MLK’s Telegram to Malcolm X’s Widow: A Tribute to a Complex Bond

On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City, sending shockwaves through the Civil Rights Movement. Among the many voices paying tribute was Martin Luther King Jr., who sent a heartfelt telegram to Malcolm’s widow, Betty Shabazz. King acknowledged their differing approaches, writing, “While we did not always see eye to eye on methods to solve the race problem, I always had a deep affection for Malcolm and felt that he had the great ability to put his finger on the existence and root of the problem.”

Their relationship was as nuanced as their philosophies. King championed nonviolent resistance, while Malcolm X advocated for achieving equality “by any means necessary.” Despite this divide, Malcolm sought collaboration, inviting King to address a rally in 1963 and later proposing a joint effort to counter the Ku Klux Klan. While their partnership remained unrealized, Coretta Scott King later reflected that the two leaders likely would have grown closer, uniting in their shared vision of Black liberation and pride.

The telegram stands as a testament to the mutual respect and shared mission of these iconic leaders, illustrating that even amidst profound ideological differences, the ultimate goal of justice and equality can forge connections that endure.
Adapted from Vox: MLK and Malcolm X Telegrams