The Portable Malcolm X Reader: A Man Who Stands for Nothing Will Fall for Anything

by Manning Marable (Editor), Garrett Felber (Editor), Malcolm X

A new look at Malcolm X's life and times from his Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer, Manning Marable

Manning Marable's Pulitzer Prize–winning biography, Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention, has already begun to reshape perceptions of one of America's great revolutionary thinkers. This volume, the first collection of major documents addressing Malcolm X in decades, features never-before-published material, including articles from major newspapers and underground presses, oral histories, police reports, and FBI files, to shine a brighter light on Malcolm's life and times. Conceived as both a companion to the biography and a standalone volume, and assembled by Marable and his key researcher, Garrett Felber, prior to Marable's untimely death, The Portable Malcolm X Reader presents an invaluable portrait of Malcolm X.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Race, Politics

618 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2013

About the author

Manning Marable was an American professor of public affairs, history and African-American Studies at Columbia University. He founded and directed the Institute for Research in African-American Studies. He authored several texts and was active in progressive political causes. At the time of his death, he had completed a biography of human rights activist Malcolm X, entitled Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention.

Reviews

[Asha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of newspaper articles, documents , interviews surrounding Malcolm X's life. It is really for research purposes, and you need to know the Autobiography of Malcolm X pretty well to even get through the reader. Some of the documents are redundant and some essential events are glossed over. Despite the fact that it is obvious the writer is questioning Malcolm x's true motives, the book reinforces that most of the social-political concerns and actions of the Nation of Islam was because of Malcolm X. This was not a major concern for Elijah Muhammad , who was predominantly promoting a separatist-religious movement. Otherwise, there are no major revelations . If you want to know about Malcolm X , stick to the biography. For more depth ,the authors other book "Malcolm A life of reinvention " may suite you better ( although this book is controversial. You don't need this book for speeches either, "Malcolm Speaks" is a better investment.

[Annette Balter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chronology and collection of articles, source documents and essays from his biographer. What is amazing and tragic is that we need these ideas just as much today as we did in the ‘60s or the 1760s.

[Fernando · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book for the multiple points of view on Malcolm X. It gave many different types of sources from FBI reports, government documents, essays, and personal accounts. The thing that stands out most to me is the book’s ability to challenge some of Malcolm’s more radical thinking. Reading complete speeches in context adds so much to Malcolm as a person.

[Jarred Goodall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding resource, which I plan on keeping, and citing, in the future.

[hami · Rating 1 out of 5]

Probably the worst biography on Malcolm X. No wonder his family denounced Manning's writings as garbage. Alex Haley's biography still rules.

[djreggiereg Mas Reg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm just an "Average Joe" that is on a "Quest," this path is taking me to places that I want to encounter. The Portable Malcolm Reader is helping me on "My Path."

...showed that by reasoning anyone could see that the only right thing for the Black Man in America was Islam.”
Malcolm showed that by reasoning anyone could see that the only right thing for the Black Man in America was Islam.

By Reasoning(my understanding) I can see that the only thing right for me is what I chose. It's my choice...

MALCOLM spoke for over an hour and he blasted everything American. This was wrong. That was wrong. The flag ‘was wrong etc. The only thing right in America was the movement of Islam.

Malcolm X used two systems of Rationalizations; these are Command Propaganda and Declarative Propaganda.

Command: This was used by Boycotting, and Mass Meeting. They(NOI) didn't perform Killings or Riots like the Klan or Nazi's did. By not going to that level, that "Organized Groups" could'nt counteract the NOI movemtent.

Declarative Command : This type of propaganda is to act as a storehouse that is to be drawn upon according to the need. An example of this is when the Nazi's stated that "The Jew is Evil." This can be changed ans formatted to anything like... "_______ because the Jew is evil." This can do wonders to incite a group.

Wow, this is only the first part of the book... Manning Marable and Garrett Felber, "Thank for offering this Red Pill." "This Rabbit Hole Is Going DEEPER Than Anything I've Known Thus Far."

[Guinevere Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marx said that we exist not in and of ourselves, but through our interrelations with other people. This collection of documents, interspersed with biographical drabbles, makes a series of interesting comments about the tumult and intrigue that was Malcom X's total life, but primarily through prison, police, and FBI records, news articles, and criticisms from others, with occasional works by the man himself. The book is a quick and informative read; I would, however, point interested parties first toward his autobiography (Alex Healey's motivations for which are commented upon early in this work--super cool).

[Dale · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think you'd have to be already pretty interested in Malcolm X to find a lot interesting here. There are a lot of extracts from various source documents - for example, letters and memos about his early arrest and incarceration for house breaking, news articles about him as he became an activist for Nation of Islam, etc.

But, since I'm not actually a fan of Nation of Islam, and therefore not much impressed by Malcolm X, I quickly tired of this book and set it aside about half way through.

[Muhammad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A resource of documents involving El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. This is not for fun reading. It's tedious and long, but for those who are enthusiast of this personage, it's a valuable resource. And it does hold some shocking information not know to the lay person which was incorporated into Marable's biography, but he also "fudged" some facts or gave it his own "spin"; you can tell by reading the source documents he provides.

[Dave Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

Assembled here are articles, reports, newspaper headlines, records, and speeches that paint the America Malcolm lived in. It works as a supplement to Marable’s incredible biography, or as a stand-alone resource for history buffs.

[Joseph Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You are not faced wit a segregationist conspiracy, we are face with a government conspiracy... to deprive you of your voting rights, housing rights, job rights...The government itself is responsible for the exploitation."

[Melika · Rating 4 out of 5]

great primary source collection

[Sidik Fofana · Rating 4 out of 5]

SIX WORD REVIEW: Do we really know Malcolm X?

[Umma]

I think this is one of those books everyone should read at least once.