Malcolm X: As They Knew Him

by David Gallen

During his lifetime, the name Malcolm X was a lightning rod that electrified the black community. Now, thirty years after his death, we are still coming to grips with the complexity, and power of his message. In this fascinating volume, Malcolm X, the man and the leader, stands revealed in a shimmering mosaic of memories, interviews, insights, and appreciations

-- Maya Angelou - James Baldwin - James Booker Elombe Braath - James Brown - Kenneth B. Clark John Henrik Clarke - Eldridge Cleaver - Joe Durso James Farmer - Kathy Gibson - Peter Goldman - Rosa Guy - Robert Haggins - Alex Haley - Hinton Johnson Benjamin Karim - Charles Kenyatta - Yuri Kuchiama William Kunstler - Maria Laurino - Claude Lewis Abby Lincoln - C. Eric Lincoln - Julian Mayfield Bayard Rustin - Sonia Sanchez - Dick Schaap - George Sims - James Small - Michael Thelwell - Mike Wallace Robert Penn Warren - Ralph Wiley - Alice Windom

More than thirty luminaries describe how Malcolm X touched and, in some cases, radically transformed their lives. Then Malcolm speaks to us in his own voice through seven seminal interviews that he granted in the last years of his life, including the controversial 1963 Playboy interview with Alex Haley. The book closes with a collection of essays by outstanding American writers examining the meaning of Malcolm X's contribution and assessing his place in American history.

Genres: History

319 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 1992

Reviews

[Kaurmanxo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up, I only ever heard stories about Martin Luther King Jr. regarding the civil rights movement. Despite pushing a peaceful agenda, that was not the main reason that people of color finally got rights in the USA. It was scholars like Malcolm X that led us to that path.

I always thought it was odd that every other civil rights movement or uprising against colonial powers in the world all involved violence. But America's didn't? No, just like Sikhi, we are taught to defend ourselves, Malcolm X also pushed an agenda of self defense. It was never about "violence" or "revenge" really. He might have initially, but his eyes opened and his views changed once he visited Mecca.

As They Knew Him is a wonderful recap of Malcolm X's own idea, but also how other civil rights scholars of the time viewed him.

[Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it but I went into reading this book to learn more about Malcolm X and I feel like I learned some but not much. It was more about what people thought of him and his actions than specifically on him.

[Ethan Aaronson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved hearing the different perspectives on who the man most people only knew through his public appearances was in his private life.

[Arielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

2019 Reading Challenge - A book told from multiple character POVs

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really powerful book - I absolutely loved it!