Michael X - Part Two: The Murder of Gale Benson | #446

In this gripping second part of the 'Michael X' series, hosts Hannah and Saruti delve into the dark, chaotic aftermath of Michael X's exile from the UK and his descent into Trinidad, where he attempted to rebuild his mythos as a revolutionary leader. Set against the backdrop of systemic racial discrimination in post-war Britain, the episode explores how the British Black Power movement was less about race and more about class and political resistance, with Michael X exploiting this turbulence for personal gain. In Trinidad, Michael X establishes a commune at Christina Gardens, recruiting a cast of dubious characters including his cousin Joe Skerritt, the paranoid Hakeem Jamal, and the enigmatic assassin Kidogo. The narrative centers on the mysterious murder of Gail Benson, a white woman whose presence disrupted Michael X's image as a Black Power icon. While official accounts blame Michael X and his inner circle, the hosts cast serious doubt on the reliability of confessions—particularly from Stanley Abbott—and suggest Hakeem Jamal may have been the true orchestrator. The episode also investigates the conspiracy theories surrounding the film 'The Bank Job,' which falsely links Michael X to a royal scandal, and examines the real role of British intelligence in monitoring Black Power movements. Ultimately, the hosts conclude that Michael X was a fraud and manipulator, not a hero, and that his legacy is one of exploitation, delusion, and murder—though the full truth remains obscured by lies, cover-ups, and the fog of history.