I Never Had It Made

Although Robinson refers to Malcolm X as someone who “projected a great image for young black kids who needed virile black males to emulate” (176), he had sharp differences with him over many issues. In fact, Robinson also credits Malcolm as being one who always said what he believed in and was speaking the truth about many of the problems black Americans face. Robinson argues, however, “it was in our approach to solutions that we differed radically” (180). Whereas Robinson believed in non-violent civil rights protest and reform in the mold of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm’s message was more radical and was a proponent of the black separatist movement.

In 1963, two years before his assassination, Malcolm criticized Dr. Ralph Bunche, the Undersecretary to the United Nations, for not speaking out more on racial issues. As one who had great respect for Bunche, Robinson came to his defense in his syndicated column. This resulted in a letter-writing back-and-forth between the two men, and what Robinson describes as “only one of several encounters” (179) between them. Despite this difference of opinion from 1963, Robinson concludes the chapter by offering words of praise for Malcolm in the way that some of his opinions softened following his historic pilgrimage to Mecca.