Malcolm X Talks to Young People: Speeches in the United States, Britain, and Africa

by Malcolm X, Steve Clark (Editor)

This expanded edition includes four talks and an interview given to young people in Ghana, the United Kingdom, and the United States in the last months of his life. Among the new material in this edition is the entire December 1964 debate presentation by Malcolm X at the Oxford Union in the United Kingdom, in print for the first time anywhere. The collection concludes with two memorial tributes by a young socialist leader to this great revolutionary, whose example and words continue to speak the truth for generation after generation of youth. With a new preface and an expanded photo display of 17 pages.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, African American, History

146 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1990

About the author

Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little), also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, was an American Black Muslim minister and a spokesman for the Nation of Islam.

After leaving the Nation of Islam in 1964, he made the pilgrimage, the Hajj, to Mecca and became a Sunni Muslim. He also founded the Muslim Mosque, Inc. and the Organization of Afro-American Unity. Less than a year later, he was assassinated in Washington Heights on the first day of National Brotherhood Week.

Historian Robin D.G. Kelley wrote, "Malcolm X has been called many things: Pan-Africanist, father of Black Power, religious fanatic, closet conservative, incipient socialist, and a menace to society. The meaning of his public life — his politics and ideology — is contested in part because his entire body of work consists of a few dozen speeches and a collaborative autobiography whose veracity is challenged. Malcolm has become a sort of tabula rasa, or blank slate, on which people of different positions can write their own interpretations of his politics and legacy.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Along with his 'Autobiography' and any regular bio, (though I recommend Marable's) if you have any interest in Malcolm X, reading his actual speeches is a must. This particular speech comes from the month prior to his assassination and was geared (as the title indicates) towards a group of visting teens/young adults at the Hotel Theresa. It's fairly short, but gives a great overview of where Malcolm's head was at the time. Far from the popular image of the white-hating militant but still a revolutionary. It speaks in a lot of ways to the transition Malcolm made after he visited Africa and delved into what true Islam is. One wonders where he would have gone if not for the assassination. A brilliant mind and one that unfortunately the public at large has been brainwashed into believing was a militant white hater to the end. His transtition throughiout his life is something that should be held up for young people to study right next to MLK Jr. I personally find his speeches powerful, cohesive and most of all, true to the time. They never feel overly rehearsed. This is no different. The pamphlet includes a brief interview with some Socialist leaning folks as well. If you find this at a library or for a fairly cheap price, I recommend it.

[Alex Paramo]

As an undergraduate my majors were History and Anthropology. In History I focused on Native American and African American History, respectively. I was mentored by Dr. William Sayles, Emeritus Chair of the Seton Hall University African American History Department. Dr. Sayles was a confidant and preeminent expert on Malcom X. I learned a great deal about Malcolm X, his life and perspective from Dr. Sayles. I had never read this book but I came across it at a used book, book store. It was a great read because these were speeches he made during the last year of his life, including one weeks from his unfortunate assassination. Malcolm X was very passionate about being an ideological mentor to kids-students. In this book, his passion is evident and his words are clear. I would recommend this to people already familiar with Malcolm X on a sophisticated level. P.S. Just finished watching the "Who Killed Malcolm X" series on Netlix.

[Tasniim · Rating 2 out of 5]

some really profound talking points, especially with how similar congo and palestine are. a great insight into the shift of x’s politics from domestic to international, from a “religious and political vacuum” which he calls the black muslim movement to real spirituality in what it means to be a muslim and real political action, mobilisation and organisation - i think that this is why he became so dangerous to the establishment. the simple moral clarity in his defence of violence is incredible.

much of the speeches were the same or very similar, which makes sense because they were all made in a short period of time. my favourite was the second to last one - the young socialist’s comparison of how he saw malcolm vs how a white liberal who interviewed him saw him. was very tedious to read because of how similar it all was - i’m not sure it translates well as a book, so much of his humour and charisma is lost in words, I wish i could see the talks and speeches in video or audio.

really enjoyed the pics tho!

[Tibby]

I found this little volume in the thrift shop for a dollar and since I always enjoy reading Malcolm X's speeches, I picked it up.

The first half of the book are speeches he gave in England and in his travels in Africa. It was incredibly interesting to hear his break down of the freedom struggles that were ongoing on the African continent at the time and how they tied in with the freedom struggles of the Black community here in the United States.

Malcolm is always so insightful and so good at exposing the underlying systems of oppression. He is intelligent, but makes things easy to see and understand. As always it's heartbreaking to think that just a few months after some of these speeches were given he would be assassinated.

[Alex Stokoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good introduction to anyone who wants to learn more about Malcolm X.
In this publication of his own speeches, not only are you given a much more in-depth look of the often discredited leader and revolutionary, but you are also given insight into just how much of a leader he was. My personal opinion of Malcolm X has been raised significantly after reading this, and to anyone else who wants more than just a base understanding of him, as both a person and human-rights leader, I would recommend this.
(Missing a star due to my own gripes with some of Malcolm's points, some of the speeches cut off and interrupted by sections marked 'inaudible' and the penultimate section being less of a speech and more of a journalist observing MX.)

[Steven R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collection of speeches in different places from the last 18 months of X's life, makes it very clear where his thought was at during that period but also somewhat repetitive. The last part is mostly just Jack Barnes saying X agreed with the SWP(US).

[Marc Lichtman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This title was first issued as a pamphlet in 1965, with a lot less material in it. While the book was first published in 1991, it's only the second edition, published in 2002 that has the full text of Malcolm's remarks at the Oxford University debate on Dec. 3, 1964. Pathfinder Press hadn't located it before that time.

Of all the books presenting Malcolm X in his last year, this is my personal favorite. It's speeches to college students in Ghana and the United Kingdom, and to young civil rights fighters from Mississippi. It also has his interview with 'Young Socialist' magazine from January 1965. A short book, but all you need as an introduction to him. He was becoming a serious revolutionary at that time (see Malcolm X, Black Liberation, and the Road to Workers Power).

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The rating has nothing to do with the speeches themselves but rather with the formatting. The booklet is exceedingly brief and more might have been included. I would rather have had another speech by Malcolm X instead of a tribute from Jack Barnes at the end. Nevertheless, what was vexing was that in the first of the two speeches reproduced here far too many ellipses were used. While the editor may have wanted to focus the content of the speech I would have preferred to have been able to read this "extraneous material" myself. Given the work's brevity, I would recommend any of the other collections of Malcolm's speeches since all of them provide more material.

[Moni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago (in college) and started reading it again during this year's BHM. It's a great, short book that's packed with so much information...and Malcolm's words ring as true today as they did then. It's a shame that many have been brainwashed into believing that Malcolm was a militant white hater.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

What i learned from this book, well a lot!

[Ricardo]

ook

[Sammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirational and insightful!

[Quentin Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

As relevant as it was then as it was today. Get opinions of malcolm in depth from America, politics, nation of Islam and black leaders that can still be seen today. Malcolm was ahead of his time.