Wow, thanks so much for all the reviews!

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Malcom X is dead.

He's said it several times, heard it several more than that, but it's hard to believe. How could a man so powerful, so important, so smart and supportive of the black race be gunned down like an animal? It's not right, the Muslims had no right to come after him like they did; Shoot him down in front of all those people, while he spoke to them.

"Everything's going to be all right." Those were the last words he spoke to the crowd. Nathan wished he could believe that, but he knows better. With Malcom gone, he's afraid so will go the radical rights movement. Malcom believed in militant demand for respect and equality, given time, Nathan believes he would have gotten it for his people.

The tension is thick at home between Uncle Henry and Sam. It's so uncomfortable even Angela can notice it. The other night, while Sam was trying to warm up the bath water for her, Nathan heard her ask Sam why he had changed. Sam seemed shocked at the question, and mumbled something about things changing after Mama died. He doesn't see it, but Nathan does. Sam is becoming his own person, an individual, and a leader in his own right. Sure he feels like he has to be strong after Aunt Gwen's death, but there's more to it than that. He hasn't seen Sam with that Pryor girl since the funeral; He's been defiant, and less critical since their trip to Harlem. Sam is understanding that he should be proud of his heritage, and that makes Nathan proud of him.

He heard today that JJ Pryor shipped off to Vietnam. It almost made him laugh. A privileged white boy like Pryor sent to fight a war in the middle of nowhere. He wonders how long he'll last before it breaks him down. He'll never go there, he knows better, he has common sense. Besides, it'll be over before long anyway, whatever it is that's going on over there. He doesn't understand why the country is getting into everybody else's business, with all the oppression that is going on right here at home; But then he forgot, nobody here cares to do anything about it, except Malcom. Maybe it's time to change all that; maybe it's time for him to make a change himself.