A review by carolineolesky
The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X

challenging dark informative medium-paced

5.0

This is a must read for any self proclaimed antiracist person. Malcolm’s words are not a doctrine to live by literally, but provide first hand experience of the structures of institutionalized racism in America while also showing the importance of being an ever changing, ever learning person. My edition had an additional writing by Ossie Davis who put it better than I can: Malcolm was a man. He is characterized in whitewashed history as solely a hateful and violent person, but reading his words shows his commitment to personal evolution. He did say things that were sexist, antisemitic, and maybe racist. But he also acknowledged he was not perfect and that he was always learning. And that is what we should all take away from this book and from Malcolm’s teaching.