LOS ANGELES, CA.- A Malcolm X handwritten note on the back of a postcard featuring a photo of a chimpanzee sold last night for $11,793.75 at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Bidding for the postcard began at $4,000, which attracted nine bids.

The postcard was written to Malcolm X’s friend, the comedian Redd Foxx. It is postmarked from Miami with the date February 19, 1964. Malcolm X was in Miami to attend his friend Muhammed Ali’s (then Cassius Clay) heavyweight championship fight against Sonny Liston on February 25.

The souvenir postcard from Miami’s Monkey Jungle reads in full, “One hundred years have passed since the Civil War, and these chimpanzees get more recognition, respect & freedom in American than our people do, because even the monkeys that lead them have more sense than the monkeys that lead us. / Bro[ther] Malcolm X.”

Malcolm X left the Nation of Islam two weeks later and was assassinated in 1965.

Malcolm X and Redd Foxx began their long friendship in the 1940’s. Redd Foxx went on to become one of America’s most beloved stand-up comedians. Dubbed the “King of the Party Records,” Foxx was featured on over 50 albums during his career. A famous Las Vegas performer known for his off-color humor, he also starred in the hit 1970’s sitcom Sanford and Son. He died in 1991 at the age of 68.

Commentating on the postcard, auction owner Nate Sanders stated, “News coverage of the recent tragedies in Louisiana, Minnesota and Dallas have drawn parallels to the struggles of the 1960’s in the United States. This postcard reflects the tenor of those times.”

Also selling tonight was a second postcard from Malcolm X to Foxx for $5,491.25 The card features a photograph of the Great Sphinx and was sent during Malcolm’s trip to Egypt in 1964. In the postcard, Malcolm X refers to the builders of the Sphinx as possible mutual ancestors.