Item
Bibliographic Resource
Counter Intelligence Program, Black Nationalist-Hate Groups, Racial Intelligence (Pg 67-68 of Document)
- Title of the Document
- Counter Intelligence Program, Black Nationalist-Hate Groups, Racial Intelligence (Pg 67-68 of Document)
- One Line Summary
- This source provides foresight into the eventual death of Fred Hampton. In the attempt to prevent the rise of the “Black Messiah”, and black nationalism, the FBI saw figures like Fred Hampton as a threat.
- Author
- Director, FBI
- Date Created
- 3 March 1968
- Type of Document
- Government Document
- Publisher
- FBI
- Transcription
-
Airtel to SAC, Albany
RE: Counterintelligence Program Black Nationalist-Hate Groups
Nationalist activity, and interested in counterintelligence, to coordinate this program. This Agent will be responsible for the periodic progress letters being requested, but each Agent working this type of case should participate in the formulation of counterintelligence operations.
GOALS
For maximum effectiveness of the Counterintelligence Program, and to prevent wasted effort, long-range goals are being set.
Prevent the coalition of militant black nationalist groups. In unity there is strength; a truism that is no less valid for all its triteness. An effective coalition of black nationalist groups might be the first step toward a real “Mau Mau” in America, the beginning of a true black revolution.
Prevent the rise of a “messiah” who could unify, and electrify, the militant black nationalist movement. Malcolm X might have been such a “messiah;” he is the martyr of the movement today. Martin Luther King, Stokely Carmichael and Elijah Muhammed all aspire to this position. Elijah Muhammed is less of a threat because of his age. King could be a very real contender for this position should he abandon his supposed “obedience” to “white, liberal doctrines” (nonviolence) and embrace black nationalism. Carmichael has the necessary charisma to be a real threat in this way.
Prevent violence on the part of black nationalist groups. This is of primary importance, and is, of course, a goal of our investigative activity; it should also be a goal of the Counterintelligence Program. Through counterintelligence it should be possible to pinpoint potential troublemakers and neutralize them before they exercise their potential for violence.
Prevent militant black nationalist groups and leaders from gaining respectability, by discrediting them to three separate segments of the community. The goal of discrediting black nationalists must be handled tactically in three ways. You must discredit these groups and individuals to, first, the responsible Negro community. Second, they must be discredited to the white community, both the responsible community and to “liberals” who have vestiges of sympathy for militant black nationalist simply because they are Negroes. Third, these groups must be discredited in the eyes of Negro radicals, the followers of the movement. This last area requires entirely different tactics from the first two. Publicity about violent tendencies and radical statements merely enhances black nationalists to the last group; it adds “respectability” in a different way.
A final goal should be to prevent the long range growth of militant black nationalist organizations, especially among youth. Specific tactics to prevent these groups from converting young people must be developed.
Besides these five goals counterintelligence is a valuable part of our regular investigative program as it often produces positive information.
- Related
- Stockely Carmichael, Elijah Muhammed, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X
- Provenance
-
“Director, FBI to FBI Field Offices, March 3, 1968,” The Vault, The FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Department of Justice, vault.fbi.gov/langston-hughes/langston-hughes-part-04-of-04/view.