Malcolm: The Life of a Man Who Changed Black America

by Bruce Perry

This fascinating psychological portrait, strikingly different from the one given in the Autobiography, is of a man who was abused by both his parents, who never shook off the conflicts of his troubled youth, and whose internalized messages of racial ambivalence continued to plague him throughout his brilliant career. As no other book has done, Malcolm traces the entire life of this heroic figure, from his birth in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1925, his youthful struggles with deprivation and drug addiction, his life-threatening prison experience and conversion to Islam, through his emergence as a Muslim leader and spokesman for a restless America, and finally to his death by assassination. Exhaustively researched, this first comprehensive biography of Malcolm X is based on the oral and written accounts of over 400 people who knew him, as well as government files and Malcolm's letters. ...paints a rich, full, and fair portrait of the man...what it gives us is not a diminished Malcolm, for his heroism, his brilliance...charm...wit...necessity have never been as sympathetically or absorbingly rendered.-The Los Angeles Times

Genres: History, Biography, Race

560 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Thomas Rush · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why would someone who hates and despises Malcolm X to the core of his soul, spend such a large amount of time researching and writing such a hefty book about Malcolm? This is a question that baffles the mind. One way for Bruce Perry to attempt to mask his hatred towards Malcolm is to feign genuine interest in Malcolm by writing a biography about him. It seems to me that there is something twisted and not quite right about this, but this is one of the realities that seems to be going on within the production of Perry's book. This book feeds the hunger of Perry's hatred. Anyone who writes a biography should make an attempt to be objective and fair. Perry makes no such attempt. The intensity and comprehensiveness of Perry's hatred for Malcolm hints to this reader that there is some type of deep, dark, sinister, psychological issue at work within Perry when it comes to Malcolm, all aimed at promoting who knows what? What is Perry's issue? I could speculate, beginning with the same reasons that the mainstream media hated Malcolm during his lifetime, but that would only be speculation. It would take a psychological expert, one beyond my capability, to get at the true core of Perry's conniving hatred of Malcolm. Still, there is comfort in calling this conniving hatred for what it is. Nearly every fact that was revealed by Perry's research was spun into the book through Perry's lens, with all of the facts consistently given the most negative interpretation possible. As a complement to this review, I am suggesting that it would be wise to read a copy of Arnold Rampersad's essay titled "The Color Of His Eyes: Bruce Perry's Malcolm and Malcolm's Malcolm." The essay can be found on page 117 in "Malcolm X : In Our Own Image", edited by Joe Wood. The prudent reader will also gain from reading the book "On The Side Of My People: A Religious Life Of Malcolm X" by Louis A. DeCaro, Jr., particularly his discussion about Bruce Perry's "work" on pages 298 and 299.
On the flip side of the coin, the beauty of Malcolm X's body of work, his legacy, comes from the fact that the power of who he was, the power of his spirit, message and essence, is impenetrable to such shallow attempts as Perry's to defame him. Truth always wins out. Despite Perry's prodigious effort to discredit Malcolm, The Autobiography of Malcolm X will always be the defining narrative of Malcolm's life, a book judged by Time magazine as one of the top non-fiction books of the 20th century. Malcolm was too great of a figure to have someone try and insult his historical status by a recipe of calumny, non sequiturs and sophistry. Any objective search for the real Malcolm has a lot to choose from, with a handsome collection of legitimate books, albums, tapes, cd's, youtube videos and documentaries in existence. A true attempt to get at the real Malcolm should begin and end with his Autobiography, the longest and most comprehensive source of Malcolm revealing himself to the world. There is enough legitimate information in circulation about Malcolm to reward a diligent, reasoned, balanced, temperate search. I am giving Perry's book a rating of one star because I do not have the option of assigning negative stars to it. If I had that as an option, we would all have to blow off the dust from our early school understanding of the algebraic line and make our way to the left of zero.

PS--Chapter 4 in "Reality's Pen: Reflections On Family, History & Culture" by Thomas D. Rush is called "Inspiration." That chapter is really a moving dedication to Malcolm X. Anyone interested in Malcolm X will find that chapter worth one's while. In addition, there is much to be gained from the rest of the book.

[Jara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't plan on being so emotionally affected by new details about this man who I've admired for so long. Despite Bruce's warnings that he doesn't idolize or demonize Malcolm, it was still hard to learn these new sides of X's humanity. I appreciate the unflinching perspective into this complex, iconic personality.

[RR Gilston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched but enough of a narrative that I actually felt sad as the book went on, in anticipation of the as the inevitable ending. Malcolm's trajectory from foster child eating weeds during the Great Depression, to a being sentenced to triple the jail time of his white girlfriend/accomplice, to his dedication Islam is objectively chronicled. I read this book some 20 years ago, but seem to remember it's thesis being that Malcolm Little/X was the quintessential American...continually reinventing himself...and the U.s. In the process.

[Susandhra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coupling this book with the Autobiography of Malcolm X provides an insightful and very real look at Malcolm X's life. The author often refers to things said in the Autobiography of Malcolm X and offers clarification. It's an in-depth account of Malcolm X's life both politically and personally and it allows you to see beyond both the media's portrayal of him and his portrayal of himself in the Autobiography.

[Andy Pandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an absolutely startling bio of Malcolm. The thing I guess with this kind of book is that the author did vast amounts of research into it. Other than that, I don't know what to say. A great many of the assertions here will have been hugely unwelcome, perhaps for good reason. Wow, a completely different telling of Malcolm's life from the Alex Haley autobiography.
Also, how are there only 13 reviews? This is an exhaustively well-researched book on one of the 20th century's most interesting, polarizing, and indeed important figures. People really are unconcerned, I suppose.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most texts I’ve read previously only served to praise and celebrate the late Malcolm X. It was interesting to read a detailed narrative about this complex and conflicted man. It’s sad that one with the potential Malcolm X possessed frittered it away and left behind a complicated and muddy legacy. The book does tend to drag at times as repetitive details are shared about Malcolm’s life and the Nation of Islam. However, the details are supported by 125 source pages at the end of the book. Fans and detractors of Malcolm X will likely learn something new reading this book as it shares the good and the bad many times over.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliantly indepth and revealing look at the life of Malcolm X. Sure, it has its bias, but it provides a perspective of a man troubled by the world around him; a man, who grew up with out any hope, only to find it within the radical organisation of the Nation of Islam.

It's certainly not brief; but then again, to retract or omit any detail will only do injustice to this man.

[Paul Fadoju · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the account of Bruce Perry concerning Malcolm X. I come to a conclusion that as much as history has made him a Black Hero....He was a man at WAR with himself. A good read and a tragic life.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

a biography of Malcolm X...quite different than his autobiography...

[Corey Constable · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the most part, factually accurate, although at times it feels as though Perry takes artistic liberty in determining how conversations and such took place.

[Rafael Suleiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting biography of Malcolm X.

[K Steward · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a long time to read this book, as I put it down at times to read something else. I found it well-written, but too detailed. It seemed to be extremely well-researched; the author clearly spent years tracking down and interviewing family members and other people who knew Malcolm. The book also contains extensive notes and bibliography, which could be helpful to someone doing research. For a different perspective, I plan to read the autobiography as told to Alex Haley in the future.

[John Marricco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an interesting, well-researched, and all around enjoyable book, I had to give it 5 stars. At first, I wanted to read Malcolm's autobiography but ultimately, I was given this book as a gift and was extremely happy to get Bruce's description of events. I enjoyed reading the notes along with the text, to gain a better perspective of things. Malcolm packed a whole lot of living in the short time he was with us, a great man was lost, taken in a vicious, violent, and cowardly way. For all of Malcolm's great accomplishments, Bruce impressed upon me that Malcolm had still even more great day's ahead of him were he not prematurely taken.

[Elizabeth Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drawing heavily on the autobiography of Malcolm X, along with court documents and in-depth interviews, this author presented what seems to be a thoroughly researched profile of Malcolm. It saddens me, and amazes me that someone who experienced so much abuse from all sides had such a lasting and important impact. I truly wish that I had been able to meet Malcolm, and insh' Allah will one day.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 or four? Not quite sure how to rate it 😂But what I am sure about is that a whole lot of work was put into this book and I very much appreciate that.

[Robert_mccain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brings forth another look at a great hero to the world. The sad story of a child growing up in troubling time would be nothing despite this mans great ability to rally people to create political unrest. The story told in this story focus on the life of one of the greatest men in black history. from the start to the end this parallels many of Malcolm's biographies, but brings forth his life in a positive light. His battles throught his life are shared with us which help us understand the road this great american hero goes down before his ultimate demise and assassination during his last speech.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I felt like there was so much detail that wasn't needed.