The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley

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The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley

4.25 of 5 stars 4.25 · rating details · 53,662 ratings · 1,889 reviews

Malcolm X's searing memoir belongs on the small shelf of great autobiographies. The reasons are many: the blistering honesty with which he recounts his transformation from a bitter, self-destructive petty criminal into an articulate political activist, the continued relevance of his militant analysis of white racism, and his emphasis on self-respect and self-help for Afric...more

Paperback, 527 pages

Published January 15th 1992 by Ballantine Books (first published 1966)

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Jun 14, 2007 Daniel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is in my Top 5 of all time.

Oh yeah, I'm a white guy from Tennessee.

Before reading this, I knew very little about Malcolm X. I knew very little about the black-revolution of the 50's and 60's peroid. I was like Chris Rock says in one of his stand-up acts: when it comes to black history, the only answer I knew to anything was "Martin Luther King".

But not only is this book an eye-opening account of the racial divide of that time, it's an open and honest look at an absolutely amazing man w...more

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Mar 27, 2008 Isaac rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book counts for a lot. Cornel West says that one of the deepest fears for black America is that Malcolm X was fundamentally right, that the political system here is incapable of being changed through traditional means in order to serve the black community what they are due. "What are they due?" asks the conservative... A share in the incredible wealth of the country that they have labored to build for hundreds of years, often against their own will, answers the REALIST... self-actualization...more

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Apr 28, 2008 Jessica added it · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

This is my second time though this book and it is still one of my favorite stories of all. I read several hundred pages of it while taking Greyhound to Virginia last week. The whole way I was sitting with three black ladies, and we all kept on talking about what all of us thought of Malcolm X and his ideas. Early in the trip lady across from me asked what I was reading--I think she knew and just wanted to see my reaction to her asking. I told her and we got into an amazing conversation about rac...more This is my second time though this book and it is still one of my favorite stories of all. I read several hundred pages of it while taking Greyhound to Virginia last week. The whole way I was sitting with three black ladies, and we all kept on talking about what all of us thought of Malcolm X and his ideas. Early in the trip lady across from me asked what I was reading--I think she knew and just wanted to see my reaction to her asking. I told her and we got into an amazing conversation about race in America, Islam and the ignorance of people who have grown up in the majority. Even when we weren't talking, I heard other people in the bus having conversations about race. One big guy behind me was arguing about something with the man across from him and kept calling himself and the other man "Negro"--always just as I was reading about Malcolm X calling himself and other people "Negro".

I realized, reading a story in The Atlantic about Bill Crosby called "This Is How We Lost to the White Man", a lot of what I like about Malcolm X's story is his conservatism. His fight in the north wasn't against admitted racists, it was against the entire culture of bias which hid (and hides) behind promises of "someday" and "if you only wait". That's why he pushed so hard for everyone to be self-sufficient. I don't ascribe to his early segregationists talk, but I believe anyone who is treated as lesser (women, teens, people in minorities) is most powerful when they are independent. PS: one of the creepies letters Malcolm X mentioned was on this topic from the head of the American Nazi party--saying they should get together to work for total segregation and relocation to Africa. Creepy stuff.

Some questions I have been left to contemplate after to this reading:

If Malcolm X hadn't been assassinated:
Would America have better relations with the Middle East?

From his trip to Mecca to his tours of Africa and his work to bring Islam to America, vitally linked with his newly moderate racial stance, I think a lot of the stupid fears about "Why Do They Hate Us" would have been dealt with long before 9/11.

What would Malcolm X's effect on the Women's Liberation Movement have been?

One of the most jarring stances of Malcolm X's for me was his incredibly low opinion of women. I think raising four girls would have forced him to become a feminist--I would hope he could not have failed to see the parallels between the degrading limitation of racism and sexism.

Anyhoo, I love this book!(less)

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Dec 16, 2007 Wes Morgan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the life story of Malcolm Little, later Malcolm X, later El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. As are most white people in this country, I was led to believe that Malcolm X was just an angry, militant racist who wanted to kill white people in the same way that angry, militant racists in the South want to kill black people. Nothing could be further from the truth.

This book, more than any other I've read, opened my eyes to see how the innate racism in our country works and affects the people it is mos...more This is the life story of Malcolm Little, later Malcolm X, later El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. As are most white people in this country, I was led to believe that Malcolm X was just an angry, militant racist who wanted to kill white people in the same way that angry, militant racists in the South want to kill black people. Nothing could be further from the truth.

This book, more than any other I've read, opened my eyes to see how the innate racism in our country works and affects the people it is most sharply targeted at: African Americans. It's one thing to understand that it exists (amazing that this is still debated) and empathize with its victims, but quite another to see it through their eyes. Malcolm X, as he points out, grew up in the "tolerant" North. His battle was not with lynch mobs and Jim Crow laws, but with the death-by-a-thousand-cuts brand of racism that, I would argue, now constitutes the mainstream dynamic between blacks and whites in this country.

By the time he becomes a Muslim in prison, it's easy to see why he was angry (which he was) and why he fought back. The amazing thing, though, is that while the very book was being written, Malcolm X is undergoing a personal transformation that is leading him away from anger and hatred towards white people and towards a realization that it is the culture in America, and not inherent evil in white people, that creates the racism he's fighting against. This transformation costs him 12 years of his life's work, his house, his family's safety, and eventually his life.

There are aspects of Malcolm X's philosophy that I cannot empathize with, however. His view of women, in particular, represents an ironic denial of their humanity. You almost want to scream at the pages, "How can you not see that you're viewing women the same way white people view you!?" There are also some pretty strange religious ideas held by the Black Muslims in general (such as literally believing that white people are the devil, and we know it), but Malcolm ends up moving away from these by the end of his life in favor of more orthodox Islam as practiced by the majority of the world's Muslims.

I now believe, after having read this autobiography, that had he lived longer, Malcolm X would today be as revered as Martin Luther King, Jr. is. Ozzie Davis, Malcolm X's eulogist, said that he sometimes needed reminding that he was a man (something he suspected white people didn't need), and that Malcolm X did that for him, and for many other black people as well.

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Jan 26, 2008 Melody rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone.

On Dr. King's Birthday I was knee-deep in the Autobiography of Malcolm X. At a nearby holiday celebration, one speaker stood at the pulpit and noted that "there was Martin and there was Malcolm. Thank God Martin won."

But did he? As I think about the Autobiography, I'm impressed by the book as an incredible testament to one man's intelligence, eloquence, and passion. In its passion, it has lived on; Malcolm's legacy lives on, visible in subtle parts of our culture. We see him in the power of the...more

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May 12, 2012 Richard rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book, first published in the 1960's, has never gone out of print. It continues to tell the indelible story of a strong-willed, forceful, articulate, angry individual who could emotionally move his followers with his appeal to Black Power while engendering fright and hate from much of mainstream America during his lifetime. The strength of the book derives from its unblinking reiteration of Malcom's recall of his life and of the forces which formed him into the public face of the Nation of I...more This book, first published in the 1960's, has never gone out of print. It continues to tell the indelible story of a strong-willed, forceful, articulate, angry individual who could emotionally move his followers with his appeal to Black Power while engendering fright and hate from much of mainstream America during his lifetime. The strength of the book derives from its unblinking reiteration of Malcom's recall of his life and of the forces which formed him into the public face of the Nation of Islam, and within the context of a story of redemption along the lines of the Fourth Century's famous "Confessions of St. Augustine."

A huge part of the book's popularity is also based on the quality of its writing, directly attributed to the talent of Alex Haley. This was not a ghost-written book. Haley had met Malcom in the late 1950's, near the start of Haley's writing career. He previously interviewed Malcom for "Playboy" magazine. The even-handed reporting of that article led to Malcom's approval to join with Haley in a collaborative effort to produce a book. While Malcom saw the book as a continuation of the earlier article's revelations of the movement's principles, as explained by Malcom X, Haley knew that readers would be more interested in learning the man's personal history. There was an element of distrust within the partnership, at least at the beginning, since Haley, a non-Muslim, and a retired Coast Guardsman, represented conventional values which Malcom disliked. Haley was able to gain Malcom's trust over the duration of the intense project, in which Haley would laboriously type his subject's statements deep into the night during dozens of sessions from 1963 to 1965. Over time, Malcom would micro-manage the project less as Haley skillfully built the material into a coherent story of one man's struggle to succeed against the economic and racial odds in his life. Judicious editing by Haley strengthened the story, including the cutting out of Malcom's more inflammatory anti-Semetic statements.

The resulting product is one of the most outstanding American autobiographies. Readers would learn of the life of Malcom Little, the son of baptist preacher Earl Little, who supported the Pan-Africanisc teachings of Marcus Garvey. Garvey had established the Universal Negro Improvement Association to further African Nationalistic ideas around the turn of the Twentieth Century. He had fought against racial discrimination while advocating a segregated society; one of his objectives was the movement of American blacks to Africa, to live in a society cleared of white invaders. Earl's advocacy of Garvey's black nationalistic views would become known to the Black Legion, a group splintered from the KKK, after he moved his family from Nebraska to Michigan. Malcom would always remember the night his family's home was attacked and burned down by the Legion. He would grow up in extreme poverty, made the more inescapable after the early death of Earl on a streetcar railroad track, and the ensuing commitment of Malcom's mother to a mental institution.

Malcom in early adulthood became Detroit Red, the zoot-suiter gangster supporting himself on pimping and drug dealing while living on borrowed time in New York, by way of Boston. A robbery spree gone bad in 1946 led to an eight-to-ten year sentence at Charlestown State Prison. He was twenty-one years old when he was sent to the slam. It can be that Malcom of Harlem, like St. Augustine of Hippo before him, embellished the venality of his previous hedonistic life in order to provide maximum impact to his spiritual conversion, but I think the section on his rewiring of his thinking and his abandonment of Detroit Red while serving this sentence is very convincing and thought-provoking. He took heed of the experience of another inmate who became an authority on a number of subjects by using his time to read a variety of subject matter. Soon, Malcom would dive ever deeper into the entire spectrum available in printed matter, and would be able to access an incredible amount of books ranging to religion, philosophy and history. A no-doubt already sharp, but academically untrained mind matured intellectually through self-directed learning of the great classics of literature.

He began exploring the Nation of Islam upon learning about its effect on some of his family members. The cult, ideologically descended from black nationalism, was espoused by Wallace D. Fard in the Midwest during the 1930's. Its dogma taught a number of esoteric beliefs, which support the struggle to wrest control of the world from the white race, which stole it from the black race in past millennia. Much more of immediate impact to Malcom's situation was its vehement requirements for its adherents to practice self-reliance, work hard, prosper, and shun alcohol, in order to regain their race's nobility. Elijah Poole became a disciple of Fard in the early '30's. Poole became the leader of the Nation of Islam after Fard disappeared in 1934.

Malcom sent a letter to Elijah Muhammad from prison and was thrilled when he received a letter of encouragement in return. Malcom joined the Nation after his release in 1952. He was just the spark that the small movement with the charismatically-distant leader needed. He quickly earned the trust of Elijah Muhammad due to his devotion and tireless organizing of temples in major northern cities. The membership of the Nation grew steadily due to the personal example of this apostle who could excite his audiences, speak forcefully against the Nation's enemies, especially the "Blue-Eyed Devils" and demonstrate how to live a life without alcohol, drugs and other vices. He made the point to his audiences that white men could not give black men self respect.

Another aspect of the book which adds greatly to its interest is its depiction of important personal events occurring literally as the book was being written. Malcom had been experiencing trouble due to Elijah Muhammad's growing distrust for some time before the book collaboration began. His rapid ascendency within the movement had marked him as a possible threat to take over the organization. By 1963, he was in real trouble due to his espousal of violent revolution and other extremist speeches which the organization didn't want to be associated with. His callous statements following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy sealed his fate, and Elijah Muhammad suspended him in 1964. The latter part of the "Autobiography .." shows the evolution of a new Malcom, who expressed his disillusionment, and formally cut his ties, with the Nation of Islam. He follows the path of many former, and later, Americans who lead a life of notoriety, then reinvent themselves. Malcom traveled to Africa and went to Mecca on a pilgrimage. He became impressed with the orthodox Muslims he met in all walks of life, and converted as a Sunni Muslim. By 1965, he was seriously reevaluating his core personal and political beliefs, while acknowledging that he had not yet formulated an all-inclusive Black ideology.

There is no doubt that Malcom's public career had a long way to go when it was cut short by his assassination at the Audobon Ballroom in Washington Heights in February, 1965. He had already given evidence in a shift of his political stance to a more humanistic view of life. This somewhat less hard-edged perception of his personality has allowed later generations to accept him as a genuine force driving the social changes occurring in the United States in the 1960's. Alex Haley's writing career may have benefitted immensely by the timing of the book's release on the heels of the assassination, but his literary work continues to enhance Malcom X's memory and reputation.

Just a short note to explain the book edition I chose to illustrate this review. I picked the 2001 edition shown here because it was most convenient, and somewhat reflects the image on the paperback I actually read in the 1970's. That earlier edition's cover art cannot be accessed on Goodreads.

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Jan 10, 2011 شروق مباركي rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

من العظيم جداً ليس فقط أن تتبع مسيرة شخص كملكوم إكس من مولده حتى وفاته
من المهم أن ندرك أنه ثمة مفاهيم معينة لابد أن نمررها لأنفسنا بصورة و اضحة و للآخرين
التحول الجذري في حياة ملكوم إكس ما تم إلا بشعلة ذكاء كانت مستقرة في داخله و نمت بعناية الله
وان كانت بطريقة خاطئة لزمن طويل ما كان إلا اثنا عشر عاماً قضاها يلهث خلف إيمانه بشخص
أدركت خطورة الإيمان أكثر عبر هذا الكتاب

الإيمان المطلق يعمي العقل و القلب عن كل الحقائق التي لربما يرسلها الله كل يوم لك ,
في النهاية كل يوم يضيف لنا شيء ما , حسبي على...more من العظيم جداً ليس فقط أن تتبع مسيرة شخص كملكوم إكس من مولده حتى وفاته
من المهم أن ندرك أنه ثمة مفاهيم معينة لابد أن نمررها لأنفسنا بصورة و اضحة و للآخرين
التحول الجذري في حياة ملكوم إكس ما تم إلا بشعلة ذكاء كانت مستقرة في داخله و نمت بعناية الله
وان كانت بطريقة خاطئة لزمن طويل ما كان إلا اثنا عشر عاماً قضاها يلهث خلف إيمانه بشخص
أدركت خطورة الإيمان أكثر عبر هذا الكتاب

الإيمان المطلق يعمي العقل و القلب عن كل الحقائق التي لربما يرسلها الله كل يوم لك ,
في النهاية كل يوم يضيف لنا شيء ما , حسبي على يوم ما أضاف لنا نطفة علم !
لكن الرغبة بالإنتماء أحيان تطغى على قدرتك عن قشع الحقيقة كما هيَ فعلا ,
من الضروري جداً أن نتخذ قالباً لنا ومن الضروري أكثر أن نكسر القالب
و نعيد تمديده و تضيقه كلما أقتضى الأمر و توسعت المدارك

ولا بد بالفعل من مسافة بيننا وبين نملئها بحث واعي بذهن يقظ لكل ما نؤمن به ليتجلى لنا الحق كيفما كان

أن المجتمع يصيغ نفسية الشخص و يصيغ مفاهمية في الحياة بالتأكيد ,
لكن الإنفصال عنه أو الإندماج هي خصائص إنسانية قادر الشخص عليها إن امتلك الوعي
فالنهاية المجتمع يخضع لنا و لمطالبنا النفسية و الروحية إن نحن آمنا بقضية
أو ربما شخص سخر جلّ حياته للنضال يكون هوَ مجرد حلقة في سلسلة قضية يؤمن بها أفراد كثيرون
أو يحتاجون لوعي و استيقاظ من سبات للإيمان بما يتوجب عليهم

إن المعرفة هيَ ميزان الشخص في الحياة و إن اختلفت الموازين
تظل هيَ الأصل بلا أدنى ريب
كل يوم أسلكه في ذات الدرب أدرك ماذا يعني أن تكون
أول كلمة في القرآن هيَ "أقرأ" , (less)

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Feb 21, 2012 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hard to rate a book like this...I mean in some cases things tend to transcend "enjoyability". In many places and ways I wouldn't call this book, "enjoyable".

Malcolm X's life was a struggle. he was a criminal, a hater, a dupe, a learner, a racist, someone who renounced racism, a member of the Nation of Islam, a renouncer of the Nation of Islam, and a Sunni Muslim who preached peace. He was a fighter and a murder victim (though of course that happened after this book's composition).

I'd recommend t...more

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Aug 10, 2007 L. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Every American

Shelves: non-fiction-and-philo

I understand why rap culture stresses "hustling" so much. It's as if rappers just never finished the book. It's not as awesome an autobiography as Gandhi's but better than most any other bio you'll find. Usually biographies are just dry chronicles of some rich asshole's favorite color and addiction du jour. This really gets you inside his head. I am thoroughly convinced that he should share an equal place in the canon of great Americans with equal respect and prestige as George Washington. Also,...more

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Apr 25, 2008 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: taught-it-to-a-class, changed-the-way-i-read

I'm in such awe of this book and the man behind it that I don't think I can really give it a fair review. I came late to Malcolm X - I didn't pick up his autobiography until I was twenty-five, during my third year teaching in the Bronx. He manages to so clearly articulate the injustice and anger that results from racism in America, and at the same time is unflinchingly honest regard his own life and his own failings. Following the progression of his thought and philosophy changed the way I thoug...more

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Jun 14, 2007 Josh rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: myfavorites

There are only a handful of books you can read in a lifetime that have a tangible impact on you. My dad reccomended this to me when I was 15, as I searched for something interesting in between the lawyer, doctor, monster New York Times bestsellers I'd read compulsively. Alex Haley helped Malcolm X shape a personal history that spit in the face of the public school education I had recieved up until that point, and more importantly I learned the value of literature. How books have the potential to...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Hafeth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: سيرة-و-مذكرات, 5-stars

الترجمة:
ترجمة المذكرات كانت ممتازة, و لم أشعر بأنها كانت حرفية أو متكلفة
تقول المترجمة في مقدمتها أنها قضت سنة من العمل لامتواصل في ترجمة الكتاب, و هذا واضح تماما في هذا العمل القيّم
هناك ملاحظة هامشية على الترجمة, و هي استخدام كلمة "مهتف" بدلا من "الهاتف". قد يكون ذلك صحيحا لغويا, لكنه غير دارج

محتوى الكتاب:
أملى مالكوم إكس المذكرات على المؤلف "أليكس هيلي" بشكل شفوي, لهذا فهناك إسهاب غير مبرر في كثير من المواضع, و تكرار, و نوع من الخطابة الإنشائية

يبدأ الكتاب شيقا في افصل الأول و الثاني, حيث يستعرض...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Valarie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: europe-north-america, biography-memoir

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 31, 2012 G. Tramaine Peoples rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Incredible read about one of the more controversial African Americans of all time. Brother Malcolm wore his heart on his sleeve and whether right or wrong he was never afraid to say what was on his mind to anyone who cared to listen. Unfortunately his image will always be tarnished by some due to his criminal background and speeches filled with racism towards the white man. Malcolm sincerely, in his heart, felt the white man was the product of evil due to his upbringings and what he witness happ...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Vlad rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Malcolm X was a violent street thug. He beat people up, robbed them, and dealt drugs. His primary source of income, however, was by being a pimp. As glorified as this piece of subhuman trash has become in rap songs and much of modern pop culture, let me explain exactly what it means.

Malcolm X kept a bunch of women as his personal slaves. He controlled them through a mixture of drugs, fear, intimidation, and physical beatings. Then, he took all the money that they made from sleeping with other m...more Malcolm X was a violent street thug. He beat people up, robbed them, and dealt drugs. His primary source of income, however, was by being a pimp. As glorified as this piece of subhuman trash has become in rap songs and much of modern pop culture, let me explain exactly what it means.

Malcolm X kept a bunch of women as his personal slaves. He controlled them through a mixture of drugs, fear, intimidation, and physical beatings. Then, he took all the money that they made from sleeping with other men. He spent only enough money on them to make sure they were fed, clothed, and had a small apartment.

Eventually, Malcolm X was arrested and sent to jail for a long time. Once there, he realized that there was a much better racket than armed robbery, drug dealing, or even pimping.

Professional racism.

Malcolm X was an innovator; like future successors including Louis Farrakahn (who, incidentally, Malcolm X's daughter is convinced was behind her father's assassination), Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton, Malcolm X fanned the flames of racial hatred to earn a comfortable living.

Of course, for a smooth-talking conman, this new career path was a natural fit.

In a particularly ironic twist, Malcolm X, who had beaten and raped multiple women as a pimp, constantly invoked the need to "protect our black women" in his speeches. He constantly paid lip service to how much love and respect he had for black women. This would be the equivalent of Hitler professing his love for the Jews after being captured by the Allies. (And yes, I try to avoid Hitler comparisons, but it's so damn natural in this case)

Unlike Martin Luther King Jr, who preached a message of love and unity, Malcolm X preached hate and division.

This is why white segregationists never had much of a problem with Malcolm X, while they hated and feared Martin Luther King Jr. For white racists, Martin Luther King Jr's message was the dangerous one, while Malcolm X's desire for all-out racial warfare and mass murder is exactly what white racists wanted, as they felt it was a war they would win.

It also explains why Martin Luther King Jr was shot by a white segregationist, while Malcolm X was killed by his one-time friends and brothers, the Nation of Islam.

It's a shame a wonderful, holy man like Martin Luther King Jr was killed. It's no shame that a professional hatemonger, racist, and despicable degenerate like Malcolm X was killed by his fellow thugs.

The fact that Malcolm X is revered by so many young white liberals today (who he hated and wanted dead), and his autobiography is required reading in posh universities is a part of what's presently wrong with the US. (less)

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May 08, 2011 Lynn Green rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: All teachers who teach in urban schools

This book leaves me, as I am sure it does many who have read it, with the great unanswered question, "What would have Malcolm X become if he had not been killed in 1965?" All through his life, Malcolm X was constantly reinventing himself from a bright and promising student, to a Harlem hustler, to a criminal, to a convict, to a convert, to an avocate of black seperatism, to a true Muslim, to an avocate for uniting the struggle of African-Americans with all other Africans, to a martyr. The last c...more

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Jan 18, 2011 Joodi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Joodi by: Reading Club عالم يحيا بالقراءة

مالكوم إكس
كان إلى عهد قريب مجرد اسم لأمريكي مسلم اشتهر في مدة معينة ثم مات.
أما الآن فقد أصبح أعظم أمريكي مسلم آمن بقضيته وعمل لأجلها حتى آخر لحظات حياته
رغم بعض الاختلافات العقدية والتجاوزات الأخلاقيه التي أرجعها للجهل وعدم توفر مصادر العلم لديهم آنذاك
إلا أنه كان مسلماً بحق .. مستسلماً لتعاليم دينه التي يعرفها
مكافحاً في سبيل نشر الدعوة
ومناضلاً لتحرير أبناء جنسه من الاستعباد الفكري

أحببت كثيراً دور العائلة في حياته
كيف كانت سبباً بعد الله عز وجل في هدايته

الحاج مالك الشباز
رحمك الله

بعض الاقتباسات:

"تج...more

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Feb 04, 2011 Bushra Omar rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

من المقطعين التاليين قررت أن أبدأ مراجعة هذا الكتاب
" إنني لم أكن لأضيع ساعه واحدة على هذا الكتاب الذي بتنبأ له بانتشار كبير في هذه الأيام التي أحتاج فيها إلى كل دقيقة من وقتي ، لو لم أكن مقتنعاً بأنها الوسيلة الناجعة الوحيده لإبلاغ ماأريد إبلاغه : إنني كنت أسفل سافلين في قاع المجتمع الأمريكـي عندنا اهتديت إلى الله وإلى الإسلام فتغير مجرى حياتي "
" وظنـي أنه لايوجد رجل أسود في أمريكا قاسى ماقاسيته أوتردى إلى درجة الإنحطاط الإجتماعي الذي ترديت إليه أو مني بالجهل الذي منيت به ولكـن لا إنفراج إلا بعد...more من المقطعين التاليين قررت أن أبدأ مراجعة هذا الكتاب
" إنني لم أكن لأضيع ساعه واحدة على هذا الكتاب الذي بتنبأ له بانتشار كبير في هذه الأيام التي أحتاج فيها إلى كل دقيقة من وقتي ، لو لم أكن مقتنعاً بأنها الوسيلة الناجعة الوحيده لإبلاغ ماأريد إبلاغه : إنني كنت أسفل سافلين في قاع المجتمع الأمريكـي عندنا اهتديت إلى الله وإلى الإسلام فتغير مجرى حياتي "
" وظنـي أنه لايوجد رجل أسود في أمريكا قاسى ماقاسيته أوتردى إلى درجة الإنحطاط الإجتماعي الذي ترديت إليه أو مني بالجهل الذي منيت به ولكـن لا إنفراج إلا بعد شدة ولامعنى للحرية إلا بعد الأسر والعبوديـة "

منها يمكنك أن تستنتج مايدور حوله هذا الكتاب الذي يحمله بين طياته شيئاً من تفاصيل حياة هذا الرجـل الذي مر بالكثير لـيصل إلى السلام النفسي بداخله ، ليـصل إلى طريق تفتح له أفاق جديدة في هذا العالم ، ليتبدل سير حياته من حال إلى حال وكل ذلك يعزيه مالكولم إلى الإسلام الدين الحق ، بعيداُ عن العنصريـه بعيداً عن الألوان والأجناس فكـلهم يعبدون إله واحداً
لاإله إلا هو

في بداية الكتاب تقرأ عن تفاصيل تبدو وكأنها صغيره في حياة مالكولم تبدأ من بيته وعائلته إلى أن تنتهي به كـ رجل داعي إلا الإسلام والوحده ، يمر بالكثير ليصل إلى الدين الحق وبمفهومه الصحيح حين يحط في بقاع مكـة ، في ذلك الفصل كنت أشعر بعظمة الإسلام تكاد تخترق كل شي ، كانت تلك القشعريرة تسري في جسدي حين يذكـر كيف تعلم الصلاه كيف وقف أمام الكـعبه .. ياااه كل تلك النعم نملكها نحن دون أن نبكي من عظمتها ، نحن الذين أنعم الله علينا بأكبر النعم في هذا العالم
نعمة أن تولد مسلماً يعرف أحكامه دينه وتفاصيله بالطريقة الصحيحة التي وردت في القرآن ومن أقوال رسولنا الكريم صلى الله عليه وسلم
في سيرة مالكولم تستطيع أن ترى بوضوح أي جهل كان يعيشه وأي حياة كان يمر بها وكيف أنه خرج منها بالإسلام وقراءة الكتب يقول مالكولم
" إن الناس لاتعرف أن كتاباً واحداً كفيل بأن يغير مجرى حياة الإنسان "
نعم كتاب واحد يضيء لك حياتك ، يفتح أفاقاً ماكنت ستراها إلا من نافذة المكتبة وتحديداً في الكتب
أكثر ماأثر فيني هو منظر الآيات القرآنيه في فصول الكتاب ، وكم هي السعادة التي تملكتني حين رأيتها .. وللحظه تمنيت أن أحصل على النسخة الإنجليزيه لأرى كيف كتبت فيها
عظمة الإسلام تنبثق تحديداً من الفصول الأخيره في الكتاب وتمنيت أنها تستمر وتستمر إلى مالانهاية ، لأتأكد أن إسلامنا يصل إلى تلك البلاد البعيده بصورة حسنة وصحيحة ، وحديثه عن مكة وعن الكرم العربي والأخوه والمودة كل ذلك سعدت لانه يصل إليهم بعيداً عن صورتنا الإرهايبة التي تسيطر على عقول الكثير منهم
وأخيراً ..
خاتمة الكتاب كفيلة بأن تجمع لك كل مشاعرك التي تكونت أثناء قراءتك وتصل بك إلى فخر بهذا الرجل الذي وجد في الإسلام دين الحق والسلام ، وتدعوا له بالرحمة والمغفرة

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Apr 03, 2009 Mark rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is historic, thoughful, interesting, and quick to read all at once. The details about Harlem culture were great. Malcolm's criminal exploits were informative. Useful details such as 'Leaving a light on in your bathroom is the best way to prevent burglary' will be helpful in the future. The description on how he got his "degree" through the books he read in prison was inspiring. His summarization of Mr. Mohammad's historical account of the non-whites was shocking, and I found it equally far...more

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Apr 18, 2009 Maureen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: biography, history

Once in a great while, you read a book, and it changes your life forever. For me, this was one of those books. From this book I garnered a great appreciation for Islam. I also learned something about the journey from alienation to love. It made me see racism in this country through fresh eyes and I have not forgotten what I discovered.

Growing up in Atlanta and being a child of the civil rights movement, I thought I knew it all. Then in came Malcolm. I had a lot of empathy for his story of growin...more

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Petra X That's a great review you've written but I can't agree with you saying that if Malcolm and Martin had ived, this would be a better world today. Better...more
Feb 24, 2010 08:28pm

Jeffrey There are some that believe that Malcolm X had actually turned the corner and was moving more to the middle politically, which the books alludes to bu...more
updated Feb 25, 2010 12:12am

Maureen I think that Malcom was moving more to the center, and many people were trying to force Martin more to the left. My hope was that they would eventuall...more
Feb 25, 2010 08:36am

Mar 23, 2008 Patrick rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Patrick by: John

Shelves: 2008

I had a lot to say about this book but I forgot most of it, it's kind of like you have to read it yourself. I do have a couple quotes because they were at the end of the book so they were easy to find:

"'Conservatism' in America's politics means 'Let's keep the niggers in their place.' And 'liberalism' means 'Let's keep the knee-grows in their place--but tell them we'll treat them a little better; let's fool them more, with more promises.' With these choices, I felt that the American black man on...more I had a lot to say about this book but I forgot most of it, it's kind of like you have to read it yourself. I do have a couple quotes because they were at the end of the book so they were easy to find:

"'Conservatism' in America's politics means 'Let's keep the niggers in their place.' And 'liberalism' means 'Let's keep the knee-grows in their place--but tell them we'll treat them a little better; let's fool them more, with more promises.' With these choices, I felt that the American black man only needed to choose which one to be eaten by, the 'liberal' fox or the 'conservative' wolf--because both of them would eat him."

"...next to me was a white man. 'Malcolm X!' he called out--and when I looked, he stuck his hand out of his car, across at me, grinning. 'Do you mind shaking hands with a white man?' Imagine that! Just as the traffic light turned green, I told him, 'I don't mind shaking hands with human beings. Are you one?'"

Anyways, I thought the first half of the book was amazing, then it got into his conversion to the Nation of Islam in jail and I just got annoyed learning about that religion and his devotion to it, because it's just as retarded, archaic, repressive, sexist, imperialistic, and altogether FAKE as Christianity, which he railed against. Ironically, the same group that saved his downward-spiraling life by giving him a purpose, ultimately stabbed him in the back, and then shot him in the front. There was some cool history when he talked about all the reading he did in jail, involving British rule in India and Gandhi, and something called the Chinese opium wars, which I never heard of before (he also copied an entire dictionary by hand because he was sick of not knowing what certain words meant). I guess like most who read this, I admired his honesty, rage, unfaltering determination, and ability to continue to evolve as a person without compromising his core ideals.

I re-watched the Spike Lee movie version, having originally seen it at 14, and it is not close to being a substitute for the book--he changes things, leaves things out, adds things, etc. Youtube has a lot of cool clips of various television appearances, however, which I feel is a better supplement. Also, vitamins are a good supplement.(less)

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Jan 10, 2008 Christy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: african-american-lit-and-history, readinglist1, 20th-century-american-lit

I have long admired Malcolm X and his commitment to speaking the truth and helping to create a better world. What I admire most about Malcolm X comes through most clearly in his autobiography: he speaks truth and is willing to change his tactics and his beliefs in the face of new information.

The first part of his autobiography is devoted to his childhood and then, primarily, his early years as a hustler on the streets of Harlem until his arrest. These chapters provide a valuable vision of stree...more I have long admired Malcolm X and his commitment to speaking the truth and helping to create a better world. What I admire most about Malcolm X comes through most clearly in his autobiography: he speaks truth and is willing to change his tactics and his beliefs in the face of new information.

The first part of his autobiography is devoted to his childhood and then, primarily, his early years as a hustler on the streets of Harlem until his arrest. These chapters provide a valuable vision of street life for African Americans in the first half of the twentieth century and also allows him to establish his credibility through his frank honesty regarding his many, many flaws at that time.

The second part of the autobiography begins with him in prison and covers his conversion to the Nation of Islam and his support of Elijah Muhammad. Although he turns away from Elijah Muhammad in later years and rejects the Nation of Islam for traditional Islam, his representation of his belief in Elijah Muhammad and his leadership in the NOI is sincere. It is in the portion of the book that the anti-white ideas he is commonly associated are put forth. "The white man is the devil" (162), he is taught, and he has no trouble believing this because of his experiences with white men in his life up to that point. It is easy to see how this teaching is appealing to Malcolm and men like him. It gives value to his self, his history, his race, and devalues the race, the men, who have perpetrated such wrongs upon him and his people. Given this, it is understandable that many people still believe that Malcolm X was no more than a racist of another stripe.

Fortunately, the final portion of the autobiography exists. After his disillusionment with Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm travels to Mecca and learns about Islam. He says of this trip, "[That] was when I first began to perceive that 'white man,' as commonly used, means complexion only secondarily; primarily it described attitudes and actions" (340). After this realization, his approach to the racial problem in America changed. He said, upon his return to the U.S., "In the past, yes, I have made sweeping indictments of all white people. I never will be guilty of that again--as I know now that some white people are truly sincere, that some truly are capable of being brother toward a black man" (369). This is hugely significant because it opened up possibilities for interracial activism, for a movement that could gain power through its ability to appeal to both sides working for a better world for humanity rather than focusing on isolationism and thereby reinforcing the color line.

Knowing what is to come, the final pages of Malcolm X's autobiography take on special import. He says, "I know that any moment of any day, or any night, could bring me death" (385); he says, "Every morning when I wake up, now, I regard it as having another borrowed day" (388); he says, "each day I live as if I am already dead" (388); he says, finally, "if I can die having brought the 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 due to Allah. Only the mistakes have been mine" (389). With these words, I do not understand how he can not be admired. He lived a hard and short life and he fought for what he believed in, even unto death. I do not necessarily agree with everything he said or believed (for instance, his ideas about women are extremely problematic), but his conviction and his clearsighted, straightforward exposure of racism in America deserve recognition and respect. (less)

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Apr 24, 2007 Atif rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

This is a must read. One of the most engaging and important books I've ever read and I would recommend that everyone read it at least once. Those looking for a glimpse into the world of one of the most fearless figures in American history will find that Malcolm X was even more dynamic of a person than is commonly understood. The story of his life is not only inspiring, but the depths of his character and intellect really shine through in this book. You see the many sides of a figure that is ofte...more

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Jul 17, 2012 عيدة العولقي rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

إنني لا أحتمل شخصاً لايحمل الساعة لأن ذلك يوضح لي أنه لايُقدّر الوقت" مالكوم إكس"
في كل الأعمال يحدد نجاحنا أو فشلنا مدى تقديرنا واحترامنا للوقت" مالكوم إكس - رحمه الله- ا

قرأت الفصول الأولى من الكتاب لأفهم كيف كانت نشأته، مررت عليها سريعاً خاصة الفصل الرابع لم أقرأه إلى الفصل التاسع.
:يتحدث مالكوم عن المسلمين قائلاً
"..هزتني طريقة السلام عند الرجال حيث يأخذ الرجل يد أخيه بين يديه والبسمة على شفتيه ولسانه يلهج بعبارات الفرحة باللقاء. رأيت الرجال يكرمون النساء ويحترمونهن .... وكانوا يخاطبون بعضهم ا...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Joshua Bishop rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Never before have I been so completely enthralled, so mesmerized by a biography. Malcolm X's life was a tumultuous one and not only does it make for fantastic reading but also had truly, truly taught me some very important things. I think everyone should read this book. Also, mad props to Alex Haley, who wrote Malcolm's dictation for the book. His seamless writing style made this a true joy.
This book will be in my top ten for life.

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Feb 29, 2008 wildflower rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: all activists, students of political science and armchair historians

Recommended to wildflower by: it was part of my husband's dowry

This book is not only the touching story of a young black man growing up in the US, but an insightful look into our history that helped me to understand black American culture today.

Reading it as a member of the "white devil" tribe myself was an interesting perspective and helped me to see myself in the whole scheme of racism. I found pieces of racism in myself hitherto hidden from sight. This was a good spring cleaning of the soul.

Malcolm was so strong, so brave, so intelligent and dedicated th...more

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Apr 11, 2007 Serenity rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

I read this book in my last year of high school. It made me realize the contributions that I wanted to make to society and how I wanted to continue to conduct myself with pride and dignity. Although Malcolm X was one who used to preach violence in a way of protecting yourself with the phrase, "By Any Means Necessary," he calmed down after his later years. His spiritual awakening influenced me tremendously. This is one of the reasons why I am very open to learning and understanding different reli...more

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Nov 24, 2012 Noman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: best-books

This is one of my all time favorites. I cannot say that there is a single book that changed my perspective on life as much as this book did. It was a complete eye opener not only of race, but also religion and life in general for so many people. The life story of Malcolm X is something I believe each and every individual should be aware of and the struggles and change that he went through. This book will change the way you view life as well the people around you. Reading this book has changed me...more

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Jan 14, 2008 Adrienne Stapleton rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, culture

Very touching and enlightening. This book discusses Malcolm X's life from its beginnings in Michigan. As the son of a Garveyite and religious leader, Malcolm's family was targeted by the Ku Klux Klan. Due to the murder of his father and mental illness of his mother, he becomes cutoff from his history and the knowledge of his father's work. The book takes us through his life as a troubled young man, his life and acceptance of Elijah Muhammad in prison, and his transformation. The interview reveal...more

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Aug 06, 2011 Jack added it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, biographies

With the assistance of Alex Haley, Malcolm X explains his oft-misunderstood life with the immense intelligence, courage, passion and honesty that was so characteristic of his life. The early sections on his upbringing were especially intriguing. In his childhood, the violent death of the author's father by the hands of racist thugs and the valiant struggle and eventual mental collapse of his remarkable mother both sparked the deep racial bitterness that would last him until his death. His initia...more

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About Malcolm X

Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little), also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, was an American Black Muslim minister and a spokesman for the Nation of Islam.

After leaving the Nation of Islam in 1964, he made the pilgrimage, the Hajj, to Mecca and became a Sunni Muslim. He also founded the Muslim Mosque, Inc. and the Organization of Afro-American Unity. Less than a year later, he was assassinated in Wash...more

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Books by Malcolm X

Malcolm X Speaks: Selected Speeches and Statements

February 1965: The Final Speeches (Malcolm X Speeches & Writings)

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“So early in my life, I had learned that if you want something, you had better make some noise.” — 325 people liked it

“Hence I have no mercy or compassion in me for a society that will crush people, and then penalize them for not being able to stand up under the weight.” — 160 people liked it

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