Amazon.com
Malcolm X's searing memoir belongs on the small shelf of great autobiographies. The reasons are many: the blistering honesty with which he recounts his transformation from a bitter, self-destructive petty criminal into an articulate political activist, the continued relevance of his militant analysis of white racism, and his emphasis on self-respect and self-help for African Americans. And there's the vividness with which he depicts black popular culture--try as he might to criticize those lindy hops at Boston's Roseland dance hall from the perspective of his Muslim faith, he can't help but make them sound pretty wonderful. These are but a few examples. The Autobiography of Malcolm X limns an archetypal journey from ignorance and despair to knowledge and spiritual awakening. When Malcolm tells coauthor Alex Haley, "People don't realize how a man's whole life can be changed by one book," he voices the central belief underpinning every attempt to set down a personal story as an example for others. Although many believe his ethic was directly opposed to Martin Luther King Jr.'s during the civil rights struggle of the '60s, the two were not so different. Malcolm may have displayed a most un-Christian distaste for loving his enemies, but he understood with King that love of God and love of self are the necessary first steps on the road to freedom. --Wendy Smith Book Description
If there was any one man who articulated the anger, the struggle, and the beliefs of African Americans in the 1960s, that man was Malxolm X. His AUTOBIOGRAPHY is now an established classic of modern America, a book that expresses like none other the crucial truth about our times.
"Extraordinary. A brilliant, painful, important book."
TEH NEW YORKTIMES ... Read more

Customer Reviews (290)

This is not the Malcom X depicted in our American history books.
Without question The Autobiography of Malcom X as told to Alex Haley is an amazing educational experience and one of the best books I have ever read.I quickly became engrossed in this life story of such a strong, intelligent, and influential man--truly a person to be admired and celebrated for his ability to rise above his "past life", as well as his commitment to a better future for the people of our country.How lucky we are to have the opportunity to meet Malcom on a very personal level through his own words and to reassess our perceptions of him and his work.

Excellent
Not only one of the best autobiographies I have ever read, but one of the best books also. Malcolm X had a phenomenal life story to tell and we are lucky that he got it down before he died.

It is NOT boring!
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X, as told to Alex Haley, is not boring. That's the unspoken fear that keeps some people from reading it. If you think of yourself as an enlightened whitey, as I do, you still might think the man's going to preach at you and put you to sleep. Not at all. We have a great novelist and at least one great storyteller at work here, both unflinchingly honest, and the result is compelling, not just "important." Start reading it in a bookstore or a library, and you'll decide to take it home before you finish the first chapter. You will be correct to do so. I've seen Spike Lee's take on Malcolm X, which impressed me greatly, but this book is the other side of that story. And lemme tip my hat to the young Alex Haley, before ROOTS, for remaining true to Malcolm X's voice, uncensored. And you WILL love Alex's epilogue.

The most powerful book I ever read
I've read quite a few good books, but this is the most POWERFUL book I've ever read. You could tell from the book that Malcolm X was very outspoken and dedicated to the well-being of the blacks. Harley certainly did an excellent job of putting down what Malcolm X wanted to say. I think the only weak part in the book is the Foreword by his daughter. I would suggest skipping it.

Interesting But I Didn't Always Agree
My sixth grade teacher assigned this book for homework, and we had a field trip to go see the Spike Lee movie when it came out. When a freelance writer and I had a discussion about Black leaders, she suggested that this book should be required reading, and I'd forgotten so much besides the most standout things that I picked up the book again. There are things that I don't agree with, such as Malcolm Little's ideas on how women should be checked and physically put in their place. There are things that I didn't agree with in Muslim religion, such as calling people White Devils. I understood where he was coming from, but after awhile, that just got old and I wanted the book to move on...quickly.

However, as with the movie, I was very interested and admired Malcolm X a great deal when he started paying attention to the world around him. It was interesting to watch the transformations he went through before he was unfortunately called to death way too soon. I'd be very interested in seeing his early notes, watching him go from not being able to tell what a verb was to writing the last word in the dictionary. Out of all of the things I respect about Malcolm X in this book and from other historical lessons I've learned is that no matter what the subject, if he wanted to talk about something or get it done, he didn't sit around waiting on someone else to do it. Every single event in this book was something he either played a part in organizing or made sure to get the ultimate results.

Favorite Quote of His: I've never been one for inaction. Everything I've ever felt strongly about, I've done something about it. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (10)

THE TRUTH as told by malcolm
NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. NO ONE HAS BROUGHT THE TRUTH LIKE MALCOLM HAS "EVER" IN THIS COUNTRY. JUST NOT HERE BUT HE SPREAD IT ABROAD AS NATIONALISM. ALL OF WHAT MALCOLM SPOKE OF AS FAR AS A RACIST AMERICA AND RACIST POLITICS ARE STILL HERE TODAY. YET THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER SLOWLY, BUT YET ALL OF WHAT MALCOLM HAS SPOKE AS FAR AS RACIST POLITICS ARE STILL HERE AND A PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH MALCOLMS SPEECHES WERE WRITTEN OVER 40 YEARS AGO YOU CAN SAY THAT THEY ARE ALL STILL VALID IN TODAYS 2007. YOU CAN TAKE HE KNOWLEDGE AND OR TEACHINGS AND USE THEM TODAY.HE CAN STILL MAKE THOSE SAME ARGUEMENTS TODAY. THIS IS A GREAT BOOK FOR THE COLLECTION.

Essential
The strength of Malcolm X's vision bleeds through even the comparatively dull medium of paper print.Even if you can't watch the man speak now, you can feel the power of his words with this book.Best read after the biography of Malcolm X.

Words that demand a closer look inside
Though I believe that Malcolm X was sometimes too angry to be wise, I love that he makes me care about myself, makes me question any absences of self-respect that I may have, not just as a Black person, but as an individual. His words make me ask the less obvious questions of myself, and of others; and they force me to face the things in myself that foster any illusions I have about the world I live in.

one of the top most important books ever
While you'd be wise to approach this book with some background knowledge and context, no matter what you're background you have to feel the power of these speeches that still strike as strong today as anything you'll ever read and Malcolm's logic and sincerity hit hard.Don't think you know about what Malcolm stood for if you haven't truly read or heard and engaged his words.
I'd also highly recommend checking Breitman's The Last Year of Malcolm X along with if you have not already.

CORE READING
VERY VERY INTERESTING, I LOVE TO HEAR MALCOLM X'S THOUGHTS AND HIS WAYS OF SOLVING PROBLEMS WITHIN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.THIS IS A MUST READ, WE ALL NEED TO READ HIS SPEECHES AND OPEN ARE MINDS UP. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Pleased
I was a little disappointed with Malcolm X's Autobiography. Although the book shipped quickly and arrived between the 7-14 day window, it's a different version than the one seen in the picture. The book is in good condition like it stated. Overall, I was pleased with the service and quickness.

Malcolm X
This is an excellent source for material about the civil rights movement. It is the experiences of a Black Muslim in a White world. I recommend this book for Junior and Senior High School students. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Perfect intro to a complex man
I grew up in the days when "great black leader" meant Dr. Martin King, Jr. I read X's autobiography, but found the man hard to like or understand. This small but fact-packed graphic novel is a great help to understand the forces that shaped Malcolm, and the changes he underwent.

The novel lays the context for the story with swift, deft strokes that show the experience of blacks in America's history, from slavery to Jim Crow. The story shifts to tell of X's parents, and covers his childhood, young adulthood as a petty criminal, eventual jailing and conversion to Islam, his hajj and his assassination.

There's a lot to learn about X in this book, much of which was (with attribution) taken from his autobiography. Without saying it in so many words, the books reports inconsistencies in stories he told about himself and the recollections of others. His mother claims not to recall the story of facing down racists while pregnant with X.. The book is also honest about his criminality (as was X himself) and his association with the Boston and Harlem drug and club scenes, including experiences with conking his hair and his dalliances with white women. X's jailing gives the book an opportunity to explain X's attraction to the Nation of Islam, and explains NOI's distinction (due to its myth of white devilry) from other branches of Islam. Malcolm comes across as an intense man of great persuasiveness and integrity, whose incredulity at the sins of NOI's leader, Elijah Mohammed, are laid as the cause of his murder.

This is a quite honest book that lays out the facts and lets the reader decide what to make of them. Was X an effective leader? What is his legacy? What if he had chosen not to challenge the NOI's cult of its leader? The sense of "what might have been" hangs heavily over the book.

The book is drawn in stark black and white, fitting for a man who experienced the world that way and for the basic racial clash of his time. The book's timeline slows down dramatically toward the end, which covers the lead-up to X's violent death. The sense of impending doom, paranoia and creeping dread are expertly conveyed.

It's hard to pin which age group would be most appropriate for the book. There is no graphic sexuality, though marital infidelity and prostitution are discussed. Drug use is discussed, but not glorified. Definitely a book for high-schoolers, with some mature middle-schoolers thrown in.

"Malcolm X" admires its subject without flattering or praising him beyond what his own admirers said about him -- or by whitewashing the less savory elements of his life. X was many things, but in the end, a man, like King, whose religion afforded him a vision of a world in which the presence of racial hatred did not have to be taken for granted. ... Read more

Product Description
The imperialists know the only way you will voluntarily turn to the fox is to show you a wolf. In eleven speeches and interviews, Malcolm X presents a revolutionary alternative to this reformist trap, taking up political alliances, women's rights, U.S. intervention in the Congo and Vietnam, capitalism and socialism, and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

From His Own Heart & Mouth.
This was my very first book about Malcolm X based on his own speeches and interviews and it won't be my last.As a young African American male I find his way of thinking radical (in a good way) and enlightening. Its great to see a man with a genuine passion and a will to [...] to do something about what he is passionate for. Malcolm loved people but he hated the evile thoughts and actions that people enforced onto others. I believe books like these are great educating tools.People always will have a negative view of Malcolm X, they will continue to call him a racist, bigot, etc etc.That is all hearsay and most of those comments are based on ignorant, racist and bigoted perspectives. You will never fully understand an individual unless you put yourself into their culture, environment and mind. Malcolm X is a great inspiration and leader for everyone willing to sacarifice their lives for sincere and realistic equal society.

Excellent M/X compilation
This collection of writings and speeches by Malcolm X deals with the last year of his life and contains some really interesting material. M/X goes off on some ideas that would still make many people squirm, such as his idea that "Any Black person who registers as a Democrat or a Republican is a traitor to his people." What Black politican today would say this? He also stresses that the main thing for African-Americans to do is to undo the damage to the self-esteem of Black people done by slavery and Jim Crow (another capital idea seldom heard-but needed to be said-today). He warns against reactionary picketing against foolish and symbolic issues and bluntly states that if it's an idea that you aren't worth dying for, then you shouldn't demonstrate at all!

Ideas tof this kind are seldom heald even from so-called "militant" leaders of today, who thrive on theatrics and shock value as opposed to concrete ideas for the betterment of the masses. I also like his take on white liberals ("John Brown should be your standard") although I disagree to an extent with a few ideas (such as his take on Rev. Bruce Klunder, a Cleveland martyr) but one does not have to agree with someone 100% to recognize sincerity and brilliance. Read it and think!

Some excerpts
I think the best way to describe this great book is a few excerpts.

"... by any means necessary. That's our motto. We want freedom by any means necessary. We want justice by any means necessary. We want equality by any means necessary."

"We won't organize any black man to be a Democrat or a Republican because both of them have sold us out."

"Those who claim to be enemies of the system were on their hands and knees waiting for [Democratic president] Johnson to get elected because he's supposed to be a man of peace; and he has troops invading the Congo [in Africa] right now and invading Saigon [Vietnam]...."

"This political, economic, and social system of America was produced from the enslavement of the black man and that particular system is capable only of reproducing that out of which itself was produced."

"No, you have got no friends in Washington, D.C.... You've got friends in Africa, friends in Asia, friends in Latin America."

"[The] thing that I would like to impress upon every Afro-American leader is that no kind of action in this country is ever going to bear fruit unless that action is tied in with the overall international struggle."

(In one of his speeches, Malcolm read the founding statement of the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU) which he led, adding his own comments. Malcolm didn't write the statement himself; it was developed by a committee of the new group.)

"[quoting OAAU] 'A first step in the program to end the existing system of racist education is to demand that the 10 percent of the [New York city] schools the Board of Education will not include in its [desegregation] plan be turned over to and run by the Afro-American community itself.'"

"[quoting OAAU] 'The [Black] community must ... wage an unrelenting struggle against police brutality.'"

"Wherever you have organized crime, that type of crime cannot exist other than with the consent of the police, the knowledge of the police and the cooperation of the police.... [Criminals] pay the police off so that they will not get arrested. I know what I'm talking about - I used to be out there."

"[quoting OAAU] 'We propose to support and organize political clubs, to run independent candidates for office, and to support any Afro-American already in office who answers to and is responsible to the Afro-American community.' We don't support any black man who is controlled by the white power structure."

I also recommend "Malcolm X Talks to Young People".(See my review.)

I recommend the ads in the back of the book. Pathfinder Press is defined by a political goal, not commercial success. It aims to provide a platform for revolutionary leaders speaking in their own words. If you like one book, you will probably like others.

A great book!
This wonderful biography on Malcom X is an intriguing book talking about Malcom's life and greatest triumphs. It describes his life as a child, on the streets, in prison, and as a leader. It told me almost everything I wanted to know about his life, with a some interesting tidbits to keep it from getting boring, but not too many so it isn't a foot thick. The book starts out nicely, with a story about when Malcom made sure that a young African American man captured by the police is kept in good health. Although, after reading this grabbing article, the book slows down a little bit, don't stop, because ahead of you is a fun and informative novel containing everything you wanted to know about this wonderful leader.

A first hand look at the man himself
I recommend this book to anyone who is curious as to who Malcom X is. It is not a biography, but a collection of interviews and speeches that reveal the essence of a natural born leader. Malcom X lived in a time where his people where treated as second class citizens, where every genuine attempt to counter the mistreatment of blacks was met with opposition, either by supremacist groups or the Government's inability to protect the rights of his people.
Naturally he develops a militant stand against the injustice, as every other measure seemed futile. The militancy undeniably made him notorious in the media circles and he was often misunderstood of misquoted by the establishment. By objectively reading his words as they are transcribed, one cannot help but agree that he is indeed a revolutionary philosopher and activist, unafraid and eager to change his views as he learns more about the struggle for universal human rights.
This is a must read for people who are curious to learn more about the real civil rights struggle, a stark contrast from the rosy pictures that are painted every year in Febuary. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Black Muslim : All White is NOT Alright
If there is one book of worthy inspiration, guidance
and careful detour, AWAY from Wicked Racism Fascism,
it could be

The Autobiography of Malcolm X (TAO M.X)

penned by one of the most Thoughtful Soulful Beings
to ever live in North America :

Malcolm X

Someone who, like Mahatma Gandhi, was gunned down
like Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. K., JFK and many, many other
righteous martyrs, living in opposition to The Evil Empire.

The most interesting parts of this book were M.X views about
world history, according to the instructors of M.X, such as the
Reverend Elijah Muhammad, who revealed a different history to
white wash history, such as the possible existence of Atlantis
and the Big Head White Devil, Lucifer, whose cruel persecution
of the "lesser" races possibly invoked The Fury of Allah and
The Angels, to destroy Atlantis, a possible real event of
great destructive magnitude, still hidden from the masses...

because "Knowledge is Power"...

and Human elites use Ignorance to rule over Mankind.

So TAO M.X is a book of alternate perspectives, the type book
Human elites would want hidden from The People, because of
its truthful investigative admissions and revelations...

Such as

1. Inter racial sex business (pimping, wife games, etc)

2. Chains of slavery caused by drugs (alcohol) and brain wash,
constant insane affirmations to completely false and mistaken
"popular" dogmas and rhetoric, that have little if any basis in
fact, and are used to enslave Mankind to ruthless diabolical
Human value systems

and

3. Human wars such as the Vietnam War, a meat grinder of
extreme hypocrisy, that destroyed the lives and families of many
of North America's Black African Youth, Nature's Sacred Sons,
born into poverty and despair in EuroRussian invaded,
conquered and dominated North America.

I offer these reasons for any caring reader
to obtain this fine work of conscience and empowerment:

1.

At various points of my younger life, I could actually "hear"
the speeches of Great Black Leaders, such as M.X and Dr. K. via
a Third Ear of psychic sense, and so heard these Great Leaders
raging against Wicked White Ways... from a far distance...

TAO M.X was written by one of these great Black Leaders...
of all time.

2.

Also there was a point in my life when
a fine young Black Muslim I knew was murdered,
perhaps to forbid me from experiencing
the Righteousness of Islam:

The person was serving in the US military in my unit,
and very much in credit, avoided the Evils of *White Poison*,
White Smoke and other Wicked White Ways,
and always seemed to be a fine very decent person,
but then "disappeared".

(*White Poison* : Alcohol.)

Several months later a submerged body was located
underwater by a nearby bridge.

Cause of Death : Gunshot to the Head.

To this day I claim this murder to be a DELIBERATE
attempt to prevent me, and others, from coming to Love
and Know the Beauty of Islam, "The Other Side" of Life,
and anthing that would threaten the Evil Empire.

TAO M.X is partially about Black Islam and could reveal
some of the background to possible massive suppression
of Black Islam in the USA and elsewhere.

3.

When People are forcefully impressed into poverty and despair,
and build dreams, hopes and lives of caring sharing INSIDE,
then these People acquire Power GREATER than ruling Human power...

And Divine Beings, living as descendants of African slaves in
North America, certainly have/had plenty of this Power...

TAO M.X is an excellent expression of that Power:

It can be a book of empowerment, liberation and discipline via
Righteousness, Conscience and Struggle as written by Malcolm X.

But the reader should keep in mind that many Black Slaves
were originally captured and thrown into slavery by
"Moslem" slave traders:

"African" Black Slavers, traitors, invaders and deniers
of Pagan Natural Sacred Africa, followers of "Islamic" Judaism,
the ruling circle of Slavery, in monetary partnership with
"Christian" Judaism...

In my Soul, I give TAO M.X Five Stars, but due to Black "Muslim"
relations with a certain carnivorous blood thirsty human religion,
can only give it Three Stars.

Praise Be Malcolm X and all Freedom Fighters !

Soul on Ice
Soul On Fire
Soul on Islam
Islam and the Search for African American Nationhood
Gandhi An Autobiography:The Story of My Experiments With Truth

I am not worthy
I must say I feel rather humble in my attempt to review this autobiography, hence the brevity of my Review. However I cannot sufficiently stress how the account of Malcolm X's life has given me as a native African (and gives the reader regardless of ethnic background) a crucially important Sociological, Philosophical, Political, Islamic and Pan African insight into African American culture and its' shaping in historical context. ... Read more

Product Description
Recounts the hidden history of the labor of people of African origin and their achievements. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

the forgotten speech of malcolm x
This book uncovers a speech delivered by Malcolm X in January of 1965.In his speech Malcolm X discusses the disenfranchisement that African-Americans have suffered due to the lack of knowledge of our pre-slavery historical roots.Malcolm X reveals numerous African-American acheivements that took place long before there was an America.He also argues that this lack of knowledge is what sepearates African-Americans from other cultures, and encourages African-Americans to educate themselves and end this ignorance of our rich historical past.This book is for anyone wishing to know a little more about some of the African-Americans whom you didn't learn about in History class and those who have all ready read Malcolm X Speaks and would like to expand their collection of Malcolm X speeches.This is a book no one can afford to forget.

If Only This Were In The Schools
If only this were in the schools, especially for the teachers.Because although this is no proper textbook for history, it can be used as a guide into how to properly teach afro-american history to the youth.

Malcolm, as well read as he is, references many books as he lucidly and easily brings together many parts of history, but more importantly, a view of history.And his view of history is well-informed, well-sourced, and so full of truth it hurts to listen.But truth in history if very important, and Malcolm helps us in our studies.

A jewel of a book
During Malcolm's lifetime Pathfinder press began a relationship with him that lasted beyond his death.In co-operation with his family Pathfinder Press became the major publisher of Malcolm's speeches and writings in English and Spanish.This slim book, barely 100 pages, is one of the jewels of that collaboration.

The centerpiece of the book is a 1965 speech by Malcolm on Black history.The book also features excerpts from his autobiography and various speeches and interviews.This book is rich beyond it's size and deserves to be widely read by all.

Rich Analysis Plus Inspiration
This priceless little book consists of a talk Malcolm X gave just a month before he was assassinated in 1965.You will find a rich analysis of then contemporary local, national and international issues,exposure of little-known African civilizations, and an inspiring perspective on advancing the Afro-American liberation struggle along with the struggles of other oppressed and exploited people throughout the world.

Know your true history
This little book packs a powerful punch.Malcolm X explains clearly, and often in a humorous way, how knowing the truth about your history is necessary for building a movement to tear down racism and build a better society.The heart of the book is a speech that Malcolm gave less than a month before his death.His point is that Black people have to become aware of their true accomplishments in the past in order to change the world in the present and future.By looking at ancient African civilizations, West African kingdoms, the rise of imperialism and the history of slavery in America, Malcolm shows that Black people have played a huge role in shaping human history.Even though he spoke at a time when Black History Month was still Black History Week, his message is still totally relevant as African-Americans still face the challenge of leading a movement that can end police brutality, racist violence, political oppression and economic exploitation, while joining up with working people and the oppressed around the world.The impact of Malcolm's speech is magnified by his own explanation of how he studied Black history while in prison; and by a nice set of graphics and maps which illustrate his points. ... Read more

Book Description
Any kind of movement for freedom of Black people based solely within the confines of America is absolutely doomed to fail. Speeches and interviews from the last two years of his life.

Includes: Index, Chronology, Annotation ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The best of the M/X compilations
In 1991 I met Malikah Shabazz (one of M/X's daughters) and she autographed my copy of this, telling me that this was her favorite of the varying complations that filled bookstores at the time. I agreed then and now. This presents a more complex look at the varying stages of Malcolm's evolving philosophy while other such compliations are more selective to represent such phases in Malcolm X's evolution Elijah Muhammad's teachings (which I personally have no use for), socialism, black nationalism, etc. to promote the point of view of the compliers. Here, we see that M/X, while consistant in his search for something better for Black people. So it can rightly be called "A Malcolm X Reader" or "The Evolution of Malcolm X Thought."

He also mentions Nelson Mandela in passing in this collection, and what he has to say about his days in the Nation of Islam near the end of this book will give fans of the pre-1964 thought of M/X much pause. After this, check out "Malcolm X Talks to Young People." While that is a representation of his later thought, it's also quite good. But read this after the "Autobiography" and M/X Speaks" to get the full enchilada of Malcolm X Thought.

"There's a worldwide revolution going on"
Dr. Bruce Perry, former collaborator, more recently biographer of Malcolm X, searched for decades after Malcolm X died for more speeches and interviews by Malcolm X.He spent years tracking down the man who had the tapes that led to this book, finding him in the rain forest jungles of Guyana, and being able to interview him while the revolutionary government of Marice Bishop still ruled Grenada.He knew Pathfinder would publish them, because Pathfinder was the publisher Malcolm X chose while he was alive to publish his work, because they believe in Malcolm X's words because they are Malcolm's.
There are three sections, two speeches given before Malcolm split from the Nation of Islam from Januaryand February 1963, two interviews from december 1964, and the last two speeches we have in full, one he gave February 15, 1965 and another he gave the next day. Malcolm X was murdered on February 21, 1965.
You can judge for yourself how Malcolm X grew and changed.l One thing, it wasn't to become someone just into peace and love and non-violence and all sorts of silly things that people say, but that Malcolm X never was into.I just leave you with the contrast in titles. The titles of the 1963 speeches are "Twenty million Black people in a political, economic, and mental prison" anmd "America's gravest crisis since the civil war," rooted in the problems of Black people in America.The speeches given in the last week of his life speak of the world: :There's a world wide revolution going on" and L:Not just an American problem, but a world problem."

Malcolm X's Words: A Guide To Action Today !
This book has all of thethemes that Malcolm spoke about during the last year of his life. He patiently explains over and over that the U.S. government is not and can't be "ours", not without a revolution : it is theirs, it belongs to thesuperrich
( mostly -white ) man. He calls this system " the power structure" or, most scientifically of all, then and now, "Western, or American, imperialism". He speaks of the need for Blacks in "America" to be proud of their African roots;
the need to become and to stay politically independent of the twin parties of capitalist racism; of women's equality and dignity - that's right ; it's one of the main reasons he broke from the Nation of Islam - and he speaks of the Chinese, Vietnamese, and Cuban revolutions as examples to emulate HERE. Above all he teaches you , of whatever color , creed ,or sex , to start with the standpoint that most of the people in the world are your potential allies and what is called " America" - the U.S. government and the Yanqui Empire - is your and my deadly enemy. Anti-capitalist and pro-socialist, this is not the Malcolm of biographers, or movie directors, or other"interpreters" - it is Malcolm X speaking for himself, putting forward a line of march relevant to every fighter for meaningful social change today, tomorrow, and beyond.

The Real Malcolm X
If your view of Malcolm X is from the Spike Lee movie, reading this book and the other books of speeches from his last year "Malcolm X: The Final Speeches" will turn your head around. Malcolm is depicted as a purely humanist, apolitical person, after his trip to Mecca who simply loved everyone. The speeches and interviews from his last year show him as an increasingly political person who was working with Cuban, Congolese, Algerian revolutionists and with revolutionary socialists in the United States to fight for African liberation and against the growing US War in Indochina.

Moreover, Malcolm's speeches from this year also document the reactionary and corrupt practices of the Nation of Islam under Elijah Muhammad and its terror campaign against Malcolm and anyone else who dissent.He had held back from this, but he needed to do this to expose the threats against himself and his family.

As in his other speeches and interviews Malcolm speaks in a voice with lots of practical school-of-hard-knocks knowledge and reasoning, in a soul stirring, voice, with lots of wit as well as wisdom thrown in.


While this book may not be directly available from Amazon at times, they are available from the booksfrompathfinderon Amazon that you can find by clicking on the new and used books on this page. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Library of Sonya Armfield
This book was interesting because it offers a different perspective of Malcolm X.Its good to read this book with the autobiography of Malcolm X.

Sonya Armfield

A useful book, the product of much research exposing the FBI
Carson is a well-known Black scholar whose most important work has been organizing and opublishing from the Martin Luther King Papers.This book was an effort on his part to expose how the FBI followed Malcolm X from the time he wrote to a radical youth group for information, long before Malcolm X joined the Muslims until his death, a death Malcolm more and more expected would come from the FBI/CIA.Along the way the FBI has preserved speeches and letters and views of Malcolm as they evolved throughout his life.Anyone who treats Malcolm X as some sort of prefabricated god, and not a man whose views developed over time, over experience, and particularly after his exposure to the struggles of the civil rights movement, and the anti-imperialist struggles ongoing in Cuba, Africa, and Vietnam at the time, is in for a rude shock as this book shows how his ideas changed and grew.
I recommend Pathfinder Press's series of books by Malcolm X. Malcolm selected Pathfinder to publish his speeches before he died.The first book Malcolm X speaks was selected while Malcolm was living, though published after he was murdered.Every book has been published in cooperation and with royalties to Malcolm's family.Pathfinder has gone as far as the jungles of Guyana to find every speech or interview available with Malcolm particularly in the last years of his life.

The book was informative....
The book was informative however the foward by Spike Lee was out of place. It breaks my heart that so many people profit from the life and death of Malcolm X other than his family. Although this is a good book do your selfand Malcolm justice by getting this book from your public library! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A worthwhile read
Reviewed by Dr. Abdul Salaam first health professional (Dentist) to join the Nation of Islam (1957), dentist to Malcolm X, Minister Louis Farrakhan and (The Honorable) Elijah Muhammad.

This book was for me one of the more thoughtful and clear expositions looking at a short segment of his life pre Malcolm X but focusing primarily on the last year and a half after Malcolm had left the Nation of Islam and a short time after his death that took a close look at his overall economic as well as his conjectured mental state during that time. The fact that Goldman was both a well respected journalist and a Whiteman who had known and was writing about Malcolm, in my opinion, produced a book of unusual insights and depth. Goldman was interviewed in the film An American Experience PBS documentary "Malcolm X Make It Plain" (a film containng segments from my collection on Malcolm and the Nation of Islam) to discuss his perspective on Malcolm.If anyone is still into the "Whiteman is the Devil" thingI suggest care be exercised by holding that bias in abeyance so as not to be blinded by that belief when reading the book.They may miss an important contribution to understanding Malcolm X. and the hardships he endured both in spite of and because of his fame.We all wear some kind ofblinders as I tried to indicate in the chapter on "My Story" in my own soon to be released publication, Myths vs Realities, (The Honorable) Elijah Muhammad, the Nation of Islam and Malcolm X, an Islamic Perspective. We should always keep that in mind.

Truth and Alive
On all of the chapters what happen back then is still very alive today.

Well Written Account of Malcolm X 's Assassination and Life
Anyone who has read Alex Haley's "Autobiography of Malcolm X" would be interested in this account by Goldman. Notice the title puts the word "death" before "life". The author delves into the mystery connected with Malcolm's assassination and the resulting coverup of the facts. Issues with the Nation of Islam are also addressed in a non-bias approach. Goldman also intelligently presents his case as being qualified to write about Malcolm X, despite the fact that he is a white man. Although there is no "smoking gun" as to who was truly behind Malcolm's assassination, this book is a good read. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"I am for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it is for or against."

These words were spoken by the controversial civil rights activist Malcolm X in 1965, the same year he was assassinated in Harlem, New York. Born Malcolm Little, Malcolm X spent much of his life speaking out for the equality of black people and the need for individuals to take personal responsibility for their own success in America.

Originally from in Nebraska and raised in Michigan, Maalcolm moved to Boston when he was 14 years old. Boston and New York represented a whole new world to him, a world where black people seemed sharp, cool, and slick. The newly zoot-suited, snappy hat-wearing Malcolm also fell into a Boston gang, and when he was 21 years old, was imprisoned for robbery. Once in prison, he became an avid reader and letter writer. His brother Reginald told him about the Nation of Islam, a political and religious organization dedicated to the betterment of black people, and he became a correspondent of the group's leader, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Upon his release in 1952 he became Malcolm X, as many black Muslims dropped their family names for "X," which represented a lost African name.

As Malcolm X, he preached equality, and much to the dismay of many, separatism of blacks and whites. He felt strongly that a revolution was in order, that black people shouldn't rule out violence as an option to effect change. "You don't have a peaceful revolution," he said. "You don't have a turn the cheek revolution. There's no such thing as a nonviolent revolution!" In 1964, he broke with the Nation of Islam and went to Mecca. And it wasn't until 1965 that he came to a gentler, less divisive approach to justice: "I believe in recognizing every human being as a human being--neither white, black, brown, or red."

Walter Dean Myers is an award-winning writer of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for young people, and has penned a masterful, even-handed biography of Malcolm X for young readers. Leonard Jenkins, illustrator of Sunflower Island by Carol Greene, brings his bold, beautiful, collage-style paintings to the life of a man whose fire burned brightly and went out too quickly. A chronology in the back of the book marks the important dates in the life of Malcolm X; quotations trace his spiritual and philosophical development. (Ages 8 and older) --Karin Snelson Book Description

"I believe in recognizing every human being
as a human being, neither white, black, brown, nor red."

Customer Reviews (1)

Outstanding!
This book really captures the heart, the mind, and the troubles of Malcolm X and society in the 1960's.The beautiful illustrations are wonderful at expressing complex emotions and complement the words of Walter Dean Myersextemely well. This book is fabulous as children seek to understand thecomplexities of those turbulent times. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Reverse racism and the wrong message portrayed
I am very shocked at what I read in this book. The black community in general would be outraged if a white political speaker spoke the things he said. However sadly there is many black chruches that teach this pure hate of a certain color of people. I do not agree with this book. The views and worldview perspective of hate given in it. I am surprised by the good reviews this book has got and question who these folks are:
MY view Don't buy this book buy a Martin Luther King book instead

From a 14 year old perspective
"I have a dream..." were the famous first words of the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech at the Washington Street March. Many people have studied these words as the words of the most prominent black civil rights leader, but few have studied the words of the great Malcolm X. Malcolm X was a lesser known civil rights activist and leader. He was very controversial in his time, but few will argue that he is one of the smartest, most passionate men in history. This book takes you through Malcolm's childhood in Nebraska, his teenage years as a drug dealer on the streets of Harlem, and finally his adulthood, fighting for his rights as a great Islamic, black leader.

Walter Dean Myers does an excellent job of putting aside his feelings of Malcolm X and letting form your own opinion of him. Myers comes up with facts and not more so you can do this. He paints a clear portrait of Malcolm's entire life and work for young adult to adult readers. I personally enjoy the way that Myers is very straight forward in his writing but somehow adds a touch of suspense into the facts. "Malcolm was taking a dangerous course, and he knew it...if someone wanted to harm him, it could still happen. The word on the streets of Harlem was somber. Malcolm, it was said, was marked for death." p. 165. This is just one example of the suspenseful tone Myers uses to keep you turning pages. Myers writes about Malcolm as though he had known him personally and knows what times were like for him. At many points throughout the story, you feel as though you are there with Malcolm in Mecca or watching through the window as the assassination takes place. Myers keeps you into the story and wanting more and even wishing you had been able to meet the great Malcolm X first hand.

After reading this book, I think that Malcolm X's biography should be more commonly used name in places of learning. Malcolm X should be studied along with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. so that people don't only see one side of the civil rights movement. Though Malcolm is often misjudged or interpreted, he should be remembered as a great fighter who believed in equality and justice for all.

Walter Dean Myers Succeeds Again!
Evaluation:This is a wonderfully written biography of an influential African American, Malcolm X. Beginning with his birth in 1925 and ending with his assassination in 1965, Walter Dean Myers describes the trials and tribulations of one of America's radical African American leaders.The book details the many differences between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. Though both men aimed to lift the African American people from their second class citizenship,Martin Luther King believed in a nonviolent approach.On the other hand, Malcolm X believed that the African American community needed to revolt. "Revolution is bloody, revolution is hostile, revolution knows no compromise, revolution overturns and destroys everything that gets in its way" (p. 107). These were Malcolm X's words as he described his belief that no African American solution could possibly involve fitting into a white society.Students will enjoy reading this biography. They will come to learn about a controversial figure in America. Several photographs and illustrations will help to entice even the most reluctant of readers.

A new look
Myers takes a new look at the Malcom X story with a special light on his childhood. The book is well organized with a blueprint of the structures that made up his life.

My idol, my admirer, my savior... Malcom X
Malcom X, as we know is a well known activist throughout the world. However, while reading "By any means necessary", I have come across a different Malcom X, infact the first Malocm X that I have come across with was Malcom Little.This was Malcom as a little boy, a Malcom who worked really hard in school to achive his goal to become a lawyer. But this dream of his, would only be dream because Malcom was black.Malcom's intelligence was over looked just because he was not white.
The second Malcom was a street hustler/gambler named:Detroit Red. He was the lady's man of both races:black and white.Malcom then started to use what he learnt in school in the streets to make profits. However this job did not last long because Malcom was sent to prison year 1946.This is when the third Malcom came along, in prison Malcom learnt the Islamic ways of life.When Malcom was released from prison, he then replaced Little(his given name, with X ).- Xstands for the unknown being our names was lost on the slaveship.
Malcom X is a remarkable man, his name has been spoken within the slum of cities and also their capitals. While reading this book I have realised that Malcom X is my idol, my admirer, and my savior...Malcom X. ... Read more

Book Description
This is the story of a man who lived several distinct chapters of a great American life. From petty criminal to defiant race rights fighter to leader of the Black Muslim movement, his life story is provocative and engrossing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent book about the life/metamorphises of Malcolm X
As was the life of Malxolm X, The Autobiography of Malcolm X will prove tomany readers to be many things.It tells of his troubled upbringing to hislife in Boston.It also deals with his incarceration and conversion toIslam.This book will be glued to the readers hand with its thoughtprovoking words.A must for anyone who enjoys ensightful literature. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Malcolm and Martin
This book presents the differences between arguably the two most famous civil rights activists of the fifties and sixties, as well as showing the convergence between their ideas and ideals toward the end of thier respective lives. It is readable, succinct and thorough. I highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who will be teaching this period in history to middle or high school students.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and the Civil Rights Struggle of the 1950s and 1960s: A Brief History with Documents (The Be
This book is absoltely terrific. It gave me everything I needed to understand the differences and similarities between these two phenomenal leaders. ... Read more

Book Description

Product Description
The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X with the assistance of Alex Haley. Introduction by M. S. Handler. Epilogue by Alex Haley. 32 illustrations. ... Read more

Book Description
Malcolm X's political evolution after he left the Nation of Islam. Analyzes the conflicts that resulted in Malcolm's being driven out of the Nation, his views on how to combat anti-Black discrimination, and how, as he put it, to "internationalize" the struggle. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Essential
I agree that this is the best book on Malcolm X and the evolution of his thought and action in the last year of his life.Breitman does well to faithfully draw out, including the contradictions Malcolm was working through, the pathways Malcolm was pursuing... his aims, his objectives, his goals... Breitman gives good context, clearly debunks myths and obfuscations and tackles common attacks that were levied against Malcolm in the year before and after his murder.Should be read hand in hand with Malcolm X Speaks... pretty much essential if you care at all about anything really.

Great Book, Helps to Really Understand Malcolm
I, like the author, believe that the Autobiography of Malcolm X left out crucial elements to understanding Malcolm's life and sentiments because it did not cover his life to the last day.This book actually looks at Malcolm's life in three separate stages:his life up until and including being a Nation of Islam spokesperson, his transition period while he was breaking with the Nation of Islam and shortly thereafter, and the path he was setting for himself as he was killed.

This book aims to prove that Malcolm was setting an anti-imperialist path, and internationalist path, an anti-capitalist path, a truly revolutionary and truly dangerous (for the ruling classes) path.

I think the book proves it, and I respect Malcolm all the more for it.

This book also contains criticisms of Malcolm by various people, notably some liberals, and so it's good to get an idea of where people stood, who was really afraid of Malcolm and what he was really starting to represent.

Great malcolm
This is a great book for the period of time in Malcolm's life that might be the least covered.Not to long of a read, but full of information not readily available when looking for Malcolm.

It dispels the idea of Malcolm just being a racist anti Semite, how he was portrayed by the media during and after his life, but installs the belief that he was a revolutionary fighting for the human rights of all, and nothing could more truthful.

The Real Malcolm In His Last Year
This excellent little book traces the evolution of the thought and action of Malcolm X in the last eleven months of his life.Malcolm rejected the anti-Semitism and anti-woman policies of the Nation of Islam, and its refusal to involve itself in the civil rights movement. He continued to more and more place the Black struggle in this country in the world context : in the context of the struggle of the workers and farmers in Asia , Africa, and Latin America against imperialism, Yanki imperialism in the first place. He continued to expose the role of the Democratic Party to fool the masses of working people into thinking that we have a friend among our oppressors and exploiters. More and more, he spoke out against capitialism as the cause of racism and described himself unabashedly as pro-socialist.He spoke of the Chinese, Vietnamese, and Cuban revolutions as examples of what we working people must do HERE for the future of all humanity. The author is no academic ' observer'; he covered Malcolm's evolution for The Militant newspaper, the only place Malcolm's speeches were published in full and undistorted after he left the Nation of Islam. This book is an excellent companion volume to read alongside Malcolm's actual speeches, also published by Pathfinder Press.

Malcolm in action
I was surprised when I read this book. It gives Malcolm X's speech announcing his political program for fighting for Black control of the black community and Justice.I didnt know what that was before I read it. I read the talk Malcolm gave introducing the program and he talks about how he was supposed to bring Che Guevara up to the meeting, but Che couldn't make it. Heavy Stuff.Breitman is pretty good at defending Malcolm X against critics and showing what the man stood for without imposing his own views on him.We need to see how Malcolm X was in action to get a better idea how we can advance the struggle. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Legitimate Message for A Legitimate Cause
Malcolm X, along with Dr. King and Huey Newton, were essential to the Movement of civil rights in America. Although his message was viewed by some as rather hostile, was it really? Compared to the treatment of Negroes up until the 1960's,and even into today with the Klu Klux Klan and other ignorant white supremacist leagues, was anything but hostile.
Malcolm X, in his autobiography, exploits the occurances and treatment from whites that shape his character into the person that he came to be. Through a detailed account of his life, X portrays several issues in light of racism and its existence in not only the South, but as well, the North. Yes, Northerners, as truthfully portrayed by X, were racist - however subtle and 'unmeaningly.' His developement into 'Malcolm X' from 'Malcolm Little' is a catalytic event unfortunately unknown to most high school curriculums, yet is AS ESSENTIAL to the Movement as Dr. M.L. King. He held as charged, vociferous, and legitimate message as King, Newton and many others; and, the entire light of this 'spectrum' of characters was essential to the shaping Civil Rights in America. ... Read more