On December1 , 1963 , when asked for a comment about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy , MalcolmX said that it was a case of " chickens coming home to roost " . He added that " chickens coming home to roost never did make me sad ; they 've always made me glad . " '' The New York Times '' wrote , " in further criticism of Mr. Kennedy , the Muslim leader cited the murders of Patrice Lumumba , Congo leader , of Medgar Evers , civil rights leader , and of the Negro girls bombed earlier this year in a Birmingham church . These , he said , were instances of other ' chickens coming home to roost ' . " The remarks prompted a widespread public outcry . The Nation of Islam , which had sent a message of condolence to the Kennedy family and ordered its ministers not to comment on the assassination , publicly censured their former shining star . MalcolmX retained his post and rank as minister , but was prohibited from public speaking for 90 days
Negro girls bombed
16th Street Baptist Church bombing
Elijah Muhammad