The Autobiography of Malcom X as Told to Alex Haley - 1965 (bbowling)

As usual, thanks to Scott for the recommendation. This is a long book. This is nonfiction. Scott is right. This should be 5 (maybe six because eventually I became tired of reading about islam which to me has nothing to do with racial equality) in the top 10. People always ask if you could have dinner with anyone who has died who would it be? If you "want to have dinner" with Malcolm X then read this book. It is as if he is speaking directly to you. Interestingly enough, I did not feel so strongly that Agassi was talking to me when I read his memoirs (nor did I feel this way in other memoirs). Malcolm's style is very direct. He gives good examples always. I think you feel like you are talking to him because of his style. Of course super credit goes to Alex Haley. He is the goat for making this book possible. This will likely be a long review because the book is long and the issues are myriad. 

On the issue of race...

Malcolm X (the book tells you why his last name is x; i never knew why before) and the honorable mr. muhammed's (lol) basic argument is right. Why should the black man fight in the white man's war overseas? Why should the black man allow the white man to treat him as the white man does? Why should the black man accept the brainwashing white christian religion? The black man should band together with his brother and vote and form businesses and be disciplined and help each other to become equal to the white man. This I totally agree with. Malcolm and Muhammed were right. I don't agree that black people should have their own U.S. state or go back to Africa. I don't know why Islam was even a part of any of this. This is not a religious issue. This is a social and political and equality issue.

On the issue of religion...

Malcolm was brainwashed a bunch of times actually: by the white people as a youth, by the thug life in the streets of Boston and Harlem, by the super weird interpretation of the nation of islam, and by islam itself (orthodox islam). This cost him badly. He could never get his message straight because he believed far too much in "the truth." People do not like a flip flopping leader. I was brainwashed too by disney channel and religion. It happens to everyone. The thing is you can never trust anyone who proclaims to have "the truth." The best you can do is observe and observe and observe and read and try to think the best you can. You and I and our cousins could start some religion and have followers too. There is such a good example of this in the book. When Muhammed gets in trouble for having sex with his secretaries what does Malcolm do? He immediately discusses how to interpret the bible in such a way so that the masses will continue to accept the infallible behavior of the leader. jajajajaj surprise surprise this always happens. What I am trying to say is Malcolm did not need religion to help the black people in the U.S. The nation of Islam's message was right. The weird interpretation of Islam was wrong.  

On Betty....

What a beast although she probably was way too submissive. I mean Malcolm was never there and she was always pregnant. He asked her to marry him over the phone jajajajaja. But God bless her. She was a strong black woman.

On Malcolm...

He was a thug for sure. He was a smart person. He always spoke his mind. He had a lot of common sense. He could relate to the common man. He lacked a consistent and nonreligious message. He taught a lot of black people discipline through nation of islam. He never failed to speak up for the plight of the black man. Maybe he should have organized more marches or lobbied congress for a black state. He worked tirelessly. He was not afraid to change his opinions or admit that he was wrong. He did not spend enough time with his family. How could he not see the importance of family time? 

On human nature...

It was a real shame that the black men could not come together in the end. Of course the honorable mr. muhammed is a farce. He is a wise person and probably was legit when the organization was small. The power got to him and Malcolm was right to leave the organization after Muhammed kept having sex with his secretaries (fine this is malcolm's side of the story but I tend to believe this). The nation of islam was totally brainwashed into believing Muhammed was some type of God. Regarding the NAACP and Dr. King and Malcolm and the nation of islam, here were many groups that could have come together to unite black people. This never happened. It seems to me that there was jealousy and a different message coming from these groups. There was a power struggle within the black community. Maybe Malcolm's message was too extreme for Dr. King but maybe they could have joined forces at some point. Towards the end Malcolm was becoming less extreme. In the end Malcolm was killed (at least according to the police) by black men, black muslim men. That is such a shame for someone who spoke so much on white vs. black.  

On dancing...

I am going to call my grandma and ask if she has ever lindy hopped before. I had to look it up on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmvKrPUo97E&t=255s). Looks like fun. 

On interracial marriage/dating...

Sophia sounds like the goat. Malcolm was a lucky dude. Probably Malcolm is right in saying that he got extra time in the slammer for involving hot white women. lolol

My favorite Malcolm X quotes from the book...

And these I will remember forever and post on facebook. They are that good!

He said he got an astigmatism in his eye from reading so much at night while he was in jail. jajajajajaj. That is legendary.

He said the reporter asked him his alma mater and he said "books". What a beast.

He said he doesn't trust any women and that he only trusts his wife 75%. jajajajajajaj I tend to agree with this as well although he should have trusted sister Betty 100% jajajajaj. In fairness he said did not trust anyone (male or female) lol. He only trusted the author of this book 25% and then eventually 70%. jajajajajajaj 

On the legacy of Malcolm X...

I think he did a good job of telling people how it is and how white people actually had historically and were currently treating black people very badly. Today I feel as though white people had a big start in the race of life, and then we were asked (or the system was changed rather) to stop or slow down maybe so black people could catch up. White people are still ahead though. Take professional sports. It seems to me that the white owners are hiring black coaches to look good and then moving the white people into the front office where no one can see them (brad stevens, bruce arians). Black people have come a long way though. We did have a black president. 

Read the afterword for sure. Malcolm makes it sound like he was a super celebrity and that Islam is the key to everything (maybe he was and maybe it is) but the afterword gives you a lot more outsider (like normal) perspective. 

I am sure I am forgetting a thousand more things about this book. A lot happens and it is hard for me to comment on everything. Maybe I can revise this review when I think of other things worth commenting on. 

Anyways page it for sure!!! This is top ten!!!! You will need a lot of time to read it. As stated above, it is long. Rest in peace Malcolm