In 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected president of the United States. This accomplishment was seen as a promising administration. During the campaign he had promised to lead the country down the right path with the civil rights movement. This campaign promise had brought hope to many African-Americans throughout the nation. Ever since Lincoln, African-Americans have tended to side with the democrats and this year was no different. The Kennedy administration had noticed that the key to the presidency was partially the civil rights issue. While many citizens were on Kennedy’s side, he owned his share of opposition. Malcolm X differed on the common view of the President and observed that the civil rights movement wasn’t happening in the speed Kennedy pledged. Malcolm X possessed other reasons for his dislike of John F. Kennedy and his brothers, especially Robert. The Kennedy government stood for racial liberalism and Malcolm X argued their true intentions for the civil rights movement weren’t in the best interest of the black population. This tension streamed both ways. John Kennedy and the Federal Bureau of Investigation felt that Malcolm had become a threat to national security. James Baldwin has written essays that have included the repeated attacks on the white liberal and supports Malcolm in many of his theories and actions.

Malcolm X had been a very influential speaker in his day and delivered speeches to numerous crowds

Kennedy developed a fear of what Malcolm could do to the country and Malcolm developed a hatred for the whole Kennedy administration. He felt that the government consisted of racial liberals and Malcolm did not like the “liberal” side of the politicians. In fact he held them in great contempt. Malcolm realized that Kennedy would never give him an opportunity to take part in the talks with other Black leaders. Malcolm searched for opponents to debate in the race issue and only found one, James Farmer. Farmer was a great leader during the Civil Rights Movement. He was a founder of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). The purpose of CORE at the time was “ to achieve racial integration in public accommodations through direct but nonviolent actions,” (Jenkins 216). This description of Farmer displays the fact that he is on the same side as Baldwin, not Malcolm. Like Baldwin, Farmer did have respect for Malcolm and even agreed with some of his ideals. Farmer was an excellent public speaker and debater. As Jenkins observes, “Malcolm, normally the attacker and critic, was thus put on the defensive for the first time in his career as a spokesman for the Nation of Islam, and Farmer became the only integrationist ever to make Malcolm appear unsure of himself and his message in public” (216-217). This encounter had forced Malcolm to realize that he had respect for a civil rights leader. Malcolm would not have thought this to be possible as he had much contempt for the leaders claiming they are only adhering to the white policy. Farmer and Malcolm had become friends after that famous debate up until Farmer divorced his black wife to marry a white woman. “As Malcolm put it, Farmer was now nearly white” (Jenkins 217). Malcolm now saw Farmer as being no different that whites (Jenkins 217). The white side wasn’t Malcolm’s side so he had lost much of the respect for Farmer that he once held.

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Malcolm now held Farmer in contempt with all the other leaders of the civil rights movement. These leaders seemed to be on Kennedy’s side and that was not acceptable to Malcolm. He observed Kennedy in a different light than many other African-Americans. The majority of the black community felt that the Kennedy administration would finally put an end to the race issue still going strong in America. Why would they believe a white man would do this for them? Well, Kennedy promised them he would help to douse the fire of racism. Promises are only that, as anyone knows. ...

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