Malcolm X * * *Download for FREE on Kindle Unlimited + Free BONUS Inside!* * * Read On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet. “I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination. I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color.” How could Malcolm X, whose favorite mantra was “the white man is the devil,” have been the author of those words? How could this man, who was known for advocating hatred and separation, have come to inspire a nation in their search to eliminate racial prejudices? In this book, you will join Malcolm X on his sincere search for truth. Inside you will read about... ✓ A Troubled Childhood ✓ Dealing, Gambling, and Pimping in Harlem ✓ Prison Time and the Nation of Islam ✓ Malcolm X Rises to Prominence ✓ Final Years and Assassination And much more! You will discover the painful, tortuous journey of Malcolm X’s life which holds the key to the influences and experiences that shaped this man’s mind. To get a glimpse of the true Malcolm X, you have to walk alongside him. You have to allow yourself to visualize the dark paths through which he passed.
short review for busy readers: A highly informative short bio of Malcolm X that focuses on his youth, criminal activities, conversion to the Nation of Islam, and activist work. His post-Hadj life and murder are not given much space.
in detail: Malcolm X's life reads like an evil fairy tale, or a story out of some ancient religious text.
Growing up like he did in a heavily impoverished family who were activists for the "Negro cause", but also religiously strict and with a strong inclination towards mental health issues, it's no wonder he was easy pickings for criminal elements and the -- frankly bizarre -- teachings of the Nation of Islam. (See below)
What I found most interesting was not that he was a drug dealer, thief and pimp in his youth or that he "found Allah" in prison, or even that he had hated Christianity almost as much as he hated white people, but his utter biblical transformation after his Hadj pilgrimage to Mecca in the early 1960s.
By leaving America, he was able to experience first hand that the American version of Islam and race relations were not globally valid as he'd always assumed they were. In a 180 degree "Saul to Paul" conversion, Malcolm abandoned his searing hatred and separatist ideas and adopted a far more universalist perspective.
Unfortunately, he was unable to reverse the storm he'd sown, although he tried, which is what eventually got him publicly gunned down (shockingly right in front of his wife and young children).
What isn't covered very much in this short bio is what good Malcolm X did for the American black community. Why so many today would rather listen to his words of exclusion and separation than people like Martin Luther King, jr, who Malcolm came to understand and agree with late in his life. That's the main failing IMO of this otherwise historically good biography.
For those interested in some of the ideas Nation of Islam had and Malcolm X preached most of his life, here is a excerpt from the book...
"Malcolm came to believe that all written history had been falsified by white people. He was taught that from the beginning black people had ruled the whole earth in wisdom and prosperity until devilish white people emerged from caves and began their wicked exploitation of the superior race. ...He also readily adopted the idea that Christianity was invented merely as a tool to convince black people to passively accept the diabolical injustices forced upon them by white society."
I keep coming across Malcolm X and his assertions through various articles on web. But frankly I was not aware about the entire chain of life events. I must say I was only aware about the later period Malcolm X who is respected now as a prominent black leader. Hourly history has tried to convey the life of malcolm x in a precise way.
This is a quite interesting book about a man who let his own hate drive him. The book says he had 'fanatical hatred' . For most of his life he was against interracial marriage, wanted complete separation of the races (something not really physically possible in a country as large as the U.S.), he physically abused his wife and treated his children badly.
He was expelled from one school, disliked well-to-do blacks and ast the same time ran into drug problems, was involved with various illegal activities and ended up serving prison time.
One thing that is important is the way the prison was run, offering its convicts a number of excellent opportunities to learn things that could help them once they were released (rather than just have them occupy space with nothing to do.)
The book goes into how he became a Muslim, describes his involvement with the Nation of Islam, his activities and speeches, his disappointment, his trip to Mecca and how he changed his attitude a little but how it was too late since he was murdered by men from an organization he had belonged to.
It also goes into how his reputation for supporting violence damaged any ability he had to be listened to after his change of attitude about certain issues.
I finished Malcolm X: A life from beginning to end on January 17, 2021, the day before Martin Luther King Day. I plan to read more about Malcom and to listen to some of his speeches in order to add some color to the line drawing provided through this concise biography. I recommend A Life from Beginning to End to anyone interested in a brief overview of this renowned voice for change.
Malcolm’s life was filled to overflowing with bitterness and hatred to the detriment of everyone his life touched. Born with obvious leadership gifts and abilities, he used them to commit clever crimes, and draw thousands into his own unreasonable prejudices. Only too late did he realize the sad fruit of all the hatred he had planted. And that hatred destroyed him, leaving his children fatherless and his widow alone. This is a sad story that has far too often been repeated in many cultures and in all races. Dr. King was right when he said “Hatred cannot drive out hatred, only love can do that.” This book was well written and I learned from it. I’m glad I read it.
Malcolm‘s father was a black pastor who wanted complete segregation of the races. He died when Malcolm was very young. This did not give Malcolm a very good start in life. He grew up angry and bitter and blamed the white race for all of his problems. He didn’t recognize his own ugliness of behavior making money from robbery, theft and prostitution. His conversion to Islam was a big part of his life that failed him in the end. He had many wrong beliefs that made his life pretty much a train wreck. But he went down in history.
This book is a short summary of the life of Malcom X. It covers all of the main events of his life. The reason why Malcolm was considered to be so controversial is clearly explained: his own experiences of racism had hardened his opinions against white people. The role of the Nation of Islam is also looked at. I gave this book four stars because it felt like an introduction. I would have liked to have read a more fleshed out examination of Malcom’s life. Still, it’s a reasonably good introduction.
I intended to read a book on Malcom X as a short introduction to his life and events. I cannot speak to this book's accuracy, as I have no basis of knowledge, however the book highlighted various points of Malcom X's life in an easily digestible format and very quick read. Absent any other information, I would recommend this book as an introduction to Malcom X,but not as an extensive historical document.
This book gives you a good insight on Malcom X life, where came from and how he lived his life and change his view several times. You get to know the good sides and the bad and it contains sex, drugs, radicalisation and violence. Good read and any youth that idolise Malcolm X should read this book so they really know the man the may look up to. You may or may not look up to Malcolm X but he was no saint nor the devil.
I am glad I read this book. I knew very little about Malcolm X. I was a little girl in the sixties and I remember hearing his name and I had always thought he was connected with the Black Panthers - which isn't true, and I know that now. After reading this book I know lots more about the basics of his life.
I enjoyed reading this book because it provided a review of Malcolm X's autobiography. I had forgotten many of the details of his life since reading his autobiography. It reinforced his passion for the fight he waved on behalf of African Americans.
I started college in the early 1960s and I must have buried myself in STEM related classes. Until reading this story all I knew about Malcolm X was of his strong hatred for white people. This story wants the reader to believe Malcom X was beginning to mellow towards non-blacks when he was assassinated, but I believe just the opposite...I don't think Malcolm X could tolerate or trust anyone, both white and black.
In reading many biographies, something that stands out is making connections between historical forces and how it shapes the way people understand the world. I enjoyed the way the book pieces together Malcolm's rough childhood days and how it impacted his youth days, and eventually the turning point in his life at a pilgrimage to Mecca.
I read this on the back of watching a documentary about him. A short, history of Malcolm X's life. Although lacking in analysis or depth , mainly because it's such a short read, it outlines key points in his life and the change in the trajectory of his views towards the end of his life. Whetted my appetite to read more about him.
My knowledge of Malcolm X was only of his later work on race relations and his untimely assassination .. This told of the early years and his struggle to find his own identity
This book, despite its length, is surprisingly informative. However, it left me feeling somewhat disillusioned. Malcolm X seemed consumed by hatred, and in his final years, he began to transform. May God be with us.
I had heard about Malcolm X but never understood what a complex and disturbed person he was. This book was well written so it could be easily read and understood.
Great read. Always wanted to read about Malcolm X's history. Happy i got to read a detailed yet properly summarised version of what his life was about.