Shirley Graham Du Bois's "The Beginning, Not the End," radio address given over Ghana Radio, 17 March 1965

In a speech before the American Foreign Service Association in Washington, Carl Rowan, Director of the United States Information Agency, characterized Malcolm X as only "an ex-convict," "ex-dope peddler," and a "racial fanatic." This Negro, Rowan, expressed his amazement that many Africans respected and admired Malcolm X. He stressed that his agency-the United States Information Agency in every country-must "correct" this lack of understanding by zealously disseminating the vilification and slanders of the U.S. press, designed to obliterate every memory of our slain brother.

Malcolm X left Ghana for the United States with the song of unity on his lips. His Organization of Afro-American Unity is a second OAU. "In union there is strength!" He said it loud and clear. And discouraged, oppressed people of America, north and south, east and west, heard his voice and were glad.

So, on a bright Sunday afternoon in the much advertised Brotherhood Week, that voice was silenced. The last words they heard as his bullet-riddled body staggered forward were: PEACE! BE CALM!

To an amazing extent the people of Harlem heeded Malcolm's dying injunction, and for the first time I know of, Afro-American newspapers separated themselves from the powerful, ruling white press. Wrote the Amsterdam News, New York's largest Afro-American newspaper: "From the moment of Malcolm's death at 3:30 P.M., February 21, until late Saturday, Harlem remained under a virtual police siege as hundreds of extra cops were rushed into the area. They lined the rooftops, searched people on the streets, and blocked street corners. It was perhaps the tensest week in the community's history."

Disregarding controls and pressures, heedless of economic reprisals and castigations, a united Afro-American press had mourned the death of Malcolm X. Wrote the Herald-Dispatch of Los Angeles:

When Malcolm X dies, a little bit of thirty million Negroes dies with him.... And finally, Malcolm X, the young man whose thirst for knowledge was comparable only to that of a camel's thirst for water after a long trek over the desert, was the most promising and effective leader of American Negroes in this century. Could the Black Muslim have influenced Charles de Gaulle to prevent Malcolm X from entering Paris to speak? The order of President de Gaulle came from top-level State Department officials. Malcolm X was in Los Angeles ten days ago organizing throughout this nation to teach black people unity, organization, and authentic Islam. Malcolm X was assassinated because he was teaching the black man the Arab is your brother. "Don't fight the Arab! Don't allow yourself to be drawn in a bloody war in the Middle East, which is inevitable!" Malcolm X died because of this teaching. But there are a thousand other Malcolms. They will rise! A thousand Malcolms will carry on the battle.

New York dailies and radio mocked the funeral of Malcolm X. "The expected crowds did not show up," they jeered; "empty seats for foreign visitors who failed to materialize," and so forth. I give you excerpts from an account of the Afro-American press:

Despite that the white linen robes of a Muslim, his head facing the east in accordance with Islamic tradition, Malcolm X, militant black nationalist leader, was laid to rest Saturday in a quiet ceremony in Ferncliff Cemetery as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz.

...An estimated 30,000 persons from all walks of life in the metropolitan area had walked or waited in line at the Unity Funeral Home last week to view the remains of one of the nation's most articulate critics of the white power structure in what funeral director Joseph Hall said was the largest funeral in Harlem's colorful history. Late Friday, the viewing was halted while Sheik Ahmed Hassoun Jaaber, who came here from Egypt with Malcolm to assist in organizing the Mosque, prepared the slain Malcolm's body for burial....

Only the Afro-American press gave the full text of the eulogy delivered by Ossie Davis, foremost Afro-American playwright and actor-director.

Only Afro-American papers printed Osagyefo's message of condolence, which was read at the funeral. From the solitude of the wilderness, Osagyefo wrote:

I have received with profound shock the news of the death of your husband at the hand of assassins. Your husband lived a life of dedication for human equality and dignity so that the Afro-American and people of color everywhere may live as men. His work in the cause of freedom will not be in vain....

As Malcolm was leaving Accra for the United States three months ago some of us warned him that his life would be in danger. He smiled that gentle smile, that unforgettable smile, and said, "Your president, Osagyefo, has taught me the true meaning and strength of unity. If I can pass this on my people, if I can show them the way-my life will be a small price to pay for such a vision."

Malcolm has paid this price! And in the unanimous coming together of Afro-American press one glimpses the beginning of Malcolm X's victory.

He may well rest in peace! A salaam Alaikum!

(From Shirley Graham Du Bois, "The Beginning, Not the End," in J. Clarke, Malcolm X: The Man and His Times (Africa World Press, 1990), pp. 125-27. Reprinted with permission.)