THE JUDAS FACTOR is a good read. Especially with regards to Malcolm's international work during the last year of his life, when he was trying to unite non-white nations in bringing the United States up on human rights violations to the U.N. Evanzz's assasination theory just amounts to a good guess, but it is certainly interesting, and certainly quite plausible. I have seen one FBI document, in the book THE COINTELPRO PAPERS, in which the FBI clearly takes credit for causing the rift between Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad. In his Autobiography, Malcolm talks about FBI infiltration in the NOI, then later, he talks of false rumors being spread within the higher cirlces of the NOI that Malcolm was planning to take over-- exactly the kind of thing COINTELPRO provocateurs would have been proud of. So, it's quite possible that the FBI had infiltrators in the higher circles of the NOI who could have instigated the assasination plot.

Very interesting perspective on Malcolm X's assassination. Karl Evanzz provides (for the most part) an objective portrait of Malcolm, his followers and his enemies. The author creates a very logical connection in establishing a conspiracy theory about the assassination (then again, every conspiracy book is logical in a way even the outrageous ones). I would recommend this book to readers who want to be challenged and want to stop and think.

This book is so well written, it, should be taught in high schools to teach teenagers about investigative reporting. Evanzz brings it all together the Nation of Islam, Elijah Muhammed, the FBI, Malcolm X, and the world at his death into the middle of your heart. You will never forget a single fact or surprising circumstance. A must read.

I have read the reviews of Evanzz' book on Amazon.com and BN.com and have been somewhat taken aback by the opposition to what he has done here. I read the book from cover to cover and have also read many of the major books and articles about the Nation of Islam or its members (especially Malcolm X). Based upon my own reading, Evanzz has turned in a work that is carefully considered and should be read with an open mind and heart by anyone who wants to learn more about Elijah Muhammad, the Nation of Islam, or Black politics in the 20th century.

Several reviewers here have objected to Evanzz' use of FBI files, but it should be clear from reading this book, Bruce Perry's _Malcolm_, and the FBI files of Martin Luther King, Jr., Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X, and many others that while the FBI has repeatedly been the enemy of Black people in America, it has also inadvertently provided excellent documentation of Black leaders' activities, for better or worse. Evanzz recognizes this, and even points out how ham-fisted the FBI could be in its attempts to undermine Black organizations, including the NOI.

Is Evanzz' account totally unbiased? Obviously, no. The further one gets into the book, the clearer his disdain for the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the NOI shows through. Given the events he relates, however, it's easy to see why. That an organization that intends to save Black folks could be so cruel to those it would save should give any reader pause.

Evanzz forces us to confront a number of issues: 1) How and why religions are formed; 2) The relevance of the NOI; 3) The weaknesses built into the NOI and its theology; 4) The importance of having a clear-eyed view of ALL leaders.

Was/is Elijah Muhammad important to African American politics and history? Of course he was. Evanzz understands this. He also makes clear, however, that that importance should not excuse us from criticizing him or his spirtual or political heirs.

One final word: I recommend readers check out C. Eric Lincoln's _The Black Muslims in America_, Peter Goldman's _The Death and Life of Malcolm X_, Louis Lomax's _To Kill a Black Man_, and Bruce Perry's _Malcolm_ as sources that will alternately support and correct some of Evanzz' information. (Some minor facts are inaccurate in a few places.)

This is a stunning, scathing indictment of the Nation of Islam. People involved in this organization really need to read this book to get an honest account of its history that Farrakhan and his minister stooges would never provide. I am not a guy who generally criticizes Black militants... at least not for their politics... but I must make an exception for the NOI. It is true that the NOI helped reform many people who were lost in drugs and crime. This can't be denied. But NOI apologists cannot deny the many acts of violence committed by members of the group. Farrakhan and Elijah Muhammad did NOTHING to curb this violence. If this doesn't convince NOI supporters that the group is no good, consider that all of these crimes were committed against BLACK people. And if that isn't enough, consider that all of them are BLACK MUSLIMS. Followers of the NOI even drowned infants, yet never did any leader of the group so much as even imply that killing Black Muslim babies is WRONG. And must we even mention that they killed Malcolm X, a truly great Black leader? Members of the NOI today spit on his memory with their membership. You can't even say that what they practice is Islam. The NOI teaches that some bozo named Wallace D Fard is the Messiah, Allah in human form. This is as different from true Islam as Christianity is to Judaism. Farrakhan should at least respect real Muslims and call his religion Fardism. BTW, FBI files are very valid sources. No one needs to be skeptical of those. The FBI conducted massive illegal surveillance of social activist groups. Not just of militant groups like the NOI or the Black Panthers but also the supposedly harmless Martin Luther King, Jr. They documented this stuff thoroughly, never dreaming that the Freedom of Information Act would expose these files to anyone, like Evanzz, who wants to see them. I've seen some of these files from the `60's and early `70's. The information on them is amazing... details of private conversations are common... and that's stuff that HADN'T been hastily blacked out.

I disagree with many of the readers before me. This book is excellently researched and documented. I believe that many of the people who are upset with this book are members of the black muslims and they cannot handle the historical truths of their religion. This book is beyond theological debate. The messenger shows how a man can rise from an average person to an inspirational leader for thousands of people. I believe that this book should be read by all people who want to rise to the call of leadership, because every leader can learn from the mistakes of leaders of the past. This books gives in detail the wonderful contributions that Muhammad made to the stuggles of Africans here in America as well as showing his many mistakes that he made in his path.I highly recommend this book. Peace and Blessings