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Why did Elijah Muhammad order Malcolm X to remain silent for 90 days?
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Malcolm X
Prominent figure in the Nation of Islam Malcolm X, 1965.
Elijah Muhammad ordered Malcolm X to observe a 90-day period of silence in response to public outrage following Malcolm X’s comments regarding the assassination of John F. Kennedy.12
Shortly after the president's death, Malcolm X stated that the event was a case of "chickens coming home to roost," describing it as a violent society suffering the consequences of its own violence. This remark provoked significant controversy, leading Muhammad to impose the silence as a disciplinary measure. This incident deepened existing tensions between the two leaders, ultimately contributing to a permanent break in their relationship.12