Study Questions

1. Why does Betty have an argument with Malcolm?

2. In 1962, Malcolm refers to a “climate of hate” in the United States. What specific incidents is he speaking about?

3. Where do Malcolm and Muhammad make their last public appearance together?

4. How did Elijah Muhammad allegedly betray the Nation of Islam’s strict moral code?

5. What does Malcolm do to find out the truth about Elijah Muhammad’s alleged misconduct?

6. What directives are Muslim ministers given in response to the assassination of President John Kennedy?

7. How does Malcolm respond when asked his opinion about President Kennedy’s assassination?

8. Whom does Malcolm depend on for spiritual strength during his suspension from the Nation of Islam?

9. How does Malcolm think black people can gain political influence?

10. Who helps Malcolm finance his pilgrimage to Mecca?

Answers

1. Betty has an argument with Malcolm because she wants him to consider his family more and put away money for the future.

2. The specific incidents that Malcolm refers to are the assassination of N.A.A.C.P. (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) Field Secretary Medgar Evers in Mississippi, and the bombing of a black Christian church that killed four young black girls.

3. Malcolm and Elijah Muhammad made their last public appearance together at a rally in Philadelphia.

4. Elijah Muhammad allegedly betrayed the Nation of Islam’s strict moral code by committing adultery with two of his secretaries.

5. To find out the truth about Elijah Muhammad’s alleged misconduct, Malcolm looks up and talks with three of Muhammad’s former secretaries.

6. Muslim ministers were given the directive to make no remarks concerning the assassination of President Kennedy. They were told that if they were pressed for an answer, to respond by saying, “No comment.”

7. Malcolm responds that he saw the assassination as a case of “the chickens coming home to roost.”

8. Malcolm depends on Betty for spiritual strength during his suspension.

9. Malcolm thinks black people can gain political influence by creating a black voting bloc, which would contain ten million voting black citizens.

10. Ella helps Malcolm finance his pilgrimage to Mecca.