Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley, Malcolm X

23 reviews

raccoongremlin's review against another edition

challenging informative medium-paced

2.5

I found this book a really difficult read. Before reading I was really inspired by Malcolm X, as I knew of him as a really important person in the black liberation movement , and he still is to an extent. But for me I found his blatent Anti-Semitism overpowering. For me X's hatred of Jewish people can't just be put down to ignorence, he talks about world 'Jewry' and even believes in the elders of zion protocol. For me that coupled with X's mysogny really put me off the him entirely. 

He was a really interesting person and it was inpsireing to see how his views changed and evolved. He also constantly bashes MLK and non-violence which is interesting and also pretty sad. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Antisemitism

Moderate: Confinement and Misogyny

Minor: Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia

hannahslit's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

This book has been on my list for a while so when I saw it in TK Maxx I felt like it was a sign to read it. I kept saying “This is so interesting” and sharing with anyone that would listen what I was reading. That is very much the type of reader I am, but learning about Mr Malcolm X’s life, in particular the early years, was genuinely so interesting. I appreciated his honesty. Though written with the help of Alex Haley, I did get the sense that I was hearing Malcolm’s voice. I’m glad this book exists because much like he’d hoped it would do, it humanises someone that I have always known to be a great leader. In fact, it was his humanness that drew people to him. There was quite a bit of repetition and some bits felt a little bit like rambling, but overall this was a fascinating insight into a fascinating man. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Police brutality, and Death of parent

kubs's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Police brutality

applesaucecreachur's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

4.75

If there was ever an electric revolutionary, it was Malcolm X. In this autobiography, he and Alex Haley have compiled his life into a riveting story. Having grown from a wounded and mischievous young boy to a prolific hustler (and lindy-hopper), to a scholar in lockup, to one of the most skilled orators and well-known revolutionaries of his time, Malcolm was no stranger to transformation. Through the foreword by his daughter Attallah, the Epilogue by Alex Hayley, and a gripping note by Ossie Davis, his story continues beyond 1965 and the Audubon Ballroom. The reader gets to glimpse not only how Malcolm's legacy began to unfold in the months following his death, but also how the man was behind the scenes with those who knew him personally. 

Similar to my review of Revolutionary Suicide, I cannot give this autobiography a full five stars for its omission of Black women as co-victims of racism and equally vital conspirators in Black liberation. Of course, Malcolm was a product both of his time and his Muslim faith, the latter of which I particularly cannot speak to. And despite his sometimes-derogatory references to women as a group, he held individual women in high regard – namely his mother, his half-sister Ella, and his wife, Betty Shabazz. I know from other accounts, too, that his view of gender was undergoing its own transformation towards the end of his life. It's a shame that this was not more prominent in his autobiography. 

Malcolm X was as complex as he was (and still is) misunderstood. In the wake of what would have been his 99th birthday, and the wake of Betty's 90th or 88th, I have to wonder what these two and their loved ones would make of the world they've left to us. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Death of parent

Minor: Confinement

ceci_cc's review against another edition

informative inspiring medium-paced

4.5

Insightful and extremely relevant even still today

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Murder, and Colonisation

stephhamp's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

I read this book once a year if i can. Every time i read it, I find something new to discover, learn, or relate to. That is a sign of an incredible book. I’m floored with every read how relevant and timeless Malcom X’s philosophies are. Much of what he thought of America’s race priblem is still relevant to the current struggles black Americans still face. Whil I don’t agree with everything that is written, particularly his thoughts about women and love, I still find myself connected to much of what Malcom X feels and thought during his time. I highly recommend everyone read, then re-read this book

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racial slurs, and Police brutality

sagelikesscats's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Hate crime, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Classism

Moderate: Gun violence, Police brutality, and Antisemitism

Minor: Mental illness, Terminal illness, Grief, and Lesbophobia

fjordpingvin's review against another edition

challenging dark informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Antisemitism, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Hate crime, and Slavery

Minor: Mental illness, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

asen123's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Classism

calais_'s review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

Brothers we stand ✊🏽 (I say as a brown Mexican girl)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Rape, Xenophobia, and Police brutality