Clarence Lang

Well, here's the thing that, you know, he's paroled in 1952.

At the time, the Nation of Islam is still a very small organization.

We should be clear about that.

But Malcolm, he commits to his work in the Nation of Islam with the same level of focus and energy that he had committed to his studies.

And in fact, he had committed to his previous life of crime.

And he becomes a tireless organizer.

He goes around helping to rebuild, to revitalize, in some cases, creating new temples.

And in a short period of time, this small, largely unknown organization, and he helps to make it, by the end of that decade,

a major force within Black America, ideologically and politically.

So that even individuals who are not interested in joining the Nation of Islam because of the strict dietary rules of comportment and dress could not see themselves joining, were nevertheless attracted to Malcolm and his teachings on behalf of the Nations of Islam and Elijah Muhammad.

This gets the attention of national media, so there's a major

television program hosted by Mike Wallace.

The Hate That Hate Produced is what it's called.

That helps to introduce the Nation of Islam to a broad national audience.

And it's in that context that Malcolm begins to become a national spokesman and figure and is eventually named a national spokesman for the Nation of Islam.

He is situated at the very important Temple No.

7 in Harlem.

And that's done intentionally because Elijah Muhammad realizes, recognizes the skills, the tireless organizing that Malcolm has committed himself to, to organizing the group.

Thank you for that question.

So part of the worldview of the Nation of Islam was that they were basically lost in the wilderness, without a name, in a sense.