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victoriafrost1991's review against another edition
2.0
Not my cup of tea and don't agree with his approach. I read Malcom X's four speeches as a starting point to get a sense of what he spoke about during the Civil Rights movement during the 1960s. It really doesn't show much unity in how to bring change and uplift Black Americans. In my opinion, it was more of an eloquently spoken angry person showing a different path to make change. It reminds us that Mr. X was one of many people who wanted change for the overall benefits of Black Americans.
suebrownreads's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, that was kind of scary. Of course he was fed up, and I don't blame him for that, but it sounds like Elijah Mohammad was nuts. I am not an expert by any means on the Muslim religion, but I am pretty sure it doesn't say that the world was populated by only black people 6 billion years ago, and that a black scientist went under he earth and blew it apart creating the moon. Weird. I heard very many strange things in the first speech. Crazy stuff. Is it supposed to be symbolic or myth like most of the old testament?
Listening to these speeches did prompt me to investigate more about Malcom X, so I am learning a lot I did not know about this Nation of Islam religion and Elijah Mohammed. I was glad to hear that Malcom X converted to Sunni Muslim before his death, and that in the speech he was about to give, he was to denounce Elijah Mohammed which of course is why he was assassinated. I also discovered some interesting information about 2 of the people who were wrongly convicted of his murder were finally exonerated in 2022. Interesting story.
Listening to these speeches did prompt me to investigate more about Malcom X, so I am learning a lot I did not know about this Nation of Islam religion and Elijah Mohammed. I was glad to hear that Malcom X converted to Sunni Muslim before his death, and that in the speech he was about to give, he was to denounce Elijah Mohammed which of course is why he was assassinated. I also discovered some interesting information about 2 of the people who were wrongly convicted of his murder were finally exonerated in 2022. Interesting story.
skylight22's review
informative
medium-paced
3.0
informative and empowering but some of his views are whackkk
briaroche's review against another edition
3.0
I’m not going to rate this one because it seems unfair to do so. This is not one you read for entertainment purposes. I found these speeches interesting and it helped me understand the thinking of Malcolm X better.
gaygothiccowboy's review
challenging
slow-paced
3.0
I think it’s pretty obvious that this was compiled of more of his earlier sentiments but it was still interesting to see how his personal beliefs changed as he grew older. Wish he had a chance at a longer life to see where he would stand today. Rip
kevin_shepherd's review against another edition
4.0
“The so-called Negro are childlike people - you’re like children. No matter how old you get, or how bold you get, or how wise you get, or how rich you get, or how educated you get, the white man still calls you what? Boy! Why, you are a child in his eyesight! And you ARE a child. Anytime you have to let another man set up a factory for you and you cannot set up a factory for yourself, you’re a child; anytime another man has to open up businesses for you and you cannot open up businesses for yourself and your people, you’re a child; anytime another man sets up schools and you don’t know how to set up your own schools, you’re a child. Because a child is someone who sits around and waits for his father to do for him what he should be doing for himself, or what he is too young to do for himself, or what he is too dumb to do for himself. So the white man, knowing that here in America all the Negro has done - I hate to say it, but it’s the truth - all you and I have done is build churches and let the white man build factories. You and I build churches and let the white man build schools. You and I build churches and let the white man build up everything for himself. Then after you build the church you have to go and beg the white man for a job, and beg the white man for some education. Am I right or wrong? Do you see what I mean? It’s too bad but it’s true. And it’s history.”
One of the greatest orators of all time, Malcolm X asked all the right questions. He could make the scales not just fall away but fly away from your eyes. My problem with Malcolm’s early ideology, and I say this with a great deal of reverence and respect for the man, is that he traded one yoke of lies and deceptions for another. He could clearly see the hypocrisy of christianity yet he fell headlong - hook, line and sinker - for a false prophet of islam. And just as he was figuring that out, BECAUSE he was figuring that out, he was assassinated.
One of the greatest orators of all time, Malcolm X asked all the right questions. He could make the scales not just fall away but fly away from your eyes. My problem with Malcolm’s early ideology, and I say this with a great deal of reverence and respect for the man, is that he traded one yoke of lies and deceptions for another. He could clearly see the hypocrisy of christianity yet he fell headlong - hook, line and sinker - for a false prophet of islam. And just as he was figuring that out, BECAUSE he was figuring that out, he was assassinated.
jordana_dear's review against another edition
3.0
I can't say I agree on all of his points- although I don't think my opinion on that truly matters all that much. That being said this was a very interesting book, and I highly recommend listening rather than reading as it captures his skill as an orator and speechwriter in a more explosive light.
jasminebolich's review against another edition
2.0
Did not register that this book was largely speeches regarding theology. Not really my field, but a good look into an important historical figure and time.
ferdy_goat's review against another edition
2.0
I did not enjoy this book.
In a lot of ways it shows the narrow and, frankly, ridiculous world view young Malcom X had while part of the Nation of Islam. However, this series of speeches is important in understanding the slow change in Malcom X that led him from a conspiracy theorist that believed white people were created by an evil scientist to the iconic anti-imperialist civil rights leader we remember him as today.
If only he had been with us longer after leaving the Nation of Islam.
In a lot of ways it shows the narrow and, frankly, ridiculous world view young Malcom X had while part of the Nation of Islam. However, this series of speeches is important in understanding the slow change in Malcom X that led him from a conspiracy theorist that believed white people were created by an evil scientist to the iconic anti-imperialist civil rights leader we remember him as today.
If only he had been with us longer after leaving the Nation of Islam.