Summary Of The Autobiography Of Malcolm X As Told By Alex Haley

The Autobiography of Malcolm X as Told by Alex Haley is one of the bestselling publications in American history. Writing about a controversial public figure and topic can put a writer’s life and the publisher’s business at risk but spreading awareness on the struggles of black Americans was of great importance then. In addition to the accounts written by Alex Haley, the foreword by Attallah Shabazz and eulogy by Ossie Davis at the end part provides readers more interesting facts about the colorful life of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. The foreword suggests the author’s purpose in publicizing the highlights of Malcolm’s life – so people can have a better understanding of Malcolm’s pursuits for Black rights and separatism despite suppression and
the dangers of engaging anti-Black movements. The author was able to obtain essential and interesting information about Malcolm X’s personal life to achieve the purpose of his work. Using the first-person point of view made the work sound like Malcolm Little is the one conversing with the reader in his autobiography.
There is a spontaneous vivid description of his childhood years and origins in which he describes some of the main reasons for anti-White sentiments. The author effectively sustains the reader’s interest with the development of different conflicts. Each chapter contained dramatic, suspenseful and action-packed accounts until the end. Inclusion of famous quotations and powerful speeches makes the narration more powerful and captivating, especially in the last chapters. Malcolm Little’s life story is an account of heroic achievement. Understanding the narration is liberating and life-changing. Thus, not only does the book provide information about the person’s life account and his advocacies, it also continues to suggest insights that readers can adopt in engaging current social
conditions.
Generally, there was fluidity in recounting life accounts and flashbacks. Chapters cohered to make a forceful and original story. From the foreword to the last chapter, the narrators spoke eloquently and signify in-depth knowledge of the causes they advocate. The Table of Contents made use of concise and thought-provoking subtitles for each chapter. These captions do not suggest what the next chapter is all about, but they sustain the reader’s interest. Although the common notion is that autobiographies of political activists are intended for audiences who comprehend and appreciate the struggle for reforms and civil rights, this work encourages readership from different social classes, race and political beliefs.
Readers from the new millennium generation will as well appreciate this bestseller, as the saga is a non-fiction account of a significant figure in the Black rights movement in US history. Reading the book expanded my knowledge of the Black separatist campaigns and its origins. It gave an objective personification of Malcolm X, as some references simply describe him as a Black political activist who advocated the use of violence. The book relates to the current pursuits of the American people as the new immigrant group from other countries experience racial discrimination and exploitation just like the African Americans who migrated to the United States centuries ago. I have read and seen literature and film that exposes the Eurocentric culture in the US. The Autobiography of Malcolm X is another great contribution to my knowledge on this subject. It is a highly recommended publication because it empowers readers and provides insights needed to improve current social relationships. The White Supremacy movement is once again gaining supporters in the US recently and continues to wage war against colored Americans. Reading the ideas suggested in Haley’s work and other literature on the rights of colored
Americans provides the public a comprehensive reference on related issues other than current events reported on the news.
The collaborating with Alex Haley resulted in a compelling story that makes use of effective elements in presenting Malcolm X’s autobiography. First, description of settings was effective, as readers could visualize events or the context in which the circumstances took place from the time of the Great Depression in the 1930s to the mid-1960s. A narration of Malcolm’s important life events flowed smoothly and chronologically throughout the work. There is no confusion as to what context of an era is the author describing or what stage in Malcolm’s life is being discussed. Next, exposition can be observed throughout the story. Malcolm X not only provided important facts about his life and the people around him but described different groups, figures, and defined concepts as well. Lastly, the evident technique of persuasion for the reader is the concluding by refuting the allegations that Malcolm X was spreading hate and upholding violence.
Without a doubt, the book is useful and continues to be beneficial for its intended audience. It sheds light on contemporary African American rights campaigns and other emerging advocacies on anti-racist and anti-immigrant movements. I agree with the author’s opinion and purpose for his work. The autobiography is a tribute to a great man, who lives on in the hearts and minds of many Americans. In addition, the life story itself contains important historical facts about their cause and movement. Haley provided Malcolm X a platform to engage more followers through writing important life events. The author was able to repudiate negative publicity about him and reiterate that his pursuit was but justified.
As the author, Haley may have edited some parts such as the deep fascination of El Shabbaz for the leader of the Nation of Islam and other important highlights in his life. There are other written stories on the life of Malcolm X and film documentaries as well. These serve as supplementary educational materials on the Black rights movement and on the life story of other Black political activists and their advocacies. The edition, which contains a foreword by Attalah Shabbaz adds more to the main contents and explains the context of the book’s creation and the development of a film adaptation two decades later. Acclaimed as one of the bestselling nonfiction publications of the 21st century, it continues to capture the interests of more readers in the recent decade. A suggested modification for new editions would be adding images or available photographs of the important life events.
Generally, Alex Haley did a noteworthy effort in collaborating with Malcolm X for him to write a compelling autobiography about an important public figure in American history. Their persistence in creating awareness about the plight of the African American people led them to the creation of a great literary work that will continue to inspire people who advocate equality, freedom, and anti-discrimination.