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.
