Session: 1234567891011121314         Page 704705706707708709710711712713714715716717718719720721722723724725726727728729730731732733734735736737738739740741742743744745746747748749750751752753754755756757758759760761762763 of 763

That was the implication. Now, I have from a black political leader the viewpoint that Malcolm X was the creation of the media, but not in the way that you just responded to my statement. He attributed it to Alex Haley's Playboy interview with Malcolm and then the subsequent autobiography of Malcolm X. He said this was the medium that made Malcolm X a national figure, that got him invited to university campuses, and so forth, and of course triggered off the other media publicity. But it was that specific medium, the autobiography, whether it was the interview in Playboy or the subsequent book. What would be your response to that.

I think that's too simplistic. Malcolm was being interviewed on radio and television, I think before the autobiography. In fact, I have a book here that was a transcript of an interview which I had with Malcolm in 1963. That's it. Before 1963, and I think the autobiography came out after that time, I'm not sure. But anyway, Malcolm was making a statement to the public reinforced through media, I think before the Playboy interview. But I don't think that the Playboy interview or the autobiography triggered the public awareness or discussion of Malcolm. It may have come around at the same time.

Would you say that it might have been concomitant with the increasing national coverage given to civil rights--

Yes.