The Autobiography of Malcolm X discussion

For my book written by an author of color, I read The Autobiography of Malcolm X. This novel takes the readers through every stage of Malcolm X’s live and gives an interesting perspective on history. I’ve always heard about Malcolm X, especially in high school throughout certain classes, but because this book is told by him, it gives readers much more of an insight into what actually happened throughout his life and not just what others have said. Malcolm grew up in the midwest during a time where discrimination and racial violence was at its peak and regardless where his family moved, they still seemed to suffer from racism. This sort of lifestyle led Malcolm into clubs, drugs and a life of theft when he was a young adult. He eventually ended up in prison where he altered his life and made a complete 180. He found the region of Islam while serving time and when he was released, made a vow to alter and transform the racial biases and setbacks that him and his community faced. Up to this day, most people know Malcolm X as an extreme racial reform advocate in hopes to change the future for the black community. In all, this book was really hard for me to read because it was so big and the it was non-fiction. I have a hard time reading non-fiction and autobiographies which makes it really hard for me to have a desire to finish the book or read other like. I would only recommend this book if someone is very interested in learning about Malcolm X or the topic of racial reform.

I found Malcom X eye-opening. He tells about living as a black youth in inner city poverty and injustice. It is a helpful addition to seeing why Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's work of desegregation needed his later poor people poverty emphasis. I had dismissed Malcolm X as a radical who had nothing helpful to say. I have trouble with his racial hatred but can better understand why he believed white people did not want to help Blacks. Malcolm's telling of his experiences helped to understand his anger.