May 9, 1964 - James 3X (pictured), the new Black Muslim minister in charge of the New York section of the movement, scoffed today at reports that have linked Black Muslims to teenage Harlem groups that attack whites.
James 3X, born James Russell McGregor, was recently appointed by Elijah Muhammad to replace Malcolm X, who withdrew to lead a more broadly based, nonsectarian black nationalist movement in the United States.
The reports cited by James 3X have usually stressed that it has been dissident Black Muslims who have been linked with the anti-white gangs.
“Anyone who knows anything about the Black Muslim movement is aware that Elijah Muhammad opposes the use of violence as an instrument of policy,” he declared. “Our policy is to defend ourselves if attacked.”
“Elijah Muhammad,” he continued, “has also expressly forbidden the possession, ownership, and use of firearms under any circumstances because the possession of firearms can be a terrible temptation to use them.
“We would not participate even in a street brawl between blacks and whites. Any police department in the country will tell you there is a smaller rate of crime among the Black Muslims than even among the white people.”
In James’s view, “the condition of life in Harlem had to materialize in violence.” The minister declared that whites “brought this violence upon themselves because they cannot live with the Negroes and don’t want to live without them, as Elijah Muhammad advocates.”
James also blames the integrationist movements led by such men as Dr. Martin Luther King and Roy Wilkins.
“The civil rights leaders have stirred up a tiger, but the Negro people have nothing,” he said. “The civil rights leaders are riding this tiger because they have lost control of the Negro people. Marching, jailing, sit-ins have only drained the energies and resources of the Negro people.”
“The situation is serious,” James said. “We don’t want to see needless bloodshed. The Government should provide work and land to prevent the idle, pent-up emotions from exploding.”
Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s
Comments