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Marable subtitled the book "A Life of Reinvention" in part because Malcolm X acknowledged mistakes and transformed and transcended himself, from street hustler and convict to black separatist of fierce anti-white opinions to political and social activist seeking to work with all races, worldwide. His marriage, however, was widely seen as steady, close and supportive, especially as dramatized by Denzel Washington and Angela Bassett in Spike Lee's movie "Malcolm X." Shabazz herself would remember her years with Malcolm as "hectic, beautiful and unforgettable
-- the greatest thing in my life." Malcolm X married Betty Sanders, a nurse and fellow member of the Nation of Islam, in 1958. They had six children. According to the book, the marriage was often tense, in part because of Malcolm's wish to have a traditional, subservient Muslim wife and because he was away so often and his life was often threatened. There were problems of emotional and physical intimacy. Marable includes a letter from Malcolm to Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad that offers a blunt account of their home life, with Malcolm reporting that his wife believed they were "incompatible sexually." Malcolm also tells Muhammad that Betty had threatened to "seek satisfaction elsewhere." Marable writes that Betty became involved in 1964 with Charles Kenyatta, a close associate of Malcolm's. Malcolm, too, may have had affairs, although the evidence is uncertain. He knew of the relationship between his wife and Kenyatta, according to the book, and "the news of infidelity seems to have loosened Malcolm's own marital bonds." Malaak Shabazz said there "may have been a little bit of stress, like any marriage," but that "there was really no times for shenanigans. She raised the children at home; he worked on a global level."
[Associated
Press;
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