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The Autobiography Of Malcolm X

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The Autobiography of Malcolm “X”
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The Autobiography of Malcolm X as articulated by Alex Haley is a book based on the life story of Malcom X and his preaching on racism and segregation in the American society. Malcolm X was an anti-integrationist Muslim leader whose life story revolutionized America. In the book, Malcolm tells his life experiences as a black American to Alex Haley, a veteran writer and journalist. The autobiography recounts the life of Malcom X from a childhood plagued by racism to adult life as a drug dealer, prisoner, and a Muslim leader. It covers his spiritual conversion to Islam through Elijah Muhammad’s teachings in prison leading. …show more content…

The book outlines the racial problems plaguing the African-Americans and dehumanizing them. Malcolm’s father was murdered by a white hate group known as Black Legion because he spoke against racism. Malcolm experiences subtle racism in the book from his childhood to adulthood. His father loved him because he had a lighter skin color as compared to his siblings. In school, he was treated differently because he was black. For example his teacher told him “be a carpenter because the thinking of a lawyer was foolish for a Negro.” The book provides also a solution to racism through the unification of oppressed people.
Hustling is another topic addressed by the book. The book presents the life of a black American as a matter of survival in the urban areas. Malcolm does odd jobs for the whites such as “shining their shoes” and “carrying their dirty plates” to earn a living. Transformation is also addressed by Malcolm changing from a criminal to a religious leader. In Boston and New Yolk, Malcolm is depicted as a drug addict, burglar, and a criminal. However, in prison, following the teachings of Elijah, he reinvents himself to a devoted Muslim and fights for transformation of race relations in …show more content…

Malcolm was full of hatred for the whites to the extent of advocating for separation from them. However, his trip helps him to discover the true Islam which was contrary to his previous teachings. He changes his approach to civil rights and his opinions from hating all “white devils” for the evils they had committed to the blacks. He said that “Since I learned the truth in Mecca, my dearest friends have come to include all kinds” signifying his acceptance of all people despite their race. I find his trip to mecca transformative and his change of heart astonishing though for the

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Thesis: In “The Autobiography of Malcolm X”, Malcolm X in his telling of his life to Alex Haley uncovers the theme of positive and negative environments unearthed by the interaction of African Americans and White Americans in his life and what those kinds of environments inherently produce. Annotated Bibliography Nelson, Emmanuel S. Ethnic American Literature: an Encyclopedia for Students. Greenwood, An Imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC, 2015.This encyclopedia points out that the negative interaction he held with the white man as a young hustler was countered by these same experiences pushing Malcolm X to reclaim his “African identity”. This shows, as described by the cited work, what a man pushed by his negative interactions with the oppressive white men is willing to do to find his identity (i.e. through hustling).

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The authors tone of writing could at first be described as easygoing and unconcerned. He is aware of the obvious issue of racism and discrimination against African Americans, but feels as if it doesn't directly apply to him. As he grows up the style of the writing becomes even more laid back to fit Malcolm's nonchalant personality. The author commonly uses the slang used in the 1940’s. The Author makes a point of stating all the terms Malcolm used to be

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