The good news, as everybody knew, was that Elijah would be there soon with a message of freedom for the “sheep” (the black man) and a message of destruction for the “wolf” (the white man). The setting for local meetings is much the same. In New York Minister Henry X gets the crowd ready for Malcolm by saying, “We are here to receive a blessing. The truth is going to be told here this afternoon.” “All praises due to Allah.” “The Messenger’s Minister will be here shortly with word from the man who saw God.” “Make it plain.” “The Minister is going to tell you who and what you are!” “Say the word.” “Then he is going to tell you who and what the devil is!” “Make it plain.” “Then he is going to show you why you had better hurry up and get out from among the devil before you get destroyed with him.” This brings the crowd to their feet, cheering. The side door to the upstairs temple swings open and Malcolm X, a tall, rawboned, Ichabod-Crane-looking man, strolls in flanked by an Honor Guard. As he walks to the platform his light-skinned, granite face is stern. He looks and acts like a military officer who may give a fatal order any minute. His clothes, always a size or so too large, literally drape from his body, making him look more gaunt than he actually is. “Big Red,” as Malcolm was called when he was peddling prostitutes and dope on the streets of Harlem, is a dashing and handsome man. Women of all races and creeds are drawn to him. He speaks with an authority that is all but hypnotic. “When I say the white man is a devil,” Minister Malcolm shouts, “I speak with the authority of history.” “That’s right,” the people shout back. “The record of history shows that the white men, as a people, have never done good.” “Say on, brother, say on.” “He stole our fathers and mothers from their culture of silk and satins and brought them to this land in the belly of a ship--am I right or wrong?” “You are right; God knows you are right.” “He brought us here in chains--right?” “Right.” “He has kept us in chains ever since we have been here.” “Preach on, Brother Minister, preach on.” “Now this blue-eyed devil’s time has about run out!” The people leap to their feet, rejoicing. “Now the fiery hell he has heaped upon others is about to come down on the white man!” “All praise due to Allah,” the people shout. “God--we call him Allah--is going to get this white, filthy, hog-loving beast off our backs,” Malcolm promises. “Say on--yes, yes, yes....” “God is going to hitch him to the plow and make him do his own dirty work.” “Yes, yes. Say on!” “God is going to take over the garment district and make those white dogs push their own trucks.” Men in the audience jump up and down and shout their approval: “All praises due to Allah. Praise His holy name!”