MALCOLM X BREAKS WITH THE BLACK MUSLIMS by Petor Wilkins
On March 8 Malcolm X announced that he had broken with lijah Muhammad's "Nation of Islam" movement and is establishing a new black nationalist party. Malcolm X had hithorto beon the most prominent leader of the Black Muslims after the Prophot himself, “I romain a Muslim" Malcolm X said, “but the main omphasis of the new movement will be Black Nationalism as a political concept and form of social action against tho white oppressors. During my 90 days of silence" (imposed on Malcolm X by Ifuhammed after his applause of Konnedy's assassination) "T have reached the conclusion that I can best spread Mr. Ifuhammed's message by staying out of the Nation of Islam." “Uxplaining his reason for stepping out of Elijah “Muhammed's family controljed organ cation. Malcolm KX said the movemont as constituted and oriented had “gone as far as it can" bocause it was too narrowly sectarian and too inhibited to assume its responsibilities in the nation's social struggles.
The present size of tho Ituslim movomont is difficult to estimate - though the figure of 100,000 members is sometimes mentioned. It is undoubtedly the most influontial of the Negro movements among the Negro working class - it is also one of the most militant...lalcolm X has further said thzt the main of his new party will bo to convert the Negro population from nonviolence to active self-defence against white supremacists in all parts of the country.