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Wednesday, April 14, 2010 | 8:27am
SOUND OFF: Should Malcolm X’s Paroled Assassin Be Released From Prison?
Confessed Assassin of Malcolm X, Talmadge Hayer has been paroled and slated to be released within 2 weeks
#MalcolmX #Talmadge Hayer #Thomas Hagen
Most of, if not the entire, Highbrid Nation is too young to have remembered the Assassination of Malcolm X but his legacy and tragic demise still had a profound impact on our generation and driving force for change, like that realized on Election Day of 2008. And although we appropriately focus on the life and legacy of the man we tend to forget or even never learned exactly what happened to his assassins.
Talmadge Hayer (also Known as Thomas Hagen) to this day was the only assassin ever captured, tried or convicted in connection with the murder after admitting being one of the many to have fired shots at Malcolm’s body that fateful February 21, 1965 at Harlem’s Audubon Ballroom. Since his incarceration he has admitted his role what he described as one of the “greatest crimes against our people” and has named Benjamin Thomas, Wilbur McKinley, William Bradley and Leon Davis as his accomplices. As with any true conspiracy however, none of the others were ever convicted or even charged in connection with the event.
HOWEVER, on March 3rd 2010, Hayer was very quietly granted parole and is slated to be release from the NY State prison system on April 28th. As you might imagine. Many people are up in arms about this. Today, the Malcolm X Commemoration Committee (MXCC) will host a press conference condemning the pending release of Hayer at the then Audobon Ballroom (now Shabazz Center remodeled to preserve Malcolm’s memory.)
So let the debate begin! SOUND OFF? should the man (at least in part) responsible for one of the most horrific assassinations in African American history be released from jail despite serving almost 45 years in prison?
FILED IN Editorials, News
First, let me say that reading the autbiography of Malcolm X, in 1992, inspired me to change my life and I have received many blessings, too many to list here, from that change…..I believe in the death penalty. When there is a confession, video, audio proof that someone is guilty of murder, that person should die also…..thus, to me, his parole is irrelevant. He killed Malcolm 45 years ago. He also should have not taken another breath then.
Interesting. I can’t say I believe in the Death penalty but I think he didn’t just take any man from this earth.
The problem with the death penalty is that racism and classism are at the core of the “justice” system. Thus, it has been disproportionally and unfairly applied throughout the years…I like Sam Jackson’s brand of justice in “A Time To Kill.”
When you consider how many other folks were involved, his release won’t make things any worse than they already are. In fact, the injustice revolving around Emmett Till’s murder is the one that upsets me even more. But only a fool would tell you that those men were the only ones capable of doing that. Even my 9 year old niece can speculate that multiple parties were involved in the assassination of Bro. Malcolm.
You and I are religious men, so you know that Bro. Talmadge has another judge to face, one that can’t be corrupted. (GREAT POST)
Thanks! I think you’re absolutely right. We tend to forget Emmett Till but he some would conclude was the first martyr of the civil rights movement. Thanks for bringing that up. He as an EVERY MAN represents the Highbrid Nation more than Bro. Malcolm or Dr. King. They were targets because of their power and message. Till could have been any one of us. Excellent point.
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You’re right Talmadge will meet his maker and face the ultimate court. Wow what an interview would THAT be?
He should stay in Jail and another investigation should be done. There are many still alive today who had a role in this. Many are fat and happy within the Nation of Islam. Blood on their hands.
ABSOLUTELY!!
This remains ESPECIALLY heinous because of how it occured, not one but many who betrayed not only another human being, but another brother; Without mentioning that it was one of their own faith. It is a FAR GREATER travesty and miscarriage of justice that persons who conspired to murder did so under THIS governments FULL knowledge and CONDONEMENT! But then, when openly caught speaking on it and confronted, to deny even the VERY KNOWLEDGE OF it, and on National Networks, is ABSOLUTELY inexcusable. NO….HE ADMITTED THAT HE CALLED MIN MALCOLM, IT’S CAPITAL MURDER, HE TOOK A LIFE, WHAT’S LEFT OF HIS SHOULD BE SPENT PAYING FOR THAT LIFE.
He should stay in Jail and another investigation should be done. There are many still alive today who had a role in this. Many are fat and happy within the Nation of Islam. Blood on their hands. I agree, good post.
He should stay in Jail and another investigation should be done. There are many still alive today who had a role in this. Many are fat and happy within the Nation of Islam. Blood on their hands. I agree, good post.
In the late 80′s and early 90′s I was inspired by such groups as Public Enemy, X Clan, and A Tribe called Quest to read the Autobiography of Malcolm X…it should be required reading in the school system in my personal opinion, but I digress. If I was Thomas Hagen I wouldn’t be excited about parole, I’d be worried, for he might fall victim to the same fate as Malcolm.
I agree with you about the Autobiography btw. I think it was one of the first books I read cover to cover as a kid that I was required to do so for school.
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Interesting point Jungle about thinking he might fall victim to the same fate. Do you really think while I’m sure folks are still angry that there would be that much of an effort to take his life at this point? Interesting.
I think it’s a possibility, considering he was the one, along with others, who had a hand in killing Malcolm. He’s had the opportunity to think about his crime from the confines of his prison cell, he hasn’t had the opportunity to think about his crime within society as a free man.
if he did his time, then yea..let him out. simple. on to the next one.
Wrong, Kill his ass !!! To murder 1 of the most influential political leaders of the 20th century as well as African Americans how darw they let this Bitch made murderer out . If it were 2pac or Biggie all of u would be like “Fry em” I was not around or thought of when Brother MALCOLM X was Spitting game 2 AmeriKKKa and the UnKKKle Tom’s of this KKKuntry.
Malcolm X is 1 of my many inspirations and if he were around now he would be ashamed of us as a whole how we h8 on each other as a people and kill each other over nothing, women, material shit some damn Air Jordan’s really?!!This is what these wonderful people n the Civil Rights Era fought and died 4 .Both Martin and Malcolm were brilliant leaders but I would have to roll with Malcolm on this 1 .What Martin did was very noble with his non violent stand . We need more of these leaders not the fake leadres who just want 2 march and march and more marching.I know I am getting off the subject but we as Blacks are so damn passive 2 the oppressor aka AmeriKKKlans we are happy to help them hurt hate or kill 1 of us. So 2 answer should Malcolm X murderer be set free ask yourself if it was your father or mother would u want them set free? He is still someones father also. Long live Minsiter Malcolm X.
I agree. Which is why, even though it is against the ‘rules’, I prefer Malcolm to Dr King.
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First: He had enough character to change his philosophy when he thought that it needed changing. He put his reputation and literally his life on the line by changing his path, and he did so for no other reason that in his heart he thought that it was the most moral thing to do. We don’t have enough of that in this world.
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Second: he’s one of the few leaders whose personal life doesn’t disappoint us. With all of the leaders we have seen who preach one thing in public and live another thing in private, he is one of the few leaders we have seen whose personal life was spotless. He didn’t steal church money, he didn’t enrich himself; he didn’t screw around on his wife. 40 years later, and his reputation is still spotless.
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Third, and more to the point: He preached the philosophy of DO and not WAIT. Where Dr King, like Gandhi, followed the plan where you endure until your oppressor discovers shame, Malcolm’s philosophy was more of ‘get off your ass and do something about it.’
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Any philosophy that preaches strength, self-control and an unwillingness to compromise on the important things is all right with me.
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As for his murderers: This was not a crime of passion. It wasn’t some guy in a bar fight that accidently pushes someone through a window to their death; this was an organized, cold-blooded stalking. You have plenty of time to consider the consequences as you are planning. You want to do the crime, do the time. Let ‘em rot.
Well said Brother Malcolm . I am so glad I found out about this Leader who has influenced so many people . He gets over looked because of MLK AND OTHER leaders .He’s personal life and professional life matched perfect as u stated . He also admitted to being wrong about the way he went about somethings 4 xxxample following man as he did with the Leader of the Nation of Islam.He had the courage and heart 2 say I was wrong . What other Leader in the last few centuries has ever admitted some of their philosophies were wrong? Plus he was the actual blue print 4 the Black Panther Party as well.The man who killed or helped kill Malcolm X should die the same way Malcolm X did ….hell give me the gun I will do it.
“Any philosophy that preaches strength, self-control and an unwillingness to compromise on the important things is all right with me.” Exactly what philosophy did Bro. Malcolm change? or are you going to reiterate the same old misinformation that when he went on his SECOND pilgrimage to Mecca, he saw that there were also white muslims (as though they all hid when he went the first time, or as though he was ignorant and never realized there could be white muslims)…Let’s not forget that Bro. Malcolm was a drug addict and dealer, a numbers runner, a stick-up kid and just an overall thug (Detroit Red) when he read the teachings of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad while in the Pen and changed his life…The most feared man in America was The Hon. Elijah Muhammad and to some extent Bro. Malcolm, who was his mouthpiece, but many were enamored by his eloquence, his presence and his looks, so they were drawn to him, but most importantly the message (which was not his message, but Mr. Muhammad’s message). After the “fallout” with the NOI, he wanted to form a separate organization where he could attract a different stream of funding and supporters (including supporters of different ethnicities), that way they could combat the same problem from different angles. The ruling powers (J. Edgar Hoover as the front man) would not let this happen and he was murdered.
Any selfrespecting Black person in America should make it their job to make sure this piece of crap is miserable for the rest of his sorry life.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to injustice everywhere”-MLK Jr.
I encourage all people to accept El-hajj Malik El-shabazz as who he was when he died. We continue calling him “Malcolm X”, falling into media hype of remembering him in that one phase of his life.
Let the man rot or live does not matter. He will have to answer to the highest and only true judge. Perhaps he done what he was put here to do perhaps not. Either way. Malcolm has opened my eyes as a young black man and like others I am experiencing a lot of positive change.
Despite the fact they murdered brother Malcolm, his message remains and keeps resounding and changing the world. Obama became president because of what they started and now the world is going through a change for equality around th world.
It is up to us to live by God and heed the words of Allah/God sent via it’s prophets.