WI No 1959 NOI Documentary

Tin refers to a documentary about the Nation of Islam, produced by Mike Wallace, "The Hate That Hate Produced", aired in July of 1959. How long could the NOI have gone before getting this kind of national attention? If a decade or more (or perpetually), how would the Civil Rights Movement be affected if Malcom X wasn't part of the national dialogue? If by less, how would the movement altered from the delay in having these voices arise at a national level?
 
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My presumption is that the Nation of Islam would become less prominent in the civil rights movement. As I recall from reading about this documentary, most white people learned about the Nation through the documentary, and after it aired, the membership of the Nation increased drastically. Without this feature to popularize them, they would likely remain a somewhat obscure group, and not having much influence in the civil rights movement. However, I would think that with a group this radical in their beliefs, I doubt national attention would escape them at all.
 
As I recall from reading about this documentary, most white people learned about the Nation through the documentary, and after it aired, the membership of the Nation increased drastically. Without this feature to popularize them, they would likely remain a somewhat obscure group, and not having much influence in the civil rights movement. However, I would think that with a group this radical in their beliefs, I doubt national attention would escape them at all.

Well that's the question then -- if the documentary isn't made and doesn't air in July of 1959, for how long can this blindspot in the national attention last?
 
I suppose the blind spot might last indefinitely, although this is unlikely. Malcolm X himself would almost certainly live longer if he lived in relative anonymity. The Panthers might be the ones to benefit from notoriety and increased membership?
 
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