Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley, Malcolm X

23 reviews

aia_r's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

The Autobiography of Malcolm X, one of the most important books of the twentieth century, is a classic autobiography that tells the story of the Muslim leader Malcolm X. We learn about his early years as a boy in Michigan, his hustling days in Harlem, getting in prison and discovering the religion of Islam. By far one of the most informative, interesting books I have ever read. Such a great book for anyone wanting to understand the Afro-American struggle and is essential for anyone wanting to understand America. 
   Malcolm X's captivating perspective of the lies and limitations of the so-called "American Dream" and the racism in a society that denies its non-white citizens to dream gives a unique insight into the most pressing issues today. 

"But it is only after the deepest darkness that joy can come; it is only after slavery and prison that the sweetest appreciation of freedom can come."

  What I liked the most about this autobiography are its honesty, its exalted purpose and its passion. This will have a permanent place in the literature of the African-American struggle. What saddens me is that Malcolm was seen as a violent, anti-white, dangerous man filled with hate when he was only speaking the truth while being the wisest, intelligent, honest, gentle, peaceful activist that wanted freedom and basic human rights for the then 22 million black citizens in the United States that had been under slavery for four hundred years. 

 At the end of the book, Malcolm says;

"I know that societies often have killed the people who have helped to change those societies. And if I can die having brought any 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 is due to Allah. Only the mistakes have been mine." 

This alone demonstrates what a wise, sincere and humble person Malcolm was whose life ended way too soon. Shame on those who spread false accusations against this man and tried to ruin his image. May he rest in peace.

june 1st 2023

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, and Alcohol

Moderate: Slavery, Police brutality, and Death of parent

Minor: Hate crime and Violence

akvolcano's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

I have never known much about Malcom X. Everything that was spoken about him was brief and told from a white person who painted him as a villain, not as a human. I loved being able to read about him from his own words. I’ve learned about his life, work, and legacy. He did so much for Black people. And It is so important for his story to be told, for this book to be read. Read the whole book-cover to cover. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Misogyny, Slavery, Vomit, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Classism

apersonfromflorida's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexism, and Violence

Minor: Police brutality, Islamophobia, and Pregnancy

sylvestra's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Racism, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Murder

mia7's review

adventurous hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexism and Police brutality

melaniekarin's review against another edition

challenging informative medium-paced

4.0

really insightful, eye opening firsthand account that still… sadly… seems so prescient 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Murder, and Toxic friendship

bookishbunian's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

4.75

I am left in awe reading his transformative journey, albeit short, is still impactful and timeless. Honest and raw in his words, throughout, he did not reserve any punches on racism, religion, betrayal and hypocrisy. Even when I disagree with some of his viewpoints, he fiercely spoke his truth for himself and his people in such a way that you will be swayed to think and reflect through and through. While his ever-changing complexity as a human being (a young black man, turned hustler, to convict then minister and Muslim convert) remained central to this autobiography, it was his unwavering 
call against hypocrisy and for truth and justice, that has been the awe-inspiring constant. I will think alot about this book time and time again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry

michaelion's review against another edition

challenging dark funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25

Aside from the early 1900s slang, I would consider this a contemporary autobiography. Everything said in this book 57 years ago could have been said by someone yesterday. You don't have to look real hard to see things really have not changed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Sexism, Slavery, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Confinement, Incest, Mental illness, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

maggie_atwood's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Violence, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Murder, and Alcohol

I think this should be a must-read for Americans. You’ll unlearn what you’ve been incorrectly taught about Malcolm X in school.

joshsimp's review against another edition

challenging dark informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Racism, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent

Moderate: Hate crime, Sexism, Antisemitism, and Murder

Minor: Racial slurs, Police brutality, and Colonisation