Farrakhan on Betty & Coretta Mary J. Blige and Lifetime TV’s Mis-Education
(Note: The following are responses by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan to a few questions and statements posed to him via social media related to the Lifetime movie “Betty and Coretta”.)
Question: “Why do you think Lifetime, and those who created this movie, is opening up the old wounds of The Malcolm X Murder at this time?”
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan (HMLF): It is because the murder of Malcolm X is still alive in the hearts and minds of many, and they wish to charge me with that crime in order to seek to destroy my reputation with the people that love and admire me. And also, to plant the seed in the hearts of those who don’t know me that I am, in fact, a “murderer.”
Question: “What do you think the motive of Mary J. Blige is in being an ‘executive producer’ when I hear that she likes you?”
HMLF: I cannot answer for Mary J. Blige except to say that when a person is famous or well-known, sometimes they will give such person “executive producer status” to add to the strength of the film.
Mary J. Blige is my friend! And nothing that’s in this movie has diminished my love and respect for her.
Question: “What would be your message to the younger generation who is watching Betty & Coretta who do not know anything about what happened, and is being educated—or, mis-educated—by Lifetime?”
HMLF: The first thing that our young people should understand, that there is no statute of limitation on “murder.”
In two years, it will be 50 years since the assassination of Brother Malcolm: At no time during these 48 years has the government opened the files on that murder of Brother Malcolm, and let the public see those files.
I have appealed to the government to open the files, so that everything in those files could be made manifest, not only to the Shabazz family, and the families of those so ill-affected by his murder—but also my family, and the lives that are constantly put in the public.
Question: “I read that the families of Betty and Coretta were not consulted about this movie. So I wanted to ask: Has the Nation of Islam ever been consulted by Hollywood related to all of these movies that attack you all?”
HMLF: I heard that they allowed members of the King and Shabazz family to look at the film after it was done. Nothing like that has ever been accorded to me and my family, since it is I that the film seems bent upon putting in the hearts and minds of the people that “Louis Farrakhan is responsible for the death of Brother Malcolm.”
Question: “So how do you finally feel being exposed that you killed Malcolm X?”
HMLF: I did not kill Malcolm X. Before too long, you will really find who is “exposed”*—and it is those who want to put on me what no court, no judge, no jury, could put on me. And if my enemies had a chance to bring me before the courts, and put me in prison for such a crime, they would have done it a long time ago! No, I am not “exposed”. But the wickedness of those behind my slander will be thoroughly exposed!
*EDITOR’s NOTE:
New witness also identifies U.S. government role in the assassination of Malcolm X
Informant’s Confession Fuels Renewed Demand: Open all FBI, NYPD, Gov’t Files in Malcolm X Death
A step toward justice, but much more is required
Question: “Lifetime is already telling us what we already know about you. You confessed to this on 60 Minutes, so this show is only a repeat. You’re guilty, right?”
HMLF: I am not guilty of killing Malcolm X. What I said on 60 Minutes was extracted from a 4-hour interview with Mike Wallace and Attallah Shabazz.
When I stood up to defend the Honorable Elijah Muhammad against what Brother Malcolm was saying, I spoke into an atmosphere exploited by the F.B.I.
The word that I used was “complicit”, but complicit in that my defense of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad was manipulated by The Enemy to provide the context of his assassination.
Question: “I, being someone who has enjoyed your Tweets, and being of the younger generation: This movie has certainly confused me, and I need guidance from you.”
HMLF: Again, the scriptures teach: “You shall know the Truth, and it will set you free”—and it will stop the confusion. So I’m obligated to answer these false charges with The Truth, so stay tuned.
Question: “It’s obvious that the sponsors of this movie wanted to expose Farrakhan to who he really is. And I’m happy to see that it’s going on. And I know he’s not watching, is he?”
HMLF: To this detractor: I am happy that you are aware that this movie is about Farrakhan and not about what it purports to be. This movie is not exposing who I really am, it is an attempt to destroy the good reputation I have with the people who love and admire me.
You keep watching! And see if you will hold on to that same opinion when you come into the knowledge of the real truth of “what was said,” “what was done,” and “who is behind the film” and their motivation.
****
HMLF: To those who are predisposed to believe that what you saw in the movie Betty & Coretta is “absolute truth”: The government has refused to release my file, though my lawyers have been attempting to obtain it for years under the Freedom of Information Act. They will not release it. Clearly they are hiding something.
The Jewish people behind this film have characterized Farrakhan as the “No. 1 Anti-Semite.” That was the title they gave Brother Malcolm while he was alive; now, they’ve given it to me.
I am not guilty of killing Malcolm X. If I were, I would have been brought into a court of law and sent to prison.
Those who control this movie, those who wrote the script—those who control the media—all want to try me in the court of public opinion. Why do they want to try me in the court of public opinion? Because in a court of law, facts would have to be produced. So the only thing they can do is try me in the public.
And those of you who are predisposed to believe what they are saying: You will be duped by what they say! But The Truth will come out—and we intend to make it known!
And then you can choose whatever side you wish to be on.
Related links:
A New Beginning (Minister Louis Farrakhan & Betty Shabazz)
The Murder of Malcolm X and the Effect on Black America (Minister Farrakhan, FCI Video)
FBI COINTELPRO: A Look into the U.S. Government’s Counter Ingelligence Program (NOI.org)
Nation of Islam Targeted by Homeland Security (FCN, 12-24-2009)