ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13 People & Places Obit Inquisitive author Malcolm, provocative journalist, dies at 86 NEW YORK, June 19, (AP): Janet Malcolm, the inquisitive and boldly subjective author and reporter known for her challenging critiques of everything from murder cases and art to journalism itself, has died. She was 86. Malcolm died Wednesday at New York Presbyte- rian Hospital, according to her daughter, Anne Mal- colm. The cause was lung cancer. A longtime New Yorker staff writer and the au- thor of several books, the Prague native practiced a kind of post-modern style in which she often called attention to her own role in the narrative, question- ing whether even the most conscientious observer could be trusted. “Every journalist who is not too stupid or too full of himself to notice what is going on knows that what he does is morally indefensible” was how she began “The Journalist and the Murderer.” The 1990 book assailed Joe McGinniss’ true crime classic “Fatal Vision” as a prime case of the author tricking his subject, convicted killer Jeffrey MacDonald, who had asked McGinniss to write a book about him only to have Malcolm the author conclude he was a sociopath. It was one of many works by Malcolm that set off debates about her pro- fession and compelled even those who disliked her to keep reading. Reviewing a 2013 anthology of her work, “Forty- One False Starts,” for The New York Times, Adam Susan Sarandon, (left), and Geena Davis, stars of ‘Thelma & Louise,’ pose in a 1966 Ford Thunderbird similar to the one featured in the film, at the 30th anniversary Kirsch praised Malcolm for “a powerfully distinctive screening of the film at the Greek Theatre on Friday, June 18, in Los Angeles. (AP) and very entertaining literary experience.” “Most of the pieces in the book fi nd Malcolm ob- serving artists and writers either present (David Salle, Thomas Struth) or past (Julia Margaret Cameron, Ed- ith Wharton),” Kirsch wrote. “But what the reader re- Television members is Janet Malcolm: her cool intelligence, her psychoanalytic knack for noticing and her talent for withdrawing in order to let her subjects hang them- selves with their own words.” ‘Fight the Power’ explores history of protests On Thursday, New Yorker editor David Remnick praised Malcolm as a “master of nonfi ction writing” and cited her willingness to take on her peers. “Journalists can be among the most thin-skinned Abdul-Jabbar talks MLK, social justice and self-satisfi ed of tribes, and Janet had the nerve to question what we do sometimes,” Remnick told The Associated Press. LOS ANGELES, June 19, (AP): Ka- by other marginalized groups. All of was incredible. Just to exchange some reem Abdul-Jabbar is an NBA legend, us at one time or another have been words with him. But to understand Esteem but the man known for his trademark targeted by the dominant group. So, what his message actually meant, I Malcolm’s words — and those she attributed to oth- skyhook shot has also devoted his life we must understand that all of us are never really compared it side by side ers — brought her esteem, scorn and prolonged litiga- advocating for equality and social jus- in the same boat and we have to stick with what Malcolm X was talking tion. tice. up for the rights of every marginalized about. When you do that, you fi nd In 1983, she reported on a former director of the Abdul-Jabbar will take another group, not just the ones that we’re in out actually that they had the two dif- London-based Sigmund Freud Archives, psychoana- step in his activism walk as an ex- that causes controversy, but to look at ferent approaches to the same end: lyst Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson. She contended that ecutive producer and narrator of the other issues.” freedom, justice and equality for all Masson had called himself an “intellectual gigolo,” documentary “Fight the Power: The AP: When did you fi rst realize peo- Americans. Equality, that’s what it had vowed he would be known as “the greatest analyst Movements That Changed America,” ple of color were treated unfairly in should be about. who ever lived,” and that he would turn Freud’s old Actress Julia Fox poses with her son which premieres Saturday on the His- this country? AP: What’s your biggest takeaway home into a “place of sex, women, fun.” Her reporting Valentino at the ‘No Sudden Move’ tory Channel. The one-hour docu- Abdul-Jabbar: It started when I from the documentary? appeared in The New Yorker and was the basis for the premiere during the 20th Tribeca Festival at The Battery on June 18, in mentary explores the history of pro- was 8 years old. That’s how old I was Abdul-Jabbar: It’s a series of 1984 book “In the Freud Archives.” New York. (AP) tests that shaped the course for justice when Emmett Till was murdered. And steps forward, but there’s also some Masson, alleging that five quotations had been in America. I didn’t understand it. I asked my par- backsliding and a lot of attempts to fabricated and ruined his reputation, sued for $7 “Fight the Power” examines the la- ents to explain it. They didn’t have the move everything backwards. We had million. The case lasted for years, with the US Su- bor movement of the 1880s, women’s words. I was like “Where do I live? to deal with what people were really preme Court allowing it go to trial and Malcolm suffrage and civil rights along with Why am I a target here? talking about, making America great testifying, to much skepticism, that she could not the LGBTQ+ and Black Lives Mat- AP: How did you fi nd some clar- again. It wasn’t about being great. It find a notebook in which she wrote down some of ter initiatives. It also features footage ity? was about being ruled by a certain his remarks. In 1994, a federal court jury in San from Abdul-Jabbar’s personal experi- Abdul-Jabbar: I was in the eighth group of people. They thought that Francisco cleared her of libel, even though it de- ences when he covered one of Martin grade. I was about 13 years old, and I was great. But our country should be cided she made up two quotations. The jury found Luther King Jr.’s news conferences at read James Baldwin’s “The Fire Next ruled by the American people. And all that the quotations were false and one potentially age 17 and attended the famous 1967 Time.” That explained it all to me. It of us have a vote in. All of us have a libelous, but that Masson failed to prove she acted deliberately or recklessly. Cleveland Summit, where prominent gave me an idea of what I had to do voice. And we have to use our voices A year later, to a new round of skepticism, Malcolm Black athletes such as Bill Russell and what Black Americans had to do and our votes in a righteous way. announced that she had found the missing notebook and Jim Brown discussed Muhammad in order to get out from underneath all AP: Are there other topics you while playing with her granddaughter. Frank Gayle Ali’s refusal to serve in the Vietnam of this oppression. would like to explore in the future? “I don’t believe it,” Masson said at the time. “This War. AP: You are a champion on the Abdul-Jabbar: I’m hoping I can is the adult version of ‘The dog ate my homework.’ Abdul-Jabbar said co-executive basketball court and voice of inclu- do a more documentary style piece on Except in this case, the dog is regurgitating the notes Variety producer Deborah Morales was ada- sivity. Did you envision this path for the Underground Railroad. There’s after 12 years.” mant about the documentary need- yourself, even after your Hall of Fame a dramatic piece on right now that’s Malcolm’s honors included a PEN award for biog- ing to include all groups impacted hoops career? very well done. But we should get by “bigotry and discrimination.” His Abdul-Jabbar: I never really saw into the details and let America under- raphy in 2008 for “Two Lives: Gertrude and Alice” LOS ANGELES: Frank Bonner, who and a nomination in 2014 from the National Book played a brash salesman with an affec- pursuit toward social justice for mar- myself as a leader in all of it. I was stand what it was all about, because Critics Circle for “Forty-One False Starts.” In 1999, tion for polyester plaid suits on the TV ginalized people prompted the NBA someone who spoke out. I had enough it’s an interesting story. the Modern Library ranked “The Journalist and the comedy “WKRP in Cincinnati,” has died. to create an award bearing his name nerve (and was) crazy enough to AP: What would be your angle? Murderer,” which McGinniss would allege was fi lled He was 79. last month. speak out about things. If we don’t Abdul-Jabbar: Some of the peo- with “omissions, distortions and outright misstate- Bonner died Wednesday from compli- In a recent interview, Abdul-Jab- talk about the issues, they don’t get ple involved that you would never, ments of fact,” No. 97 on its list of the 100 best non- cations of Lewy body dementia, said his bar spoke with The Associated Press dealt with.