The Judas Factor: The Plot to Kill Malcolm X

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Misleadingly titled, this book promises more than it delivers. Though a highly readable history of Malcolm X and the black nationalist movement, as an investigation it offers only circumstantial evidence--with relatively few new revelatons--about the role government security agents played in the events leading to Malcolm's assassination on Feb. 21, 1965. Freelance writer Evanzz, drawing on FBI files and a wide range of other sources, correctly criticizes the FBI's hasty conclusion that Malcolm's murder had no ``international implications.'' Yet the facts that the FBI harassed Black Muslims and infiltrated the organization and that the CIA targeted Third World leaders like Fidel Castro and Patrice Lumumba do not necessarily justify Evanzz's conclusion that the intelligence community ``probably'' decided to kill Malcolm because of his plans to bring the plight of ``the American Negro'' before the United Nations. Evanzz tends to preface his chapters with portentous quotes that suggest he will reach more solid conclusions than he does. Photos not seen by PW. 40,000 first printing. (Dec.)

Library Journal

While the authors of these two studies of the assassination of Malcolm X have examined the same primary source materials, they have arrived at opposite conclusions. Evanzz is a journalist who spent 15 years researching the case; Friedly is a researcher at the Martin Luther King Jr. Papers Project at Stanford University. Evanzz builds a strong case for the conspiracy theory, while Friedly gives it very little credence. Evanzz also delves more deeply into African American history and has interviewed over 200 individuals involved in the Black Power Movement. The ``Judas'' Evanzz refers to is John Ali, whom he concludes conspired with the CIA to assassinate his former friend. Friedly points out, however, that the New York City Police Department did a poor job of protecting Malcolm X and has yet to release its files of the case. Both authors clearly show that the CIA and FBI were concerned about Malcolm X's growing power, especially after he and Elijah Muhammad had gone their separate ways. The FBI was worried that Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were going to join forces, while the CIA was concerned about Malcolm X's visits to African leaders and what this might mean for American race relations. Since Evanzz and Friedly had access to more sources than previous authors, their studies add new insights into Malcolm X's life, death, and role in African American history. Both titles are essential for most libraries. Previewed in ``Malcolm X: By Any Book Necessary,'' LJ 10/15/92.--Ed.-- Gary D. Barber, SUNY at Fredonia Lib.