Malcolm X is America’s Nelson Mandela, according to a Cornell University professor who lectured Monday night.

James Turner, a professor of Afro-American studies, said Malcolm X was assassinated rather than imprisoned like black South African leader Mandela.

“Malcolm was an intractable champion of the black community who wouldn’t compromise to make a deal, just like Nelson,” Turner said.

As part of February’s Black History Month, Turner spoke to a crowd of about 20 people at a speech sponsored by the Center for Black Studies.

Center Director Admasu Zike said people should not believe negative rumors about Malcolm X and encouraged people to read Malcolm X’s autobiography.

“Malcolm was against injustice and people who promote injustice,” Zike said.

Otis Moore, minister for external affairs for the center, said Turner was invited to NIU to help increase understanding of Malcolm X.

Moore said the African-American movement currently treats Malcolm X as a symbol.

“People need to know that there’s more to Malcolm than the militarism,” he said.

Turner said Malcolm X was similar to Mandela in his outspoken criticism of a regime he felt was oppressive.

Malcolm X was discredited by the media in the same way Mandela was by the South African press, he said.

“He (Mandela) was frozen in time by the media. He was made an un-person,” Turner said.

Malcolm X could speak more freely than any black leader in history because his organization did not rely on donations from white philanthropists, Turner said.

Malcolm X was able to say whatever was neccessary because he was totally self-sufficient, Turner said.

“Malcolm taught the value of self-discipline and self-determination,” he said.

Zike said young blacks are starting to recognize Malcolm X as a great leader. Malcolm X emphasized conditions for blacks have not changed in America since the nation’s beginning, he said.

“He felt that there was no time for discussions of the ramifications of rebellious behavior,” Zike said.

Turner said Martin Luther King became a more prominent leader than Malcolm X because the media felt he was a less dangerous spokesperson.

He said no passive resistance movement, which Martin Luther King advocated, has ever worked without the threat of violence behind it. Malcolm X was perceived by whites as being a promoter of violent revolution, Turner said.

King was more acceptable to white society, but “without Malcolm posing a greater threat, Martin couldn’t have gotten any attention,” he said.

Similarly, Zike said people’s fear of Louis Farrakhan has helped Jesse Jackson become accepted.