Black Muslims

While reading the article "Protest Now Renewed, Divided," Oct. 6, I take issue with some of the author's statements. The article compares the meeting between Louis Farrakhan and Jesse Jackson to a meeting of the heirs of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. Yet, the author mentions that Warith Muhammad turned to the teachings of the traditional Sunni faith following the death of his father. This is also what Malcolm X did following his pilgrimage to Mecca and travels to Africa.

Mr. Farrakhan followed the original race-based theology of Elijah Muhammad. In a sense, one cannot call Farrakhan an heir to Malcolm X, since Malcolm X, by his own words, had moved away from this movement. Also, it was my understanding that the the Rev. Ralph Abernathy took over for Dr. King upon his tragic death, and there were disputes among the SCLC regarding the Rev. Mr. Jackson's role in the aftermath of the assassination.

This is an interesting article, yet it seems to fall back on a simplistic, mistaken approach designed to put black Americans into two stereotyped groups. And if Farrakhan and Jackson were to agree with these characterizations of their roots, I would call them pretenders to their prospective thrones. Dennis Murphy, Grandville, Mich.

Letters are welcome. Only a selection can be published, subject to condensation, and none acknowledged. Please address them to "Readers Write," One Norway St., Boston, MA 02115.