Reviews with content warning for Violence - The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X

18 reviews

bambicat234's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

I can not recommend this book enough. Everyone should read it. It's unique in being told from two perspectives: the perspective of the man himself and the perspectives of the men who got to know him well. You can personally observe his moral, religious, and political transformations throughout his life and especially at the end of it.
Everything he says here is relevant today in some way or another.

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musicthatis's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

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campsoup's review against another edition

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challenging informative inspiring medium-paced

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asen123's review against another edition

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I might finish it when I’m a bit older. I really wanted to like it, but it was too intense for me.

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aia_r's review against another edition

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informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

The Autobiography of Malcolm X, one of the most important books of the twentieth century, is a classic autobiography that tells the story of the Muslim leader Malcolm X. We learn about his early years as a boy in Michigan, his hustling days in Harlem, getting in prison and discovering the religion of Islam. By far one of the most informative, interesting books I have ever read. Such a great book for anyone wanting to understand the Afro-American struggle and is essential for anyone wanting to understand America.
Malcolm X's captivating perspective of the lies and limitations of the so-called "American Dream" and the racism in a society that denies its non-white citizens to dream gives a unique insight into the most pressing issues today.

"But it is only after the deepest darkness that joy can come; it is only after slavery and prison that the sweetest appreciation of freedom can come."

What I liked the most about this autobiography are its honesty, its exalted purpose and its passion. This will have a permanent place in the literature of the African-American struggle. What saddens me is that Malcolm was seen as a violent, anti-white, dangerous man filled with hate when he was only speaking the truth while being the wisest, intelligent, honest, gentle, peaceful activist that wanted freedom and basic human rights for the then 22 million black citizens in the United States that had been under slavery for four hundred years.

At the end of the book, Malcolm says;

"I know that societies often have killed the people who have helped to change those societies. And if I can die having brought any light, having exposed any meaningful truth that will help to destroy the racist cancer that is malignant in the body of America, then all of the credit is due to Allah. Only the mistakes have been mine."

This alone demonstrates what a wise, sincere and humble person Malcolm was whose life ended way too soon. Shame on those who spread false accusations against this man and tried to ruin his image. May he rest in peace.

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afroheaux's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Growing up, I had this vision of Malcolm X as a troublemaker who did nothing but run his mouth and preach black supremacy. I knew he was violent. I couldn’t recall a single violent thing that he did, but I knew he was violent. Once I started learning true history as an African American Studies minor, I began to learn everything I knew was wrong. This book showed me how wrong I was.

Although Malcolm isn’t as perfect as I thought he would be, his takes are more nuanced, informed, and at many times, prophetic than I ever knew. After being in an Islamic cult, his politics about women (amongst other topics) weren’t going to be perfect and I understand that. The lessons from his life and relentless activism is what I take from this. I’m so grateful he shared himself with us and I’m so sad that he wasn’t able to continue his work. I hope his family gets justice eventually.

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