Reviews with content warning for Violence - The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley, Malcolm X

19 reviews

vumalilli's review against another edition

informative inspiring slow-paced

4.0

"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."- Malcolm X

I love this book, and I love that I got to hear it and read it. Malcolm X had a surprising life story with so many moments of growth and maturity. So much conviction and passion to morph into one of the greatest speakers and fighters for freedom and justice. It was amazing to read him grow into the person he was until that fateful day in 1965. Laurence Fishburne is also the best audiobook narrator I've experienced. You would think Malcom X recorded this before he was killed.

The most enthralling part of his story, to me (other than the palpable growth and wisdom), was his early years learning about his parents an his boyhood experiences. I really don't read enough about the northern experience for Black Americans pre-1970s.

I also credit this man for being part of my journey away from Christianity. In tandem with James Baldwin and Audre Lorde - their assessments of white institutions and the unbelonging of Black people within these spaces has spoken to me. His searing insight on the passivity of the religion is 10/10!

The deduction in my review was influenced by X's lack of intersectionality in his fight for racial justice, particularly for Black women and the way he spoke towards his wife. I don't believe Betty Shabazz or his amazing daughters ever raised an issue with him on on this, however, I felt like he put his own needs before that of his wife and daughters pretty often. His pilgrimage to Mecca humbled him in the necessary ways, but how do you do that when you have a wife and children at home?

More so, he mentions racism from the POV of a Black man who needed to ask Black women about their experiences and never did (in America or in his travels throughout Nigeria, Ghana and Mecca). His wife kept his legacy going and he never gave her enough credit to her passion, convictions and experiences.

Otherwise, really did enjoy this!

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bambicat234's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

I can not recommend this book enough. Everyone should read it. It's unique in being told from two perspectives: the perspective of the man himself and the perspectives of the men who got to know him well. You can personally observe his moral, religious, and political transformations throughout his life and especially at the end of it.
Everything he says here is relevant today in some way or another.

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musicthatis's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

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campsoup's review against another edition

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challenging informative inspiring medium-paced

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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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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.

june 1st 2023

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afroheaux's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Growing up, I had this vision of Malcolm X as a troublemaker who did nothing but run his mouth and preach black supremacy. I knew he was violent. I couldn’t recall a single violent thing that he did, but I knew he was violent. Once I started learning true history as an African American Studies minor, I began to learn everything I knew was wrong. This book showed me how wrong I was.

Although Malcolm isn’t as perfect as I thought he would be, his takes are more nuanced, informed, and at many times, prophetic than I ever knew. After being in an Islamic cult, his politics about women (amongst other topics) weren’t going to be perfect and I understand that. The lessons from his life and relentless activism is what I take from this. I’m so grateful he shared himself with us and I’m so sad that he wasn’t able to continue his work. I hope his family gets justice eventually.

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