The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley

During the George Floyd protests, online activists listed book titles that would help increase black history awareness. The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley was among those recommended to me.With this writing, Malcolm X hoped to shed light on how growing up in the black ghettoes shaped his life and character. And he knew it would require a great deal of objectivity on the reader’s part.Indeed, there are harsh truths—painful and soul-crushing truths that justify every bit of anger black people feel. There are also misogynistic generalizations along with expressed anger and vindictiveness toward white women, but, as he stated later in the book, “Anger can blind human vision.”It works both ways.With the “Black Lives Matter” movement, I saw an inability to comprehend that people of color merely demanded the same due process, dignity, and justice given to white people. Those enraged by the protests could not put themselves in those people’s places or even imagine being in that position themselves. They were above it all, and facts didn’t matter. My impression was that they don’t understand because they generally don’t deal with black people personally, Generally speaking, their knowledge of black people is what they see on the news. Or they base their conclusions on the actions of a few, something they wouldn’t do with people of the same race and ethnicity.There’s been an obsession with “sameness” that has baffled me since I was a child.Interesting analogy—when my child was born, I had to get an Rh immune globulin shot because I am Rh-negative and didn’t have the Rh factor marker to mix with Rh-positive blood. If I hadn’t done that, and my son was born Rh positive, my immune system would have made antibodies to reject what it detected as a foreign invasion by attacking his red blood cells. That foreign invasion response. The impulsive instinct to reject what isn’t the same, not close enough, and thereby threatening. It’s part of humanity’s defective design. I don’t recognize you, plain and simple. You don’t belong here. Get out. It’s like a bad science fiction movie where you can’t get through to the people affected and can’t save them.Malcolm X said that, in writing this book, he hoped to help “save America from a grave, possibly even a fatal catastrophe.”I don’t think that’s an exaggeration.I remember, years ago, while dating a biracial man, a black woman said to me, “He’s a black man, honey. You can’t possibly understand a black man the way he needs to be understood.” I didn’t know if she was right or wrong. Sure, I realized, from an early age, that discrimination and oppression were completely unacceptable. I was always willing to understand. I’m certainly a lot more aware now than I was then. Yet there is still more to learn.Responding to speculation as to why he was the way he was, Malcolm X said, “To understand that of any person, his whole life, from birth, must be reviewed. All of our experiences fuse into our personality. Everything that ever happened to us is an ingredient.”He talked a lot about how reading “forever changed the course of his life.”“People don’t realize how a man’s whole life can be changed by one book,” he said. And although women were hardly a second thought in the time that he lived, this applies to them, too.The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley has that ability to change lives. Mr. Haley did an excellent job with it. The pacing was slow—at times, a little too slow, but I’m glad I was patient. It is an important book to read. It proves, as far as I’m concerned, that reading is a must. It has been one of my saving graces in life, and it is what pulled Malcolm X up from the dark, deep, underground tunnels that kept him in the oppressor’s grip, a cycle of self-sabotage and self-loathing that his oppressors created for him and so many others like him.Exploring works like Native Son by Richard Wright and The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley is a great start for people interested in learning why this great divide continues to exist.However, according to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, “As of 2017, Americans spent an average of almost 17 minutes per day reading for personal interest (as compared to almost three hours watching television and 28 minutes playing games and using computers for leisure). Younger Americans (ages 15 to 44) spent, on average, less than 10 minutes per day reading for personal interest.”I firmly believe a lack of reading and exploring is one of the many problems we have in this country.The truth is, you don’t have to like a person to learn from them, but I ended up liking the person who told this story. The tragic end to his extraordinary life saddens me. Malcolm X was open-minded and remained teachable. He came to understand we are not all alike, all of us white people, and it’s the same thing everyone needs to realize about every other race and ethnicity.His conclusion was, it isn’t necessarily “the American white man who is a racist, but the American political, economic, and social atmosphere that automatically nourishes a racist psychology in the white man.” And that “it takes all of the religious, political, economic, psychological, and racial ingredients, or characteristics, to make the human family and the human society complete.” He felt certain if this weren’t the case, we’d have a humane, empathetic society where all of us, rich and poor, could be treated with dignity and respect. He liked the idea of not seeing an inherently evil “enemy” but rather a society that “influences him to act evilly.”Even Christianity—a religion black people clung to for comfort and hope—became part of that racist psychology. He noted that “The Christian church returned to Africa under the banner of the Cross—conquering, killing, exploiting, pillaging, raping, bullying, beating—and teaching white supremacy. This is how the white man thrust himself into the position of leadership of the world—through the use of naked physical power.”I so admire the spiritual courage this man had in his search for the truth.And the truth is, essentially, what makes sense to you after all your exploration and your quest for authenticity. I say it all the time, no group, no matter who, what, or where is perfect. We always have a mix of good and evil. Or, to be kinder, some have seen the light, and others have yet to see it. Let’s hope they keep looking.

What an incredible story of a complex man.-Criminal or Virtuous-Racist / segregationist or Champion of the Negro’s Ability to do for Himself or Herself-Religious Radical or Enlightened Believer-Ignorant Follower or Intellectual Leader

I can't be enough emphasis on reading this Autobiography. I have read it about 3 times and everything I need to learn something about life, I pick this book up. Malcolm X intellect was ahead of time and a lot of things he talked in the 60's in still happening right now in 2024. If you are about learning and becoming a better person, I highly recommend this book. This book is very informative and is a must read book.

I was born in 1989! I was introduced to the Nation of Islam first and then I started to learn more about Malcolm! I’ve watched many YouTube videos on Malcolm and I concluded that Malcolm was a TRUE SOLDIER for his people! I always admire the amount of information that I knew of Malcolm! But this book was the equivalent of a sit down and an extensive conversation with Malcolm myself! Disregarding the stipulations, depictions, narratives and other personal & media driven opinions, I now believe that I truly understand who Malcolm was! I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to digest his thoughts and the selected details of his journey within this well structured book! Alex did a phenomenal job with helping Malcolm put together this book! And personally, I think that a person should only be allowed to exert an opinion on Malcolm only after reading this book! Thank you Malcolm for your contribution to mankind as we know It. (((salute)))

Not sure why I waited so long to purchase and read this autobiography. One of the most well written and descriptive autobiographies I’ve read. Felt like I was there while reading, like the words formed a movie right in my head. Must read! LOVED IT!

BOOK REVIEW--THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X--AS TOLD TO ALEX HALEY It's an astoundingly, refreshing and moving work of non-fiction by the late author Alex Haley that I've ever read and it has changed me and my way of thinking perhaps forever. I believe, now at this particular time--and according to the will of the Creator--that, by the Father's timing, I was allowed to read this book. I had purchased this book years ago but because of moving around from state to state, lost it. I praise the Almighty for blessing me with the finances to procure a copy of the book once more and to absorb it's contents. It is true that Malcolm X met an untimely death in 1965 and it is most unfortunate because I would've love to have met him. I came into the world a year later. I've always admired him and as a child growing up he was one of my heroes with Muhammad Ali being a close second. Most people believed Malcolm to have been a racist, a "hate-monger", an "enemy of the state." He was none of those, at least not to me. He just believed that the so-called Black man and Black woman should live in this society free and equal and not be disenfranchised or demoralized by racism and or the tenets thereof. His pilgrimage to Mecca opened his eyes in ways that we can't even begin to imagine or let the heart accept. I remember watching the Spike Lee movie which is based upon the autobiography which is very good for what it was, but for one to get a better, more intimate perspective regarding the man, read the book. After having read the book, the movie vastly pales in comparison and should be considered a visual companion to the book. El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, you are greatly missed!

I enjoyed reading the details of Malcom X life. It was inspiring at times, sad at others. I got to know the man I admired for a long time. It feels sad to this time to have him lose his life so early. It made me feel angry for the loss. Loved this book for allowing me to feel all these emotions.It's very inspiring book.I was hoping to know even more about Malcolm X and his family.I highly recommend this book.

Livro denso. Mais de 500 páginas. Em Inglês. Mas vale cada palavra.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X is an incredible and transformative read. This book offers a raw and powerful insight into Malcolm X’s life, struggles, and evolution. It's thought-provoking and deeply inspirational, showing the complexities of his journey and how he became a pivotal figure in history. A must-read for anyone interested in civil rights, history, or personal growth. Penguin Modern Classics' edition is well-made and includes thoughtful commentary. Highly recommend

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Es la mejor opción para quien puede leerlo en Inglés. Es barato, es un libro increíble, no es una versión hecha para coleccionarse pero la calidad es buena, la verdad es dinero bien gastado.En cuanto al contenido del libro. La historia de malcolm es impactante, y leerlo de sus propias palabras es aún más revelador y contundente. Me alegro haberlo leído en su idioma original.