Farrakhan Admits Spreading Ideas That Led to Malcolm X’s Slaying

WASHINGTON — Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan says Malcolm X would be “so much more valuable” were he alive today, but admits helping create “the atmosphere” that encouraged assassins to kill the Muslim activist.

In an interview that aired Friday night on ABC-TV’s “20/20,” Farrakhan said he was angry with Malcolm X for splitting with Nation of Islam founder Elijah Muhammad and publicly criticizing him.

“I was very angry with Malcolm for what Malcolm had done. I was hurt by his assassination,” Farrakhan said. “ . . . But today, looking back, Malcolm would be so much more valuable to us alive.”

Malcolm X’s widow, Betty Shabazz, said recently that she believes Farrakhan had some role in her husband’s murder in 1965.

Farrakhan denied that, but admitted fueling anti-Malcolm sentiment with an article published in Muhammad Speaks, the Nation of Islam’s newspaper, shortly before the assassination.

That article said, in part: “The die is set and Malcolm shall not escape. Such a man as Malcolm is worthy of death.”

“Betty Shabazz never said that Farrakhan was a plotter in the death of Malcolm. But she said that Farrakhan helped to create the atmosphere,” he said. “And that I can agree with.”

Farrakhan also said he stands by “truths” about Jews articulated by his former national assistant, Khallid Muhammad. Muhammad was denounced for a speech in which he called Jews “bloodsuckers of the black community,” and Farrakhan removed him from his job.