Interview with Author David Thomspon
1. What inspired you to write this book? I never before thought about writing a book.
This is an area completely new to me, but I felt inspired and almost
compelled to record this chance encounter with a former bodyguard of
Malcolm X. It was not planned. It can out of this encounter. I felt strongly
that there was something to be shared with the general public that
pertained to this American icon, but that was also linked to the Sufi Order to
which I belong.
2. What exactly is it about and who
is it written for? It is about this chance meeting with the last
surviving member of Malcolm X's entourage of bodyguards. The photo I saw of him
walking in Harlem had about 10 of them. Hence the title The Tenth Lieutenant.
The book is about the Malcolm that is mostly ignored, but the Malcolm whose
Islamic ideology had moved away from the ideology of the Nation of Islam (NOI)
to more traditional Islamic teachings. This redirection placed Malcolm at
a crossroads that may have been equally troublesome. He had had exposure
to Islam as observed in Mecca, Egypt, and Sudan, among other Islamic
experiences, and he was assigned a seasoned Islamic teacher from Mecca. Had he
lived, he would have had to make a choice between this teacher's Islamic
ideology or the Sufi influences he had also encountered. The book tries to
argue that the bodyguard, Malcolm, and his protege, Minister Farrakhan, all
seem to have been set on Islamic trajectories converging with Sufism. This
required that the book discuss some history of 'Islam' in the NOI, of Islam in
America from its early beginnings, Islamic influences in British colonial
history, and to present some basic information about the Sufi way as I had
learned as a member of the Burhani Sufi Order in America. It was a way to
introduce Sufism to the American audience who may be unaware of this tried and
tested method for character reformation. As such, it is written for the widest
possible audience.
3. What do you hope readers will get out
of reading your book? Readers should realize that Malcolm X had
abandoned his radical racial pronouncements and had moved to the center while
at the same time maintaining his commitment to addressing the human rights
issues of black in America and elsewhere. Readers should also realize that
there is a tried and tested methodology for elevating human character to claim
the spiritual status with which Allah (God) honored our father, Adam. It is my
hope that this book would pique the reader's interest to investigate Sufism
further - in particular The Burhani Sufi Order.
4. How did you decide on your book’s title and
cover design? The title came from one of the photos of
Malcolm X I researched showing him walking to a 1963 rally in Harlem. He was
leading his entourage of immaculately dressed lieutenants to the venue. I
counted ten and that gave me the idea for the title since the lieutenant I
encountered is most likely the last alive. I thought of calling it The Last
Lieutenant, but settled on the Tenth Lieutenant which seemed more appealing. As
for the cover design, at first I was leaning towards the photo with Malcolm and
his ten lieutenants walking in Harlem. Having to include discussion of the
possible movement of the NOI under Minister Farrakhan towards traditional Islam
and towards Sufism itself, I felt that the photo with both Malcolm and
Farrakhan would have been the most appropriate. Also, I included the last photo
taken of Malcolm alive on the back cover in addition to the photo selected for
the front cover to represent 'bookends' of the content that focused
on the early bombastic and the later serene tolerant Sufi-leaning Malcolm
5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have
for fellow writers – other than run!? This experience has been an eye-opener into
the world of book publication. I had limited funds and therefore had to learn
all aspects. I designed the cover; I had to learn basic Adobe Illustrator to do
so; I had to learn formatting for e-books and print books; I had to file
copyright documentation and assign ISBN numbers to each format. It was a great
learning experience which I would advise others could save you a lot.
There are publication packages that range from around $2000 to $15,000. I
didn't have the funds for the lowest level so I had to learn every aspect of
the process. While I can speak with authority on the outcomes associated
with package purchases, I would recommend self-publishing because you have full
control of content etc. I would also have to warn new writers about the sharks
in the knock-off waters. My attention was drawn to the fact that my book was
being advertised and sold on both e-bay and Amazon without my permission.
As a result, I had to learn about take-down notices as well.
6. What trends in the book world do you see --
and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? The Tenth Lieutenant took me three year to
finish. I followed some leads and some friends provided information that
developed into leads. So, it was always a product in the making. With AI
applied to the same task, much relevant research could have been completed,
cover designed, content generated, and relevant videos incorporated in a
fraction of the time. Already there are authors using AI to transform
their ideas into book format in an instance. This has the potential to both
kill creativity and enhance it... it depends on the motivation of
the writer and the content. In terms of publishing, the industry is
already heading towards self-publishing which would benefit from AI technology.
AI could be no more than an aide in my subject area of interest - Sufism.
7. Were there experiences in your
personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? Certainly. I referenced my answer to an
undergraduate honors professor who asked what differentiates man from
animal. I gave the answer then that was good and accepted, but which I would be
forced to revise since my years as a disciple of the Burhani Sufi Order. I
mentioned my first encounter with the Malcolm Shabazz Mosque in Harlem during a
real estate venture in which I got involved. And most certainly, my upbringing
as a Christian gave me valuable insight into discussion about the Eastern Orthodox
and Western Catholic Churches.
8. How would you describe your writing style?
Which writers or books is your writing similar to? This question is difficult to answer. Malcolm
X was an avid reader. I, on the other hand, am not. I think my fear of
reading as a child and teenager had some bearing on this. I was not a good
reader and it affected my confidence and social interaction in a household of
siblings who loved reading. Still, I think I write better than I speak. If
there are other writers who can claim the same, I suppose my writing would be
like theirs. Additionally, my life is always full of activity, even in retirement,
so much so that I don't seem to have enough time to read my daily Sufi
readings.
9. What challenges did you overcome in the
writing of this book? I learned enough to start a new career. I am a
retired high school science teacher. I never guessed that I would be so deeply
involved in the publishing world as to start a new career with a website,
fledgling as it is, for book publication. I also had to learn to admin a site
on an ecommerce platform. Of all the challenges, I found learning Adobe
Illustrator and designing my own cover, and the covers of other books I am
writing, the most rewarding.
10. If people can buy or read one book this
week or month, why should it be yours? As mentioned in The Tenth Lieutenant, after I
introduced Malcolm's sole surviving lieutenant to Sufism, he said he was
interested in anything uplifting. That is the main thrust of my book. It
points to something uplifting. At a time when moral decay is at its highest and
when the daily mass shootings flood the news, people need to know that there is
a trusted methodology for refining human character. That methodology is the
cure-all for the multitude of social ills developed over centuries of spiritually
rudderless misguidance humanity has had to face. AI may take it to the tipping
point. Immediate action is needed to stem the tide and to help humanity revert
to our real strength - our spirituality. The only way is to be informed of
the character-building process used by the prophets and their inheritors, and
to spring into immediate action to reclaim our spiritual birthright.
This book attempts to point the way. The need is critical, the information
included here vital to the process, and the time is now or never.
For more information, please see: www.sidiqpublishing.com
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