A review by emordnilap
The Awakening of Malcolm X by Tiffany D. Jackson, Ilyasah Shabazz

informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Not meant to be a non-fiction book, Shabazz and Jackson took creative liberty as they are not Malcolm X. I found the book very interesting as someone who is white and grew up learning that Malcolm X was a bad person, that his ideas of freedom and how to reach it were wrong. As I get older and broaden my understanding of the world around me, I find it important to learn from many angles and I found the origins of Malcolm X and the comfort he found in Islam to be refreshing. While I have not questioned my belief in the Christian faith for the same reason as Malcolm X I found many of his ideas on why God had abandoned him and left him to be alone relatable into my own experiences as Queer person. This take on Malcolm X is one that I think many school systems need to look at and understand because not everyone who isn't Christian is a bad person even though it seems like many schools seem to teach that even if they are not "religious".