Malcolm X Autobiography as told to Alex Haley

Alex Haley is the most amazing African writer to have ever lived. There would have never been a better qualified individual to capture and reflect accurately the life and time of the giant Malik El Shabazz.

The book oozes with inspirations, intense emotions and motivation for black people in particular. It is so graphic you won’t help yourself but feel you knew Malcolm X personally.

 

The Lesson I extracted from it was that History Controls Destiny. How?

 

Malcolm growing up has no special life or extraordinary upbringing. He was a typical black child faced with adverse conditions brought forth by the illusion of white supremacy. The assassination of his father worsened matters driving his mother into insanity. One thing that had a negative impact on the Little’s, as a family they had to be separated due to his mother being institutionalised.

 

From that point on the road was strictly downhill, deteriorating by the second. Malcolm was moved to one of their elderly sisters in the city; just imagine a rural boy fascinated by city trinkets. Blinded by the city lights he got heavily involved in drugs, prostitution, and crime in general. He was the man in the streets, man of many names that sought to describe his street smartness.

The turn-around, his awakening was strangely brought by his incarceration. With the inspiration he got from his blood brothers who were now fervent followers of the man that was introduced to him as a lamb and a messenger of Allah, Elijah Muhammad.  He begun to study and read himself into sanity. He explored The History of Black People, Extensive European history and mythology, plight of black people, black traces in the scriptures, ancient black civilizations, etc. 

 

The Connection of Black people to grandeur, greatness and splendour changed his perception of himself, his environment, the world and his role as a black man. He rose from the ashes, the lowest pits, the depths of wickedness and sin to be amongst the most influential Black figure in the History of life.  He did that with no formal education, he became one of the first so called ex-con’s to rehabilitate them through study and hold public lectures in the finest institutions of higher learning. His life and transformation redefined Educatedness and questioned the need for formal education as it stands currently.

 

Malcolm X epitomizes evolution. He was born Malcolm Little, transitioned and conquered the world as Malcolm X, and was Malik El Shabazz at his exit. Each of these figures has their own individuality and tone of Voice.