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robotswithpersonality's review against another edition
Subtitle is four speeches. Feels like a more descriptive subtitle would read: four sermons. There are some very memorable, recognizable quotes pulled from this collection. X makes some powerful arguments, and I recognize how much Islam was a part of this man's life for a crucial period of his life, but it felt like what he was attempting to communicate was so often throttled by his obligation to preach.
I suppose, similar to Martin Luther King Jr., the role that religion played in people's lives was more likely to be prevalent at the time he was speaking, and so it was a natural connection to make, but at least for this modern atheist, it was a very alienating framing.
Having read Peniel E Joseph's The Sword and The Shield, which touches on Malcolm X's history both within the Nation of Islam and subsequently outside of it, the choice of these speeches matched with who they chose to write the introduction and what they chose to focus on within the introduction, but looking at X's whole history, and representing this collection as focused primarily on the ending of white supremacy feels...off. The fact that that history also covers Malcolm's move from a more separatist to a more integrationist position later in his speaking career makes this selection even more jarring, because it's as much standoffish/isolationist as it is attempting to foster a better community.
He does a good job of calling people on their bullshit, identifying underlying structural racism that his interlocutors don't seem to have taken into account. I appreciate the emphasis on education, recognizing the injustice in the obfuscation of true history that would give power, confidence back to Black people.
If you could separate out his need to pontificate on his spiritual leader's behalf from his need to speak frankly to people about internalized racism, colonialism and white supremacy, I think these would be perennially, broadly relevant speeches, but a lot of it feels cult-like in its obeisance to the one individual human person Elijah Muhammad, and the overwhelming insistence on all the benefits coming from being Muslim. I get that X had to fight very hard against Islamophobic propaganda, I'm just very repelled by all forms of proselytizing.
I suppose, similar to Martin Luther King Jr., the role that religion played in people's lives was more likely to be prevalent at the time he was speaking, and so it was a natural connection to make, but at least for this modern atheist, it was a very alienating framing.
Having read Peniel E Joseph's The Sword and The Shield, which touches on Malcolm X's history both within the Nation of Islam and subsequently outside of it, the choice of these speeches matched with who they chose to write the introduction and what they chose to focus on within the introduction, but looking at X's whole history, and representing this collection as focused primarily on the ending of white supremacy feels...off. The fact that that history also covers Malcolm's move from a more separatist to a more integrationist position later in his speaking career makes this selection even more jarring, because it's as much standoffish/isolationist as it is attempting to foster a better community.
He does a good job of calling people on their bullshit, identifying underlying structural racism that his interlocutors don't seem to have taken into account. I appreciate the emphasis on education, recognizing the injustice in the obfuscation of true history that would give power, confidence back to Black people.
If you could separate out his need to pontificate on his spiritual leader's behalf from his need to speak frankly to people about internalized racism, colonialism and white supremacy, I think these would be perennially, broadly relevant speeches, but a lot of it feels cult-like in its obeisance to the one individual human person Elijah Muhammad, and the overwhelming insistence on all the benefits coming from being Muslim. I get that X had to fight very hard against Islamophobic propaganda, I'm just very repelled by all forms of proselytizing.
victoriafrost1991's review against another edition
2.0
Not my cup of tea and don't agree with his approach. I read Malcom X's four speeches as a starting point to get a sense of what he spoke about during the Civil Rights movement during the 1960s. It really doesn't show much unity in how to bring change and uplift Black Americans. In my opinion, it was more of an eloquently spoken angry person showing a different path to make change. It reminds us that Mr. X was one of many people who wanted change for the overall benefits of Black Americans.
suebrownreads's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, that was kind of scary. Of course he was fed up, and I don't blame him for that, but it sounds like Elijah Mohammad was nuts. I am not an expert by any means on the Muslim religion, but I am pretty sure it doesn't say that the world was populated by only black people 6 billion years ago, and that a black scientist went under he earth and blew it apart creating the moon. Weird. I heard very many strange things in the first speech. Crazy stuff. Is it supposed to be symbolic or myth like most of the old testament?
Listening to these speeches did prompt me to investigate more about Malcom X, so I am learning a lot I did not know about this Nation of Islam religion and Elijah Mohammed. I was glad to hear that Malcom X converted to Sunni Muslim before his death, and that in the speech he was about to give, he was to denounce Elijah Mohammed which of course is why he was assassinated. I also discovered some interesting information about 2 of the people who were wrongly convicted of his murder were finally exonerated in 2022. Interesting story.
Listening to these speeches did prompt me to investigate more about Malcom X, so I am learning a lot I did not know about this Nation of Islam religion and Elijah Mohammed. I was glad to hear that Malcom X converted to Sunni Muslim before his death, and that in the speech he was about to give, he was to denounce Elijah Mohammed which of course is why he was assassinated. I also discovered some interesting information about 2 of the people who were wrongly convicted of his murder were finally exonerated in 2022. Interesting story.
skylight22's review
informative
medium-paced
3.0
informative and empowering but some of his views are whackkk
briaroche's review against another edition
3.0
I’m not going to rate this one because it seems unfair to do so. This is not one you read for entertainment purposes. I found these speeches interesting and it helped me understand the thinking of Malcolm X better.
gaygothiccowboy's review
challenging
slow-paced
3.0
I think it’s pretty obvious that this was compiled of more of his earlier sentiments but it was still interesting to see how his personal beliefs changed as he grew older. Wish he had a chance at a longer life to see where he would stand today. Rip
kevin_shepherd's review against another edition
4.0
“The so-called Negro are childlike people - you’re like children. No matter how old you get, or how bold you get, or how wise you get, or how rich you get, or how educated you get, the white man still calls you what? Boy! Why, you are a child in his eyesight! And you ARE a child. Anytime you have to let another man set up a factory for you and you cannot set up a factory for yourself, you’re a child; anytime another man has to open up businesses for you and you cannot open up businesses for yourself and your people, you’re a child; anytime another man sets up schools and you don’t know how to set up your own schools, you’re a child. Because a child is someone who sits around and waits for his father to do for him what he should be doing for himself, or what he is too young to do for himself, or what he is too dumb to do for himself. So the white man, knowing that here in America all the Negro has done - I hate to say it, but it’s the truth - all you and I have done is build churches and let the white man build factories. You and I build churches and let the white man build schools. You and I build churches and let the white man build up everything for himself. Then after you build the church you have to go and beg the white man for a job, and beg the white man for some education. Am I right or wrong? Do you see what I mean? It’s too bad but it’s true. And it’s history.”
One of the greatest orators of all time, Malcolm X asked all the right questions. He could make the scales not just fall away but fly away from your eyes. My problem with Malcolm’s early ideology, and I say this with a great deal of reverence and respect for the man, is that he traded one yoke of lies and deceptions for another. He could clearly see the hypocrisy of christianity yet he fell headlong - hook, line and sinker - for a false prophet of islam. And just as he was figuring that out, BECAUSE he was figuring that out, he was assassinated.
One of the greatest orators of all time, Malcolm X asked all the right questions. He could make the scales not just fall away but fly away from your eyes. My problem with Malcolm’s early ideology, and I say this with a great deal of reverence and respect for the man, is that he traded one yoke of lies and deceptions for another. He could clearly see the hypocrisy of christianity yet he fell headlong - hook, line and sinker - for a false prophet of islam. And just as he was figuring that out, BECAUSE he was figuring that out, he was assassinated.
jordana_dear's review against another edition
3.0
I can't say I agree on all of his points- although I don't think my opinion on that truly matters all that much. That being said this was a very interesting book, and I highly recommend listening rather than reading as it captures his skill as an orator and speechwriter in a more explosive light.
jasminebolich's review against another edition
2.0
Did not register that this book was largely speeches regarding theology. Not really my field, but a good look into an important historical figure and time.