington on theother. I thought of my sisters and I standing there, parentless, yet in constant celebration of ourparents' lives. We are blessed every day by the union and the victorious sojourns that Malcolm XShabazz and his beloved Betty Saunders Shabazz shared on this earth.

　　When I first realized that my mother wouldn't be here to witness her husband's likeness beingunveiled on a United States postal stamp, after participating in the initial discussions, a lonely tearbegan to slip down my cheek. But then it dawned on me that she wasn't missing the occasion. In fact,she had the best seat in the house. She is now where she longed to be. Beside her husband. Andtogether they are toasting our healthy continuance and productive lives.

　　As their eldest, I have pledged time and again to care for their daughters, my younger sisters, in theirmemory, in their honor, and with their celestial guidance.

　　When the curtain descends on this current wave of attention and the thematic celebrations cool down,my sisters and I will remain proud. Proud of a man and his wife, proud of a cause and a heartbeat thatwas a metronome for us long before the crossover audience considered them worthy of praise. We, theShabazz daughters and our children, will forever be nurtured by our legacy.

　　My inherent idealism yearns for the issuance of the commemorative stamp and the living document of_The Autobiography of Malcolm X_ to continue to bridge ignorance with insight, and despondencywith hope. It is essential for people to trust-even through long periods when dreams may appear tohave been deferred, delayed, and overshadowed-that there comes a time when an unwavering will, astrong belief, and endless prayers bring great visions to realization.

　　 _The Autobiography of Malcolm X_ is evidence of one man's will and belief in prayer and purpose. Asyou read my father's autobiography, whether for the first time or after a long absence, it is my hopethat you will come to know him foremost as a man. A man who lived to serve-initially a specificpeople, then a nation, and eventually all people of the world. Some have said that my father wasahead of his time, but the truth is he was on time and perhaps we were late. I trust that through hiswords we may come to honor and respect all members of the human family as he did. In closing, Ioffer you my father's own words: "One day, may we all meet together in the light of understanding."M. S. HANDLER