Reviews with content warning for Racism - The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley

What a easy 5 stars. Informative, relevant, and inspiring. Read this book!!! This book will teach you about racism, classism, radical organizing, and a little bit about Islam. This book has its flaws and Malcom X was pretty misogynistic and antisemitic but still a must for all those who want to learn about racism and activism.

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fjordpingvin's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.0

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lauren_shilling's review against another edition

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dark informative reflective tense fast-paced

4.0

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asen123's review against another edition

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I might finish it when I’m a bit older. I really wanted to like it, but it was too intense for me.

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earthtokb's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.25

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aia_r's review against another edition

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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.

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donutlookaway's review against another edition

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challenging medium-paced

4.0

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