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On the Side of My People: A Religious Life of Malcolm X
The first book-length evaluation of Malcolm X's religious life
The mythic figure of Malcolm X conjures up a variety of images--black nationalist, extremist, civil rights leader, hero. But how often is Malcolm X understood as a religious leader, a man profoundly affected by his relationship with Allah?
During Malcolm's life and since, the press has focused on the Nation of Islam's rejection of integration, offering an extremely limited picture of its ideology and religious philosophy. Mainstream media have ignored the religious foundation at the heart of the Nation and failed to show it in light of other separatist religious movements. With the spirituality of cultic black Islam unexplored and the most controversial elements of the Nation exploited, its most famous member, Malcolm X, became one of the most misunderstood leaders in history.
In On the Side of My People , Louis A. DeCaro, Jr. offers the first book length religious treatment of Malcolm X. Malcolm X was certainly a political man. Yet he was also a man of Allah, struggling with his salvation―as concerned with redemption as with revolution.
Drawing on a wide variety of sources, including extensive interviews with Malcolm's oldest brother, FBI surveillance documents, the black press, and tape-recorded speeches and interviews, DeCaro examines the charismatic leader from the standpoint of his two conversion experiences--to the Nation while he was in jail and to traditional Islam climaxing in his pilgrimage to Mecca. Examining Malcolm beyond his well-known years as spokesman for the Nation, On the Side My People explores Malcolm's early religious training and the influence of his Garveyite parents, his relationship with Elijah Muhammad, his often overlooked journey to Africa in 1959, and his life as a traditional Muslim after the 1964 pilgrimage. In his critical analysis of The Autobiography of Malcolm X, DeCaro provides insight into the motivation behind Malcolm's own story, offering a key to understanding how and why Malcolm portrayed his life in his own autobiography as told to Alex Haley. Inspiring and necessary, On the Side My People presents readers with a Malcolm X few were privileged to know. By filling in the gaps of Malcolm's life, DeCaro paints a more complete portrait of one of the most powerful and relevant civil rights figures in American history.
The mythic figure of Malcolm X conjures up a variety of images--black nationalist, extremist, civil rights leader, hero. But how often is Malcolm X understood as a religious leader, a man profoundly affected by his relationship with Allah?
During Malcolm's life and since, the press has focused on the Nation of Islam's rejection of integration, offering an extremely limited picture of its ideology and religious philosophy. Mainstream media have ignored the religious foundation at the heart of the Nation and failed to show it in light of other separatist religious movements. With the spirituality of cultic black Islam unexplored and the most controversial elements of the Nation exploited, its most famous member, Malcolm X, became one of the most misunderstood leaders in history.
In On the Side of My People , Louis A. DeCaro, Jr. offers the first book length religious treatment of Malcolm X. Malcolm X was certainly a political man. Yet he was also a man of Allah, struggling with his salvation―as concerned with redemption as with revolution.
Drawing on a wide variety of sources, including extensive interviews with Malcolm's oldest brother, FBI surveillance documents, the black press, and tape-recorded speeches and interviews, DeCaro examines the charismatic leader from the standpoint of his two conversion experiences--to the Nation while he was in jail and to traditional Islam climaxing in his pilgrimage to Mecca. Examining Malcolm beyond his well-known years as spokesman for the Nation, On the Side My People explores Malcolm's early religious training and the influence of his Garveyite parents, his relationship with Elijah Muhammad, his often overlooked journey to Africa in 1959, and his life as a traditional Muslim after the 1964 pilgrimage. In his critical analysis of The Autobiography of Malcolm X, DeCaro provides insight into the motivation behind Malcolm's own story, offering a key to understanding how and why Malcolm portrayed his life in his own autobiography as told to Alex Haley. Inspiring and necessary, On the Side My People presents readers with a Malcolm X few were privileged to know. By filling in the gaps of Malcolm's life, DeCaro paints a more complete portrait of one of the most powerful and relevant civil rights figures in American history.
381 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 20, 2017
At long last, I've finished!
Okay, seriously...I'm never taking this long to read such a relatively normal-sized book again. In my defense, life got in the way, but the book also just didn't engage me very much. Though it presents some interesting information and insights about the life of Malcolm X, it's somehow not quite a page-turner despite my being a big fan of Malcolm, particularly once he left the Nation and became an actual Muslim.
The book is good, but I found myself often having to reread paragraphs to understand exactly what was being said. It's not that it's written in an overly stuffy or academic manner, and I really liked how the author subtly added his own opinions into the work. He also included a *lot* of impressive sources for his citations: old prison files, FBI/police files on Malcolm and the Nation, transcribed speeches, interviews with friends and family, and references from other biographies. It's clear that his research was extensive, which is honestly what makes this ultimately a good book.
Many books have been written about Malcolm X, but few have attempted to address his religious beliefs, despite the centrality of the Nation and later Sunni Islam to his life and worldview. This book attempted to change that and, based on other reviews you'll find on this site, it seems many were impressed by the author's attempt. I was too, I just somehow couldn't get into it enough to read more than a few pages each day. Maybe I'm the one at fault here - it wouldn't be the first time.
In any case, if you're interested in reading about Malcolm X's religious background from his early childhood to the year of his assassination, I see no other place to start but here. Happy reading!
Okay, seriously...I'm never taking this long to read such a relatively normal-sized book again. In my defense, life got in the way, but the book also just didn't engage me very much. Though it presents some interesting information and insights about the life of Malcolm X, it's somehow not quite a page-turner despite my being a big fan of Malcolm, particularly once he left the Nation and became an actual Muslim.
The book is good, but I found myself often having to reread paragraphs to understand exactly what was being said. It's not that it's written in an overly stuffy or academic manner, and I really liked how the author subtly added his own opinions into the work. He also included a *lot* of impressive sources for his citations: old prison files, FBI/police files on Malcolm and the Nation, transcribed speeches, interviews with friends and family, and references from other biographies. It's clear that his research was extensive, which is honestly what makes this ultimately a good book.
Many books have been written about Malcolm X, but few have attempted to address his religious beliefs, despite the centrality of the Nation and later Sunni Islam to his life and worldview. This book attempted to change that and, based on other reviews you'll find on this site, it seems many were impressed by the author's attempt. I was too, I just somehow couldn't get into it enough to read more than a few pages each day. Maybe I'm the one at fault here - it wouldn't be the first time.
In any case, if you're interested in reading about Malcolm X's religious background from his early childhood to the year of his assassination, I see no other place to start but here. Happy reading!
October 24, 2013
I have been an admirer of Malcolm X for some time. When I read his biography as a young man in my early 20's, it really did change how I looked at the world (in a positive way). At the time, Malcolm was making a resurgence due to the Spike Lee movie (which I also enjoy). Malcolm X gear flew off the shelves and those that wanted to idolize him held fast to the 'by any means necessary' attitude of Malcolm. I often felt there was much missing from the dialogue on Malcolm, especially regarding the last year of his life and his conversion to a) true Islam and b) a less segregated tone about race relations.
In this book, Dr. Decaro presents the religious history of Malcolm X, and it is fascinating. Building on the information already provided, the author gives us the first, book length investigation as to Malcolm's religious upbringing and how they shaped his beliefs. It is a wonderful book that shows the important faith can (should) play in each of our lives. If any reader has an interest in who Malcolm was as a person and as a religious thinker, you need to give this book your attention.
The writing was clear, without any blatant agenda, and helped grow my respect even more for El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz...Malcolm X.
In this book, Dr. Decaro presents the religious history of Malcolm X, and it is fascinating. Building on the information already provided, the author gives us the first, book length investigation as to Malcolm's religious upbringing and how they shaped his beliefs. It is a wonderful book that shows the important faith can (should) play in each of our lives. If any reader has an interest in who Malcolm was as a person and as a religious thinker, you need to give this book your attention.
The writing was clear, without any blatant agenda, and helped grow my respect even more for El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz...Malcolm X.
March 9, 2015
Well researched and very readable. The author is very respectful while critically examining Malcolm's own accounts of his life. Decaro contextualizes Malcolm's words and choices in his religious background and development, but most importantly within the environment of oppressive racial discrimination.
I would like to see more material related to Malcolm's post-Nation approach to Sunni Islam, but this book is an excellent foundation to build from.
I would like to see more material related to Malcolm's post-Nation approach to Sunni Islam, but this book is an excellent foundation to build from.
August 8, 2015
When a person steps back and tries to take a look at the breadth and sweep of the life of the person we've come to know as Malcolm X, there are a multitude of labels that we could use to try and define him. Despite the multiple, and may I add, appropriate, terms we could use to define him, there is one label that I will step out on a limb and say that fits him better than any other. Before Malcolm X was anything else he was first a child of Allah, and secondly, the son of Earl and Louise Little. I have no doubt in my mind that if he were alive whether Malcolm would have a problem with these two labels being used as the primary and fundamental ones to define him. Given the way in which the World as a whole has completely misunderstood him, most people would probably laugh at this characterization. Anyone who misses this point fails to see God's energy as it worked itself out through his life. I would make the argument that Malcolm X is one of the most misunderstood public figures in American History, and most certainly, one of the most misunderstood of anyone who functioned in the 20th century. This misunderstanding was purposely promoted through an active campaign of misrepresentation carried on by the mainstream American media against him, because, in the scope of things, there was no sincere effort by that media to get to know, and understand him. "Misrepresentation" by another name is called "lying." I have never looked at it this way until this very second as I write these words, but for anyone who genuinely tries to get to know the real Malcolm X as he really was, that person is openly and implicitly rejecting how the American mainstream media tried to define him. If an entity and its agents intend as a conscious effort to steer you to a conception of misunderstanding and you seek understanding in contrast to that entity and its agents, you have repudiated the message that entity and its agents have tried to promulgate. Looked at another way, you have taken a conscious step against brainwashing. I consciously and openly reject the mainstream media's attempt to try and brainwash me into as to what to think about Malcolm X.
Malcolm's complexity is like an onion, as you strip one layer back, you discover another, never quite seeming to arrive at its core. In reading about his life's work, the moment you think you "know" him, he reveals a facet of himself that seems to have popped up out of nowhere, but is really part and parcel to his maturation and evolution as a growing human being. His life truly was multidimensional, on every level. His life is easily one that will never fit within exclusive and narrow boxes to define him. One layer of the skin of onion is stripped back only to find a more intriguing, enriching and complex layer of Malcolm beneath it, all of which brings us to "On The Side Of My People: A Religious Life Of Malcolm X" by Louis DeCaro, Jr.
DeCaro helps us to clarify a fundamental level of Malcolm, by approaching this book through the angle of looking at Malcolm through a religious lens. In order to do this, DeCaro takes us back into the home of Earl and Louise Little, emphasizing both the messianic Garveyite, Black Christian religious fervor of his parents, and how that fervor conflates with the social/cultural philosophy of Garvey's Black Nationalism.
DeCaro takes us through the period after Earl Little's death, when Malcolm's mother explored, but never joined, a number of other Christian denominations. These early religious experiences, would help to fuel the soul and religious curiosity that remained with Malcolm for the rest of his life. In approaching Malcolm in the way that he does, DeCaro is able to get at what I'll call the fundamental "inner workings" within Malcolm, something that many who have held Malcolm up as a hero have not done. DeCaro is attempting a journey to the core of that onion. Malcolm was an infinitely soul-filled man, who took both his religion and his spirituality seriously. This helps to explain Malcolm's zeal in promoting The Nation Of Islam. Anyone who takes Malcolm seriously can get a glimpse of the God-energy within him in what DeCaro calls Malcolm's "legendary smile," a smile that seemed to light up the universe. In addition, anyone who takes Malcolm seriously, must also, at some point, wrestle with Malcolm as both a religious and spiritual man. Like the Biblical story of Jacob wrestling with God's angel, one will wind up blessed by the experience of wrestling with Malcolm's religious and spiritual nature. This book helps us to look at Malcolm from a multiple of religious and spiritual angles, so that we sense the God-energy that worked within him. In fairness to DeCaro, his own theological involvement, background and education informs this book on so many different levels, particularly in how he analyzes Malcolm's two major religious conversions, the first one being his acceptance of the doctrines of The Nation Of Islam, and then later, his repudiation of The Nation's doctrines, combined with his acceptance of orthodox Islam in the form of Sunni Islam. If we get nothing else from this book, DeCaro's comprehensive theological analysis is a MAJOR and ESSENTIAL gift that he has provided to those of us who are fascinated with knowing more about the life of Malcolm X.
For those of us who are intensely interested in Malcolm's life, we are sympathetically and almost half-jokingly referred to as "Malcolmites." For Malcomites, every book that comes out about him we approach it with a level of excitement. Most of us have read "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" and we hold it up as both the gold standard and Holy Grail of books about him. Therefore, we compare each new book that comes out about Malcolm with "The Autobiography," wondering if the new book comes anywhere close to the gold standard. Of all the books that I've read about Malcolm up to this point in my life, I would say that DeCaro's book is easily the second best book about him. "The Autobiography" will probably remain the Holy Grail primarily because it is roughly 366 pages of nearly undiluted Malcolm X talking about his life in the first person, a future possibility for any other book that was destroyed with his assassination. As I continue to read books about Malcolm's life, I will enjoy comparing and contrasting whether the focus book is as enriching as "The Autobiography" and DeCaro's book. DeCaro's book is a major work on a major figure in American History and does a great job of providing a tool to help all of us to unravel the web of misunderstanding that surrounds the life of Malcolm X. An open-minded reading of DeCaro's book reveals that he is extremely reverent of Malcolm, ultimately leading to the conclusion that this is a caring, emotionally sensitive and profoundly thoughtful account of an admittedly brilliant man. This book is both scholarship and theological analysis at its best. It is a great work.
I read DeCaro's work no more than 2 pages at a sitting. This is the only way I could digest this mountain of information, to “eat this elephant-of-a-book-of 300 pages only one spoonful at a time.” It takes Job-like patience to do it this way. This is not the kind of book I could do marathon reading with, breezing through 30 to 50 pages at a sitting. If I had done that, I would have gotten bored and bogged down. I also looked up all words in this book in a dictionary that were unfamiliar to me, and copied them down into a notebook. Though I pride myself on having a very comprehensive reading vocabulary, DeCaro's verbiage had me looking up and writing down quite a number of words. I am glad that I read the book slowly and to have also looked up all necessary vocabulary words, absorbing much more information doing it this way than any other way. It took me quite some time to read the book, but I am profoundly blessed to have done it my way. I can only hope the level of my reading is reflected in this review.
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.
Malcolm's complexity is like an onion, as you strip one layer back, you discover another, never quite seeming to arrive at its core. In reading about his life's work, the moment you think you "know" him, he reveals a facet of himself that seems to have popped up out of nowhere, but is really part and parcel to his maturation and evolution as a growing human being. His life truly was multidimensional, on every level. His life is easily one that will never fit within exclusive and narrow boxes to define him. One layer of the skin of onion is stripped back only to find a more intriguing, enriching and complex layer of Malcolm beneath it, all of which brings us to "On The Side Of My People: A Religious Life Of Malcolm X" by Louis DeCaro, Jr.
DeCaro helps us to clarify a fundamental level of Malcolm, by approaching this book through the angle of looking at Malcolm through a religious lens. In order to do this, DeCaro takes us back into the home of Earl and Louise Little, emphasizing both the messianic Garveyite, Black Christian religious fervor of his parents, and how that fervor conflates with the social/cultural philosophy of Garvey's Black Nationalism.
DeCaro takes us through the period after Earl Little's death, when Malcolm's mother explored, but never joined, a number of other Christian denominations. These early religious experiences, would help to fuel the soul and religious curiosity that remained with Malcolm for the rest of his life. In approaching Malcolm in the way that he does, DeCaro is able to get at what I'll call the fundamental "inner workings" within Malcolm, something that many who have held Malcolm up as a hero have not done. DeCaro is attempting a journey to the core of that onion. Malcolm was an infinitely soul-filled man, who took both his religion and his spirituality seriously. This helps to explain Malcolm's zeal in promoting The Nation Of Islam. Anyone who takes Malcolm seriously can get a glimpse of the God-energy within him in what DeCaro calls Malcolm's "legendary smile," a smile that seemed to light up the universe. In addition, anyone who takes Malcolm seriously, must also, at some point, wrestle with Malcolm as both a religious and spiritual man. Like the Biblical story of Jacob wrestling with God's angel, one will wind up blessed by the experience of wrestling with Malcolm's religious and spiritual nature. This book helps us to look at Malcolm from a multiple of religious and spiritual angles, so that we sense the God-energy that worked within him. In fairness to DeCaro, his own theological involvement, background and education informs this book on so many different levels, particularly in how he analyzes Malcolm's two major religious conversions, the first one being his acceptance of the doctrines of The Nation Of Islam, and then later, his repudiation of The Nation's doctrines, combined with his acceptance of orthodox Islam in the form of Sunni Islam. If we get nothing else from this book, DeCaro's comprehensive theological analysis is a MAJOR and ESSENTIAL gift that he has provided to those of us who are fascinated with knowing more about the life of Malcolm X.
For those of us who are intensely interested in Malcolm's life, we are sympathetically and almost half-jokingly referred to as "Malcolmites." For Malcomites, every book that comes out about him we approach it with a level of excitement. Most of us have read "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" and we hold it up as both the gold standard and Holy Grail of books about him. Therefore, we compare each new book that comes out about Malcolm with "The Autobiography," wondering if the new book comes anywhere close to the gold standard. Of all the books that I've read about Malcolm up to this point in my life, I would say that DeCaro's book is easily the second best book about him. "The Autobiography" will probably remain the Holy Grail primarily because it is roughly 366 pages of nearly undiluted Malcolm X talking about his life in the first person, a future possibility for any other book that was destroyed with his assassination. As I continue to read books about Malcolm's life, I will enjoy comparing and contrasting whether the focus book is as enriching as "The Autobiography" and DeCaro's book. DeCaro's book is a major work on a major figure in American History and does a great job of providing a tool to help all of us to unravel the web of misunderstanding that surrounds the life of Malcolm X. An open-minded reading of DeCaro's book reveals that he is extremely reverent of Malcolm, ultimately leading to the conclusion that this is a caring, emotionally sensitive and profoundly thoughtful account of an admittedly brilliant man. This book is both scholarship and theological analysis at its best. It is a great work.
I read DeCaro's work no more than 2 pages at a sitting. This is the only way I could digest this mountain of information, to “eat this elephant-of-a-book-of 300 pages only one spoonful at a time.” It takes Job-like patience to do it this way. This is not the kind of book I could do marathon reading with, breezing through 30 to 50 pages at a sitting. If I had done that, I would have gotten bored and bogged down. I also looked up all words in this book in a dictionary that were unfamiliar to me, and copied them down into a notebook. Though I pride myself on having a very comprehensive reading vocabulary, DeCaro's verbiage had me looking up and writing down quite a number of words. I am glad that I read the book slowly and to have also looked up all necessary vocabulary words, absorbing much more information doing it this way than any other way. It took me quite some time to read the book, but I am profoundly blessed to have done it my way. I can only hope the level of my reading is reflected in this review.
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.
August 1, 2011
Fascinating and a must if all you know of the man is Haley's book or Spike's movie.
June 2, 2023
Book was awesome almost better than the autobiography
June 13, 2016
A good, well documented study of Malcolm's life and thought.
January 26, 2024
Like most books it’s a little long-winded but an incredibly well done study of Malcolm. One of the best on the market. I’ve read it three times.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews