Malcolm X: A Graphic Biography

by Andy Helfer, Randy DuBurke (Illustrator)

Assassinated at age forty in 1965. Malcolm X battled the horrifying legacy of African American slavery throughout his short life. Malcolm's passage from troubled boy to influential, outspoken man and finally to tragic hero is captured in the drawings of the award-winning graphic artist Randy DuBurke, and the heartrending history of the era is distilled to its essence by Andrew Helfer, editor of two Eisner Award-winning books. This is American history as you've never seen it before.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, History, Biography, Comics, African American, Historical

112 pages, Hardcover

First published November 14, 2006

About the author

Andrew Helfer usually credited as Andy Helfer, is an award-winning comic book creator best known for his work as an editor and writer at DC Comics, where he founded the Paradox Press imprint. Helfer joined DC in the 1980s, and was responsible for placing Keith Giffen and J.M. deMatteis on the Justice League titles; as well, he was the editor for The Man of Steel limited series by John Byrne. He also developed the Max Allan Collins-written series Road to Perdition and the John Wagner-written A History of Violence, both of which became successful films.

Reviews

[Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

X I chose this biography because the voice of the narrator was rich and resonant. He sounded quite a bit like Morgan Freeman. If you do a lot of audiobooks you know if the narrator doesn’t work for you then the book won’t work for you either. Better just read it yourself.

I knew little about Malcom’s journey except how it was going to end. This biography was a good introduction to his life. That is how I would categorize it, as an introductory examination of Malcom X’s years and beliefs. If you already know quite a bit about him then I’d suggest you choose a more extensive biography. For instance, I want to know more about what he said and thought after his pilgrimage to Mecca which was so transforming (Hajj).

Nevertheless, I learned a good deal. I recommend this audiobook.

So many stories from the 60s are painful. Thank goodness there was the music.

[Mara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not too long after finishing Americanah, I chanced upon this graphic novel when perusing my local digital library. Conceptually, I love the idea of a graphic biography and (this is where the Americanah thing becomes relevant) was particularly interested to see how one might take on a racially-charged discourse. Given the amazing, iconic images of the Civil Rights movement, my expectations were pretty high.

As you may have guessed from my dearth of stars, I was a bit disappointed. First of all, I don't know how 112 pages could feel so long, but they did. If it weren't for library due dates, I might still be trudging through this.

The author begins by challenging the veracity of Malcolm X's autobiography, which is fine (I don’t exactly have a PhD in Mr. X), but things just felt "weird" (for lack of a better term). There was a way in which the narrative seemed couched in certain racial clichés which, again, is fine (I'm no expert, and facts are facts- I found this review to be much better informed than anything I could produce), but there seemed to be a lack of nuance.

Malcolm's mother is the black woman, too proud to take handouts; willing to see her children suffer to such an extent that the "safety net" of the state had to swoop in to take control.

As Malcolm moves to the next stage of his life, he learns to live the life of the hustler which, among other things, involves getting your hair straightened- a moment that comes off as being clownish in manner.

It was also at this point that i lost all ability to discern characters visually. I get it, Malcolm was evolving, but it was downright confusing. For example, in the montage cell below, is that supposed to be Malcolm three times? If so, which one(s) is/are he/him?

The story arc I enjoyed most, visually speaking, was Malcolm's becoming disillusioned with Elijah Muhammad (of the Nation of Islam- NOI). Here, the illustrations give the reader a hook to just how different a person can seem as one's understanding evolves.

[Miroku Nemeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, Helfer basically attacks Malcolm's own narrative of his life from the first page—even the first paragraph--of the "Autobiography" by asserting that Malcolm's "mother, for her part, had no memory of the events" of her being threatened by the KKK at their Nebraska home when he was in the womb(7). In a further thinly veiled attack on Malcolm's credibility, he tries to undermine Malcolm's assertion that his father was murdered by adding in an alternative possibility that he slipped and fell trying to catch a trolley. The portrayal of the family is almost entirely one of an abusive father (who is illustrated, oddly enough, as a small balding man who looks much like a grocer, which is contrary to all accounts of Earl Little and his appearance), and an abused mother, who always looks disheveled, not anything like what has remained of the images of her. They also censored the very important moment when Malcolm’s eighth grade English teacher, Mr. Ostrowski, told him that being a lawyer was no realistic goal for a “nigger”. At first I thought that this was because they wanted to market this “graphic biography” to schools where that word would be objectionable, but you have the word used a few pages later by Malcolm himself when he cons the Army psychologist to avoid the draft. (30) The Charleston State Penitentiary is covered in less than two pages, and, much like Spike Lee’s movie adaptation of Malcolm X, there is no mention of the great influence that the eloquent autodidact convict and commanding speaker Bimbi had on Malcolm’s intellectual transformation.

As someone who has taught The Autobiography of Malcolm X to perhaps 30 classes of students over the last decade and a half, I have many problems with aspects of the narrative of Malcolm’s life that Helfer provides. This said, there is some very important African American and American history in this graphic biography. It mentions the April 27,1962 murder of Ronald Stokes by the LAPD, for example, which is an incident that is seldom even mentioned in mainstream histories of the period. It also dealt well with the justifiable disillusionment that Malcolm felt with the NOI after learning of Elijah Muhammad’s predatory affairs with young women. In fact, I feel that the art and writing seem to start to flow much better as the graphic novel progressed. They do an excellent job of illustrating the many attempts on Malcolm’s life and conflicts before his assassination that are rarely dealt with as well.
Far from perfect, problematic in areas, but well-worth reading, especially in conjunction with other works about Malcolm—though there is no substitute for “The Autobiography.”

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Text: 3 stars
Art: 3 stars

Black-and-white graphic biography about Malcolm X, aimed at teens. It's rather difficult to make out who is who in the illustrations. The book is very text-heavy and the illustrations seem rather static. I'm a big fan of graphic biography as a genre; unfortunately this one has some issues. But it does provide an overview of Malcolm's life and struggles.

[Black Bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot more than I thought i would, strangely enough.

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The text was great and I learned so much, but the illustrations were awful to the point of distraction. Disclaimer: I never read his autobio and entered the narrative knowing little.

[Mariah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not the worst biography that I have had to sit myself through, but it was the hardest 102 pages of my life. This may have been because I read this while I was on my youth group's annual 30-hour famine...so maybe my hunger was blinding me from the greatest biography of my life, but maybe not. Everyone should know the story of Malcolm X, but if not just a quick run through, he was kind of a back slider that found religion (specifically the Islamic faith). He originally follows the Nation of Islam which is racist towards everything else except blacks, but he eventually travels to Mecca after his expulsion from the NOI and discovers the true Islamic faith. He was assassinated (Not sure if that's a spoiler? If so sorry...)

I do really like how the art in this novel was all black and white which I believe dug more into the idea of racial lines, but then again I may be over analyzing. This novel also doesn't rely on symbolism for the facial expressions which I think was a key factor for relating this to a more realistic story where other biographical graphic novels I have read still have that "cartoon" feeling. The to image ration is obviously going to be more towards the text side because of this being a biography, but I still thought there were places where the text was just far to much for me.

Overall, this wasn't a horrible biography, but I just didn't want it. I do recommend this to any history buffs, people that want to know more about the history of the NOI or black Islamic faith in America this is the novel for you my dears.

[Chazzbot · Rating 2 out of 5]

This graphic novel is primarily intended for young adult audiences, and would likely provide a good introduction to the life and work of Malcolm X. For any other reader, however, I cannot recommend this book in place of X's autobiography, one of the most important books of the late 20th century. To its credit, this graphic novel does provide a comprehensive summary of the autobiography. In terms of artistic achievement, Randy DuBurke's charcoal renderings are a perfect fit, though they are often crowded out by text-heavy boxes. Those expecting a true graphic rendering of X's life will be disappointed, and DuBurke's art often only serves as illustration, not narrative. I like the idea of this book more than the execution, and I would urge any readers unfamiliar with Malcolm X to turn to his autobiography first.

[Library Lady 📚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book, gritty and real and sobering. I haven't read the autobiography of Malcolm X, so I went in with pretty slim knowledge. I learned a lot about the boy growing up and the young man. However, there was really nothing about the Black Panthers or some other important aspects of his legacy, like the drugs that he said were given to black communities, etc. It definitely provided a glimpse into his life, but I needed a lot more. I may have to pick up the whole book, not in graphic form. Recommend as a starting point, but not to get a full picture.

[Tony Cafiso · Rating 2 out of 5]

Malcolm X: a graphic biography was an overview of Malcolm's life. It talks about him traveling to mecca and discovering the true Islamic faith after he was expelled from the Nation of Islam, then his assassination. The art was black and white and the text did not have much interaction with the pictures, being in boxes or bubbles the same way the entire time. I thought the book was boring but I am not a huge history buff so it might recommend it to someone who is.

[Sarah H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doesn't really accurately portray his life but overall, it's a good overview of it.

[Pim Singhatiraj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. It’s been on my bookshelf for a few months and I finally picked it up to read on the train ride to a Black and Asian solidarities conference in Harlem. I can see myself teaching this to high schoolers. Makes me want to read the autobiography!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, I love graphic novels to help me fill in gaps of my knowledge of history. Now I want to find a more in depth history of Malcolm X.

[Jaclyn Hillis · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s the Malcolm X I learned about in high school, and then there’s the REAL Malcolm X. His story is a definitely a complicated one.

I think it’s a common misconception that Malcolm X was involved in the Black Panther party, when he was assassinated before the group was officially formed. Malcolm died February 22, 1965 and the Party was formed over a year and a half later. More accurately you could say that the party was formed in his wake.

This graphic biography details his life from childhood until his assassination. It’s a brief overview, so for more depth I would recommend his autobiography. Be warned, there are graphic sketches and real photographs of his death included in this book.

What intrigued me the most about this book was his involvement with Nation of Islam. I didn’t know a lot about this organization, its involved controversies, and how much was related to the actual practice of Islam. But what I now know is the part they played in Malcolm’s untimely death.

I definitely would like to learn more about his life after he left the group. More about his travels to Mecca and his spiritual journey thereafter. So I’ll definitely be checking out his full autobiography after reading this.

[Desiree Brunelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malcolm X is about a man who starts off the beaten track and ends up as something more, more meaning full and has a greater influence to a greater purpose. Malcolm always was different as boy, he was lighter skinned than his other brothers and anyone in the black community.his father Earl was abusive to his mother who was a very kind women, his brothers and to him as well but less so because Malcolm believes he reminded his father of a white boy so he was lenient towards him. Malcolm s mother was raped by a white man, and because of that Earl did not all him to take his name because he did not think he was worthy of it since his father was a preacher that spoke out against the white man ad his power over the black man. soon after Malcolm was born there family was being forced to leave because of a KKK threat to them so " The family moved shortly after Malcolm's birth, first to Milwaukee, and then to Lansing, Michigan, where Earl continued preaching for the UNIA." there family hit hard times where there was little food to eat and there new home there father purchased was being taken from them because " This land shall never be rented, leased,sold or occupied by...persons other than those of the Caucasian race." they were forced to leave and later on his father was arrested on false reasoning's and then later found dead by what the police say was "an accident". for the Malcolm s childhood would be spent in foster homes, because his mother could not afforded to take care of her family. he did not like his first home and the second one he did like it but because he did not feel as he belonged with them. the school he attended was all white and made Malcolm feel different and sometimes angry because of the racist jokes they would say in front of him as if it was nothing. Malcolm becomes distant is put to live with his cousin Ella in Boston. He was very happy to go he loved her. as he grows up to be a young man, he find the "lower class" of black people that have the music skills, gambling skills, etc more exciting and better suited for him the pretending to be a Black " white man". Malcolm becomes everybody's friend because his skill is to be liked and finds many jobs because of it. but his luck does run out soon he hits rock bottom and is sent to jail. in jail he is angry but finds a religion that is Muslim based and it speaks to him in volumes. he becomes very devoted to his cause, he becomes an amazing speaker for the people, and is later given the X in his name to show is power placed in this religion and to show how devoted he is. his time spent with the leader of the movement was great until he finds out the truth about him and what he does. Malcolm becomes furious. and try to stop him and his sins. Malcolm is rejected by his community and by most of his followers because they do not believe him. his life is in danger and he try to stay alive as best he can. in the end he couldn't protect himself forever.


I lived this book it as very good in detail, the look of the characters were very accurate, also the story line was amazing and i loved all of it, plus it kept me interested throughout.
I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to read a political, biography or a good tale of a man story of hardship to power but power for the people.

[MURAT BAYRAKTAR · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5
Hakkında bilgim olmayan önemli kişilerin hayatlarını çizgi roman olarak okumak hem kolayıma geliyor hem de hoşuma gidiyor. Fikir olarak güzel, çizimleri fumetti (Tommiks, Teksas vb olarak bilinen italyan çizgi romanlarına verilen ad/ çizgi romanın italyancası) tarzında olup artık biraz günümüz için eski olabilecek ve atmosferi bu nedenle iyi yansıtamayan, hikaye anlatımı da vasat olan grafik roman. Siyah beyaz olan çizimler detaylardan da çok uzak ve çok sıradan. Dolayısıyla çizimlerini hiç beğenmedim, yavan buldum.

Hikayesi haliyle Malcolm X'in hayat hikayesi ancak okurken çok fazla kopukluk hissediyorsunuz. Çok fazla atlama, çok fazla eksiklik var gibi dolayısıyla genel olarak bazı şeyler çok çabuk oluyor ve işin özünü, nedenini, nasılını pek anlayamıyorsunuz. Yüzeysel geçiştirilmiş bir çok yeri var ve bu çok belli, okurken çok batıyor.

Okurken yine utanılacak hadiselere tanık oluyoruz ve bunlar o kadar yakın geçmiş ki 100 yılı yok, 60-70 yıl öncesi anlatılıyor. Yakın geçmiş dedim ancak geçmediği ve ırkçılığın hiçbir zaman yok olmadığını da maalesef günümüzde yine yaşıyoruz ve görüyoruz tüm dünyada. Ama neyse ki az da olsa biraz gelişebilmiş ve ilerleme kaydedebilmişiz geçmişe göre. Genel olarak vasat bir grafik roman olmakla beraber o dönemi okumak ve anlamak için okunabilir bir çalışma.

[Kylie Combs · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I feel very torn about this one. I picked it up to get a quick but interesting bio for someone I didn’t know very much (if anything) about. I think it was very approachable and the art was great. But I don’t feel like I really did learn much. It referenced Alex Haley’s biography a few times so I think I’ll check that out soon.

[Andrae Mcconnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the only graphic biography I have ever read, but I think that the graphic novel, as a genre, will really benefit from the sub genre of graphic biography, especially if it is goin to make a bid for a place in teacher's curriculum. I really appreciate this fresh look at the life o fone of the most recognizable figures in history. For such a brief text Helfer does an amazing job of capturing the major events in Malcolm's life as well as showing how some of the less publicized events and relationships were instrumental in shaping who he was.

The artwork is all in black in white. It is well done, but I would have preferred color, especially to capture all the skin tones of African Americans.

I can definitely see myself using this graphic novel with my ninth graders as a gateway to looking at the masterful way Malcolm uses rhetoric in his writings and speeches.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit, before reading this book, I knew only the bare-bones biography of Malcolm X. This graphic biography gave me a much more complete view and understanding of his life, from birth to death. The high contrast black and white drawings imparted surprising subtlety into the expression of the story. At the same time, the artist does not hesitate to graphically portray various acts of violence, beginning with Malcolm's father's death, continuing through police violence and other crimes, culminating in Malcolm's assassination. This is a tale of human rights denied and fought for, but it is also the story of a very human man with very human relationships and motivations. I'm also horrified by how relevant and immediate these issues still are 50 years later. I wonder what his legacy would be if his life hadn't been cut short. It seems like the world still needed him after he was gone.

[John Sloan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good. This was a really well put together version of Malcolm's life. Considering i knew next to nothing about him before this. Also revealed a lot of information about the struggle for black rights in the USA, specifically about the Nation of Islam. Besides this it was put together as a very compelling story from the opening just before Malcolm's death. A good starting point for me reading about these issues, but also i would say a good read for anyone as the story is in his format so its a slightly Unusual take on events. I would definately recommend this.

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was awful.

The art is murky, and frequently poorly laid out with images visibly distorted to fir the grid. the text is verbose and dull. There is no interaction between visuals and words. The whole thing is an exercise in eye strain and boredom. Malcolm X deserves a better 'graphic biography'. Might I suggest approaching the good people at Tara Books to commission one?

[Matt · Rating 1 out of 5]

This comic is used more to tell the life of Malcolm X. Since I have never been very fond of history, this was extremely boring to me. It was hard for me to read this comic. If you are a fan of history then you may like this comic, but if you don't really care for it don't pick this up. I would recommend this comic mainly to people who like history and want to learn more about Malcolm X.

[Sidik Fofana · Rating 5 out of 5]

SIX WORD REVIEW: ...and it doesn't sugarcoat for kids.

[Imani406 · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best graphic novels I've read. Highly recommended. It was extremely detailed and did not miss any details about Malcolm X's life.

[DoctorFeddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Un principe, il nostro luminoso principe nero, che non ha esitato a morire perché ci amava fino a tal punto”

Questa graphic novel mi ha fatto conoscere un personaggio che finora per me era sconosciuto o semplicemente conosciuto solo per sentito dire. Dall’infanzia alla sua morte la graphic novel ti snocciola tutte le questioni sul com’erano trattati la gente Afroamericana di quel tempo, prima da organizzazioni tipo il Ku Klux Klan, responsabile di molti attacchi alla sua casa e alla morte di suo padre, alla stessa organizzazione che voleva difendere la gente afroamericana dal “ diavolo bianco” che è conosciuta come la NOI ( national of islam), il quale prima lo fa entrare nella sua cerchia poi avere voltato le allo stesso Malcom, nel corso del tempo si scoprirà che lo stesso Imam che lo ha aiutato negli anni di prigione è stato macchiato della stessa infedeltà che tanto è stata condannata della religione.
La graphic novel mi ha spinto alla curiosità di conoscere più approfonditamente la sua figura che a parer mio è stata messa un po’ in ombra da Martin Luter King e la sua campagna di non violenza, in questo racconto a fumetti si spiega la sua vita piena d’abbandoni, delusioni e il suo avvicinamento alla malavita in giovane età, con tutto quello che ne consegue, il suo intento era quello di non seguire la gente bianca e scegliere la sua strada, non come la gente nera nel distretto dove sua sorella abitava che imitava la borghesia bianca, la stessa gente che discriminavano, scoprendo anche che Malcom X quando era ancora della NOI conosce Cassius Clay che poi sarebbe diventato “MOHAMMED ALI”. Insomma questa graphic novel mette in tavola molte informazioni di base sulla storia di Malcom X, nella prefazione Vittorio Zucconi scrive che è quasi un sacrilegio mostrare la storia tramite un fumetto, ma io dico i disegni sono simili a fotografie, quindi è come un libro fotografico più che una graphic novel, con questi disegni che usa molto nera e quella giusta pennellata di bianco qua e là senza usarne troppo lo rendono simile ad una fotografia. Veramente interessante!
Sulla storia ci sono questioni che rimangono oscure che non possono essere snocciolati da una graphic novel di 104 pagine ma dalle pagine intuisce come sono andati i fatti che riguardano la sua morte.
Do 8 ai disegni e un 7 alla storia

[Prinytona · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good introduction to the life and work of Malcolm X. This book provides an overview of the important and life changing moments he experienced, detailing how they impacted his outlook on issues of race, religion, and inequity. Starting with a dramatic drawing of one of his most iconic moments, it first discusses his simple upbringings. Seminal moments of his childhood and adolescence are brought to life, showing his strained relationship with his father, the racism he experienced in school, his descent into a life of crime, his imprisonment, and his eventual turn to Islam. The book then delves into his complex relationship with the Nation of Islam and its leader, a topic it focuses on intensely. The book concludes with his assassination, the mystery surrounding it, and the importance of his work.

A major drawback of this book is its limited discussion of Malcolm X’s ideologies, actions, and impact on the Black community. It was a biography in the truest sense, solely focusing on things that happened in his life and failing to address his personal motivations, opinions, and thoughts. The latter half of the book focuses heavily on one of his most important relationships, that with Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the NOI. While this was important to his personal development, the book glossed over his deep feelings around this tumultuous relationship. Like accounts of other Black leaders, this book falls short of showing a holistic depiction of who he truly is. For example, adding more detail into how he contrasted with MLK would be beneficial (the book only mentions their one meeting, failing to address differences in ideologies, social action, and public perception). In retrospect, I wonder if the authors wanted to make Malcom X more palatable by portraying him as a wanna-be revolutionary, rather than a civil rights leader.

Overall, this book is ideal for those with a limited knowledge of Malcom X and who want to gain a greater understanding of how he became the renowned civil rights figure.

[Ben Truong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Malcolm X: A Graphic Biography is a biographical graphic novel written by Andrew Helfer and illustrated by Randy DuBurke. It is a cursory and frank biography of Malcolm X from criminal to convert to activist.

El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, better known as Malcolm X, was an American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a popular figure during the civil rights movement. He is best known for his controversial advocacy for the rights of blacks who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its crimes against black Americans. He was accused of preaching racism and violence and has been called one of the greatest and most influential African Americans in history.

The graphic novel tell the story of Malcolm X's short life and his meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the two leaders describing the opposite ideological ends of the fight for civil rights and his eventual assassination by other members of the Nation of Islam (NOI).

Malcolm X: A Graphic Biography is written and constructed moderately well. The narration and detailed black and white illustrations are sharp as photographs in a newspaper. The portrait is frank and at times unflattering. From his slow slide into the criminal to his jailhouse conversion to Islam, Helfer and DuBurke don't shy from any part of his life. Unfortunately, as the story gets into the complicated dynamics within the NOI and Malcolm X's eventual break from the group, the narrative becomes tangled. The same drawings that make Malcolm X's youth so vivid can't portray the political in-fighting with the same clarity, giving instead a glance at the last few years of his life.

All in all, Malcolm X: A Graphic Biography is an evocative biography and the racial conflict that defined and shaped Malcolm X.

[Jennifer Sundt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Books like this should be required reading in school. Books like these can help kids understand that learning American history can be, despite popular belief, an intense and engaging experience. It saddens me that I don't think I ONCE read or heard anything about Malcolm X during my public school years... it was all about Martin Luther King Jr (huge respect to him as always) whose message tends to appear easier in the general immediacy to package and simplify.

This man, though - his story is complicated. His force of will is powerful, immensely so, and it feels throughout that he struggled with where to direct it, especially as his religious leader so flagrantly falls from grace and his world falls apart around him.

Even with this book, I don't think I have scratched the surface of what he was about, which goes to show what reading still I need to do. This book, in this way, proves helpful for extreme beginners to the topic like myself. It's a quick read and more of a gateway piece than the be-all authority on his life's timeline. I'm fine with that for now.

[Arietta · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Graphic Biography of Malcolm X was written by Andrew Helfer, and the art was by Randy Duburke. Malcolm X was a Muslim civil rights activist in the 60's and he was murdered. He was murdered because of his view points. I used this book as a resource for a research project, and it was definitely very informative. Even if you aren't doing a research project i feel as if it would be a good book to it sit down and read, especially if you're into historic books.
This book was a long read, for a graphic novel. I can honestly tell you that my neck was hurting after i read it. Once you start the book you can't stop. I personally wouldn't have read it if i didn't need it for my project. Either way i enjoyed it. This book showed symbolism, showing things from the civil right movements, shows the ideas and ideology that Malcolm X had.
Anyway, if you need this book for research on Malcolm X i would definitely use this as a source, or to read in your free time about the civil rights movement and the effects it had on the Black Muslim community.

[False · Rating 3 out of 5]

A small volume. A graphic novel. Something I would never read. Comics for adults. I've already read several biographies about Malcolm X in the past. It's hard to believe he's been dead (assassinated sixty years ago,) but 'tis true. Known for saying about Martin Luther King, "While King was having a dream, the rest of us negroes are having a nightmare."

I will add actor Ossie Davis' words in his eulogy at the funeral. "Malcolm was our manhood, or living black manhood. This was his meaning to his people, and in honoring him, we honor the best in ourselves...consigning these mortal remains to the earth, the common mother of us all, secure in the knowledge that what we place in the ground is no more now a man--but a seed--which, after the winter of our discontent, will come forth again to meet us, and we will know him then for what he was and is--a prince--our own black shining prince!--who didn't hesitate to die, because he loved us so."