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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Malcolm X’s life was a complete blind spot for me, so I’m thrilled to finally start to understand his place in history more. That being said, boy do I wish this book didn’t have so many horrifyingly regressive ideas about women in it.
What a wonderful read this was.
I only have a vague recollection of Malcolm X from history classes. I thought of Malcolm X as militant, but didn't really know any of the details. This book is a fascinating look into the psyche and evolution of black nationalism.
The most fascinating part of this book is the timeline.
This autobiography is based on a series of interviews held with Malcolm X from 1963 to 1965. During that period, Malcolm X became the face of black nationalist movement, was expelled from The Nation of Islam and then went on a pilgrimage to Mecca where he ended his unconditional hatred of white people. Malcolm X refused to change any of the early language in the biography, this section mostly contains praise for the Nation of Islam and the Nation of Islam's leader, Elijah Muhammed. As Malcolm's relationship with Elijah Muhammed unfurls, we get to watch Malcolm's views on Islam and race evolve alongside it.
There is something really powerful about this structure. In the first half of the book, you see a man who is absolutely convinced of his mission and vision. But with just one event, a small crack appears in Malcolm's foundational belief. It's a fascinating pleasure to see it unfurl. This revelation was also totally unexpected.
The very first part of the autobiography is a little more what I expect from an autobiography: a tale of Malcolm's relationship with race in Michigan, Boston and Harlem. It then chronicles his time in prison and how he came to follow Elijah Muhammed. The first chapters are absolutely bonkers - Malcolm X was wild. But better than just the story, you get a real feeling for Malcolm's relationship with race.
All of his upbringing and time in jail is told objectively and without pulling any punches on his old self. This beginning section on childhood upbringing, hustling and jail on its own make this a fantastic read. The last third of the book propel it into must-read territory.
I only have a vague recollection of Malcolm X from history classes. I thought of Malcolm X as militant, but didn't really know any of the details. This book is a fascinating look into the psyche and evolution of black nationalism.
The most fascinating part of this book is the timeline.
This autobiography is based on a series of interviews held with Malcolm X from 1963 to 1965. During that period, Malcolm X became the face of black nationalist movement, was expelled from The Nation of Islam and then went on a pilgrimage to Mecca where he ended his unconditional hatred of white people. Malcolm X refused to change any of the early language in the biography, this section mostly contains praise for the Nation of Islam and the Nation of Islam's leader, Elijah Muhammed. As Malcolm's relationship with Elijah Muhammed unfurls, we get to watch Malcolm's views on Islam and race evolve alongside it.
There is something really powerful about this structure. In the first half of the book, you see a man who is absolutely convinced of his mission and vision. But with just one event, a small crack appears in Malcolm's foundational belief. It's a fascinating pleasure to see it unfurl. This revelation was also totally unexpected.
The very first part of the autobiography is a little more what I expect from an autobiography: a tale of Malcolm's relationship with race in Michigan, Boston and Harlem. It then chronicles his time in prison and how he came to follow Elijah Muhammed. The first chapters are absolutely bonkers - Malcolm X was wild. But better than just the story, you get a real feeling for Malcolm's relationship with race.
All of his upbringing and time in jail is told objectively and without pulling any punches on his old self. This beginning section on childhood upbringing, hustling and jail on its own make this a fantastic read. The last third of the book propel it into must-read territory.
If you’re like me, you grew up learning very little about Malcolm X, perhaps only hearing words like hate, radicalism, and violence associated with him— supposedly the diametric opposite of MLK.
Now that I’ve consumed his life’s story through his own telling, words such as student, brethren, honesty, and humility feel much more fitting. Ultimately, Malcolm X was a man, a flawed man, a curious and ever-evolving man, but not the caricature so many in the media portrayed him to be.
If there’s one autobiography you read this year, make it his.
Now that I’ve consumed his life’s story through his own telling, words such as student, brethren, honesty, and humility feel much more fitting. Ultimately, Malcolm X was a man, a flawed man, a curious and ever-evolving man, but not the caricature so many in the media portrayed him to be.
If there’s one autobiography you read this year, make it his.
Throughout the book, you feel the tension of a man who at once desires to be thought of as humble, yet also craves recognition. Malcolm's intensity comes across on every page - and the pure story of his life is incredible. He also proves himself extremely prescient in several ways, no more so than his predictions of his own death, and how he will be remembered.
Yet, despite his protestations otherwise, he also appears at times as a severe misogynist and anti-semite. Perhaps the section where you feel the guard is finally dropped, and you get a glimpse of the real Malcolm X, is in Alex Haley's fantastic epilogue, which details the writing of the autobiography. This alone makes the book worth reading.
Yet, despite his protestations otherwise, he also appears at times as a severe misogynist and anti-semite. Perhaps the section where you feel the guard is finally dropped, and you get a glimpse of the real Malcolm X, is in Alex Haley's fantastic epilogue, which details the writing of the autobiography. This alone makes the book worth reading.
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
A compulsively readable, often electrifying life narrative in which one of the truly great orators is perfectly complemented by Alex Haley’s sure hand as editor/co-author. The one thing that really grates though is Malcolm’s unrelenting sexism, which is always hard to parse alongside his brilliant intellect and his otherwise impressive ability to develop beyond his most dogmatic views.
Born and raised in Boston, MA. I actually had the privilege of cleaning the backyard that MX lived in in Roxbury when I was in high school. We often found trinkets and other household items scattered in the dirt, left behind when the house was raided and items were thrown outdoors.
I read this book in 10th or 11th grade as a summer reading requirement. I read from cover to cover and although I initially struggled to make it through the novel during the earlier chapters, I found myself hooks towards the middle and end. Through Malcolm X's life we gain insight into his transformation and evolution. I do not believe Malcolm X was pro-violence. He was pro-black and pro-justice by any means necessary. This book was impactful in the sense that I stopped eating pork that same summer because of the chapter on the practices and ideologies of the nation of Islam. Although I am not Muslim, the argument made the most sense to stop eating pork completely and I have held strong since. The autobiography of Malcolm X is a MUST READ!!
I read this book in 10th or 11th grade as a summer reading requirement. I read from cover to cover and although I initially struggled to make it through the novel during the earlier chapters, I found myself hooks towards the middle and end. Through Malcolm X's life we gain insight into his transformation and evolution. I do not believe Malcolm X was pro-violence. He was pro-black and pro-justice by any means necessary. This book was impactful in the sense that I stopped eating pork that same summer because of the chapter on the practices and ideologies of the nation of Islam. Although I am not Muslim, the argument made the most sense to stop eating pork completely and I have held strong since. The autobiography of Malcolm X is a MUST READ!!