Celebrating 250 with Martin and Malcolm (neither of whom made it to 40)

This painting of Malcolm X was done by the late Robert Templeton, part of his collection called “Les

Caption No. 1: My friend Calvin Hill and I standing at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washi

In America’s almost 250-year history, you would be hard-pressed to find a more double-edged period than the ten months and five days between August 28, 1963 and July 2, 1964.

Those bookends are moments of shimmering hope: the March on Washington and the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, times when a multiracial democracy really seemed possible. 

In between was an avalanche of anguish. There was the assassination of President Kennedy, of course, on November 22, 1963. Also the twin horrors of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham on September 15, 1963 that killed four Black girls in white dresses, and the murder of three civil rights workers to kick off “Freedom Summer” in Mississippi on June 21, 1964.The time period was loaded with all sorts of American drama. Among many other things, these days included the arrival of the Beatles; the crowning of a new heavyweight champion (known as Cassius Clay, and then—days later—as Muhammad Ali); the debut of both Jeopardy and the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue; and the release of plans for new buildings in New York: the World Trade Center.

Also, this stretch encompassed what I consider to be the great under-told story of American Civil Rights in the nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine, Florida.Beyond that, this bittersweet expanse of time showcased Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X at the prime of their amazing American lives. Both men delivered their most famous speeches: “I Have a Dream” and “The Ballot or the Bullet.” Both came under attack from powerful forces: King from ravenous FBI surveillance; Malcolm from the Nation of Islam after he broke with the group and its leader, Elijah Muhammad.

During this time, the two men had the one and only meeting of their lives, a quick encounter as the U.S. Senate began debate on the Civil Rights Act on March 26, 1964.

On March 26, 1964, King and Malcolm met for the only time in their star-crossed lives.

And as you can read in my new book (Original City, Original Sin: King, the Klan, and the Fight for Civil Rights in St. Augustine, Florida), there was almost a second meeting that had the potential to change American history.

Today, June 30, is the 62nd anniversary of a famous telegram from Malcolm to Martin that speaks volumes about these two men…and about our country.