Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X

9 reviews

sagelikesscats's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

What a easy 5 stars. Informative, relevant, and inspiring. Read this book!!! This book will teach you about racism, classism, radical organizing, and a little bit about Islam. This book has its flaws and Malcom X was pretty misogynistic and antisemitic but still a must for all those who want to learn about racism and activism.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Infidelity, Cursing, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Drug use, and Racism

Moderate: Police brutality, Antisemitism, and Gun violence

Minor: Mental illness, Terminal illness, Grief, and Lesbophobia

aia_r's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Drug use, and Addiction

Moderate: Slavery, Death of parent, and Police brutality

Minor: Hate crime and Violence

afroheaux's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, and Violence

mia7's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Police brutality and Sexism

annadrinksmilk's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring slow-paced

4.75

.25 off only for sexism & antisemitism, everything else it phenomenal 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, and Mental illness

michaelion's review

challenging dark funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25

Aside from the early 1900s slang, I would consider this a contemporary autobiography. Everything said in this book 57 years ago could have been said by someone yesterday. You don't have to look real hard to see things really have not changed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Addiction, Classism, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Xenophobia, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Slavery, Ableism, Bullying, Cursing, and Death of parent

Minor: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Rape

joshsimp's review against another edition

challenging dark informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, and Racism

Moderate: Antisemitism, Hate crime, Murder, and Sexism

Minor: Colonisation, Police brutality, and Racial slurs

lucyy's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexism, and Trafficking

Minor: Antisemitism, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, and Slavery

dandelion27's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Hate crime, and Racism

Moderate: Antisemitism, Child abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Slavery, and Violence