Malcolm X_ A Life of Reinvention - Manning Marable [324]
46 inquiring about his intentions, but to no avail. Eleanor L. Matthews to Malcolm Little, October 9, 1941; and Matthews to Little, October 21, 1941, “Malcolm X Collection, 1941-1955,” RWL.
46 after Malcolm had moved to Harlem in early 1942. Gloria Strother to Malcolm Little, October 29, 1941, ibid.
46 as a blonde Armenian named Bea Caragulian. DeCaro, On the Side of My People, p. 64.
46 discussion of Bea, who is referred to as “Sophia.” Malcolm X and Haley, Autobiography, p. 72.
46 the far less glamorous Tick Tock Club. Robert L. Jenkins, “Beatrice Caragulian Bazarian,” in Jenkins, ed., Malcolm X Encyclopedia, pp. 94-95.
47 “the young ones and the old ones both.” Malcolm X and Haley, Autobiography, pp. 62-63.
47 working in the dining room as a waiter. Kofi Natambu, Malcolm X (Indianapolis: Alpha, 2002), pp. 57-58.
47 that he hoped to travel to California soon. Malcolm Little to Zolma Holman, November 18, 1941. The letter is in the possession of the Wright Museum, Detroit, Michigan, and was displayed with the Malcolm X exhibit, Schomburg Center, New York Public Library, 2005.
47 Martha’s Vineyard, describing her boredom. Catherine Haines to Malcolm Little, June 25, 1942, “Malcolm X Collection, 1941-1955,” RWL.
47 “not have wanted to hear it in the first place.” Malcolm X and Haley, Autobiography, p. 71.
47 sixty thousand blacks from New York City had served their country. “Members of Nine Harlem Draft Boards Praised by Gen. Davis as They Get Medals,” New York Times, June 13, 1946. Also see Bernard C. Nalty, Strength for the Fight: A History of Black Americans in the Military (New York: Free Press, 1986); and Arthur E. Barbeau and Florette Henri, The Unknown Soldiers: Black American Troops in World War I (Philadelphia : Temple University Press, 1974).
48 on a railroad line as a fourth-class cook. Malcolm X and Haley, Autobiography, p. 74.
48 “as laborers, janitors, guards, taxi-drivers and the like.” Ibid., p. 75.
48 coworkers began to call him “Sandwich Red.” Ibid.
48 “And Harlem was Seventh Heaven!” Ibid., p. 80.
49 along with the Cotton Club and Connie’s Inn. See Marc Ferris, “Small’s Paradise,” in Jackson, ed., Encyclopedia of New York City, p. 1079; Wallace Thurman, Negro Life in New York’s Harlem (Girard, KS: Haldeman-Julius, 1928); and Carl Van Vechten, Nigger Heaven (New York: Harper and Row, 1977).
49 “mostly men, drinking and talking.” Malcolm X and Haley, Autobiography, p. 75.
49 an entertainment center featuring black performers. See Beth L. Savage, ed., African American Historic Places (Washington, D.C.: Preservation Press, 1994).
49 after winning the heavyweight championship. See Sondra Kathryn Wilson, Meet Me at the Theresa: The Story of Harlem’s Most Famous Hotel (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2004); Amanda Aaron, “Hotel Theresa,” in Jackson, ed., Encyclopedia of New York City, p. 364; and Malcolm X and Haley, Autobiography, p. 76.
49 “I had left Boston and Roxbury forever.” Malcolm X and Haley, Autobiography, p. 76.
49 a hangout for the Apollo’s entertainers. Ibid., p. 80.
50 with customers, and especially with servicemen. Ibid.
50 “but they would pay him a thousand dollars a trip.” Wilfred Little, quoted in DeCaro, On the Side of My People, p. 68.
50 the conditions in which blacks lived and worked. Malcolm X and Haley, Autobiography, p. 108. Also see Albert Murray, The Blue Devils of Nada (New York: Pantheon, 1996), pp. 99—102.
50 on credit, but he had no intention of paying. See “Personal Business Records,” O.K. Tailoring Company, March 24, 1942, “Order received and owes $28.45”; and Empire Credit Clothing Company, July 14, 1942, “Owes $25.00,” in “Malcolm X Collection, 1941-1955,” RWL.
50 Boyle Brothers collection agency, which threatened legal action. Boyle Brothers Collection Service, no date, “Threatening court action”; Boyle Brothers Collection Service, no date,