This was no minor request. Malcolm X and his “by any means necessary” philosophy toward achieving racial equality had unsettled much of America, white and black. But Bailey embraced the notion of bringing a healthy dose of controversy to campus and shaking up the status quo in the process.<\/p>\n
Not everyone was enamored with the idea of Malcolm X speaking on campus. Members of the Worcester Student Movement board of advisers objected, with the chairman threatening to resign if Bailey didn’t cancel the speech. The board insisted that rather than give Malcolm X his own forum, he instead debate a civil rights leader proposing peaceful resistance.<\/p>\n
Malcolm was intrigued by the suggestion, though he insisted he would only participate if his opponent was Martin Luther King.<\/p>\n
![\"Malcom](\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/Malcolm-X-CV-1.jpg\")
King’s people declined the offer, but Malcolm agreed to speak anyway. Bailey calmed the board by pledging to bring in a more palatable speaker at a later date. During a recent interview on the Clark campus, Bailey pointed to two trees where he’d hung a banner announcing Malcolm X’s impending arrival. One night the banner was torn down. Bailey got a tip that some students had removed it and carried it to their apartment. He and some friends confronted the students, advising them to turn over the banner or there would be trouble. It was returned, and re-hung.<\/p>\n
On April 11, Bailey ushered Malcolm X to appointments with the Worcester Telegram<\/em> editorial board and a radio interview.<\/p>\n