[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 29 (Thursday, March 14, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H911-H912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        URGING PRESERVATION OF COLLECTION OF MALCOLM X DOCUMENTS

  (Mr. MEEKS of New York asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, recently the most extensive 
collection of the late Malcolm X's writings ever collaborated was found 
in the hands of an anonymous private owner. The undisclosed person 
attempted to sell the collection to the highest E-Bay bidders. 
Fortunately, an investigation looking into the legitimacy of how the 
current anonymous owner acquired the documents is pending, and the 
notion of selling the collection has ceased for the time being.
  Prior to this pending investigation, the lot was to be auctioned off 
into two dozen private hands, completely dispersing the writings to 
unknown whereabouts, making it difficult, if not impossible, for the 
public to access.

[[Page H912]]

  Many of these documents were written during the leader's last year, 
the last year of his life. The reflections of Malcolm X's innermost 
thoughts in these documents are of significance not only to his devout 
followers, but for all who thirst for wisdom. Knowledge is priceless, 
and those who place a price on knowledge may never come to realize its 
true value.
  Good luck to the family of the Honorable El Hajj Malik El Shabazz.

                          ____________________