How Hatred And Mistrust Can Be A Catalyst For Change.
Written: Apr 03 '01
Product Rating:
Pros: A Gripping First-Hand Account Of One Man's Effort To Change The World.
Cons: None.
The Bottom Line: This book is a fundamental contribution to American History. Malcolm X's struggles are representative of a large segment of our population, and have shaped aspects of our culture.
coldsteel7's Full Review: Alex Hailey - The Autobiography of Malcolm X
I grew up in Detroit, and had healthy doses of "black history" in school. However, seeing history through the eyes of a middle school student is much different than the eyes of an adult. I read The Autobiography of Malcolm X in Middle School, and even completed a report about it. However, I didn't realize how differently this book would read 22 years later.
Malcolm X is a 466 page book of can't-put-it-down reading that will hold you spellbound. Alex Haley has a phenomenal ability to hold the reader's interest with acute attention to detail and dialogue that is not often found in historical accounts. This fact, combined with the actual story that is being told make for a book that you don't want to stop reading until you are done.
My personal recollections of the book were that Malcolm X was a convicted felon that hated white people, and only wanted to better his own race. Following a trip to Mecca, Malcolm realized that all people are allowed to experience the grace of Allah, and that his personal prejudices interfered with his beliefs. However, he was killed shortly thereafter, by his own people.
Well, that synopsis was not completely off base. However, the depth of the story exceeds the sum of it's parts. The extreme trial and tribulation, death and dishonesty, racism, hatred and disrespect that Malcolm X experienced during his life were destined to create inner conflict and hatred. While in prison, Malcolm found something he could believe in, other than his next hustle. This something was Islam, and the thirst for knowledge (and to be like the prisoner he emulated) led Malcolm X into a quest to learn as much as possible. His prison education and opportunity to speak to other inmates prepared Malcolm for his future experiences as an orator and builder of the Nation of Islam.
The aspect of this book that I don't think I fully realized was the betrayal between Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X. I always knew that Malcolm had called Elijah Muhammad to task on some inconsistencies in his personal life, but I don't think that I realized the deep affection that Malcolm X had for Elijah Muhammad, nor did I comprehend the gentle way in which Malcolm X attempted to show Elijah Muhammad the discrepancies in his personal life. Elijah Muhammad decided to rein Malcolm X in, and prevent him from subverting the very institution that he was instrumental in building. The news media loved Malcolm X and he became the focal point of the common man's view of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm's life may very well have ended by the hands of the people that he desired to teach.
The most interesting aspect of this book is that it was created through a series of interviews between Malcolm X and Alex Haley, beginning prior to Malcolm's falling out with Elijah Muhammad. Interestingly, Malcolm wanted to go back and change a great deal of the book, to distance himself from Elijah Muhammad. However, Alex Haley talked him into allowing the book to remain intact, with the extremely warm relationship giving way to betrayal. This book would have been very different if Malcolm had decided to change it. I believe that the relationship between Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X make this book ever more poignant.
The book is followed by an epilogue written by Alex Haley that discusses the falling out with Elijah Muhammad, as well as Alex Haley's personal perceptions of Malcolm X during his interviews. It helps the reader understand the paranoia, constant thought processes and personal aspects of Malcolm X that give his person further dimension. This book artfully depicts the life of Malcolm X, and the many facets of his character that made him so popular with the media, and so instrumental in building the Nation of Islam. If you ever wondered what made Malcolm X tick, this book will give you some insight. At times, I felt that aspects of the book were self-gratifying, or stroking, but I think that this also adds to the persona that was Malcolm X.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to everyone. It is a substantial addition to the catalog of American History, and people who shaped our nation. Although Malcolm was never President, or CEO of a Fortune 500 Company, or a Patriot, his story depicts the struggle representative of many other Americans. It brings to light the struggles of being a black American in post Civil War America, leading to the Civil Rights movement.
General Biography & Autobiography - This audio program tells of the man very few people really knew--and of his plans to move into the mainstream of t...More at Barnes and Noble
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