Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention (Pulitzer Prize Winner)

Whether you're just getting to know this giant and enigmatic figure of the civil rights "movement" - or in Malcolm's case revolution - or you were on the street in the day, Manning Marable's biography is worth your valuable time. In addition to being a wide and deep examination of how Malcolm Little became Malcolm X and how Malcom X became a universal advocate for the oppressed, especially of African heritage, Marable fills in gaps with his singular access to records and sources, as well as his sustained effort over a decade in producing this biography. But, perhaps most importantly, the voice that Malcolm X raised in defense of those being oppressed carries a message especially important in our time. We should listen. Marable examines Malcolm's life from many angles, in many contexts, which are necessary given that he manifested himself in appearances that ranged from hustler and angry voice from the ghetto to social activist and pragmatist willing to work within the American "system." And this broad appeal largely defines Malcolm X's appeal according to Marable: "Malcolm's journey of reinvention was in many ways centered on his lifelong quest to discern the meaning and substance of faith. As a prisoner, he embraced an antiwhite quasi-Islamic sect that nevertheless validated his fragmented sense of humanity and ethnic identity. But as he traveled across the world...Malcolm came to adopt true Islam's universalism, and its belief that all could find Allah's grace regardless of race." (p.12) To black audiences, "what made him truly original was that he presented himself as the embodiment of the two central figures of African-American folk culture, simultaneously the hustler/trickster and the preacher/minister...the trickster is unpredictable and capable of outrageous transgressions; the minister saves souls, redeems shattered lives, and promises a new world." I might add that I suspect this appeal is not limited to just black audiences. This journey involves doing time for small time crime, developing his thoughts and voice while incarcerated, taking Elijah Muhammad as a mentor, but perhaps the greatest advancement came as a result of Malcolm's haj, after which his thinking and voice, while still strongly advocating for the oppressed, became more inclusive and more compassionate. As noted in at least one other review here, Marable's work is distinguished for understanding how the experience of the haj profoundly advanced Malcolm's thinking and his voice. It may not be too strong to say that this experience liberated him. Marable's book also stands out for filling in gaps around Malcolm's assassination. Complicity on the part of federal and state authorities, as well as the Nation of Islam, from which Malcolm broke about a year before his death, is indicated. Ultimately, though, a conclusive picture can not be drawn from the records to which he had access. An especially valuable context is Marable's view of Malcolm in a larger context that includes Martin Luther King. "one great gift of such remarkable individuals is the ability to seize their time, to speak to their unique moment in history. Both Martin and Malcolm were such leaders, but they expressed their pragmatic visions in different ways. King embodied the historic struggles waged by generations of African Americans for full equality...King never pitted blacks against whites, or used the atrocities committed by white extremists as a justification for condemning all whites. By contrast, throughout most of his public career Malcolm sought to place whites on the defensive in their relationship with African Americans...His constant message was black pride, self-respect, and an awareness of one's heritage." Malcolm's influence over Eldridge Cleaver and Black Power advocates was obvious. And while it scared the hell out of many, Marable presents Malcolm as an important voice in the chorus against racial oppression. Advocating force on behalf of those slammed away in ghettos has its place. Malcolm's voice, according to the actor Ossie Davis and quoted by Marable, was that of a "black shining prince," in his eulogy. Prince, because Malcolm's assassination did not allow him to achieve the maturity of becoming a king. Following his death, Malcolm "was pilloried and sterotyped for his racial extremism," especially in the white community. In the black community, Malcolm, in death, was seen as "an icon of black encouragement, who fearlessly challenged racism wherever he found it." Marable notes that "Malcolm's revolutionary vision also challenged white America to think and talk differently about race...Malcolm challenged whites to examine the policies and practices of racial discrimination." Beyond being a wonderful biography, I hope that Marable's effort here acts to amplify Malcolm's voice to make aware those too young to remember Malcolm, to reaffirm those who sympathized with his struggle, and to expand the understanding of those who were with Malcolm in the day.

Manning Marable writes a very comprehensive biography about a man who became very busy upon leaving prison in 1952 and entering the rigidly organized Nation of Islam cult. Marable handles the task with aplomb, simultaneously recapturing Malcolm's life while effectively providing numerous background stories explaining Malcolm's environment. In addition to learning about Malcolm the reader will learn about Garveyism, the politics of Harlem, Islamic history and a plethora of other subjects that would shape Malcolm. Marable expertly explains Malcolm's rise and fall in the Nation of Islam interviewing a variety of friends and enemies who knew Malcolm at the time, including James 67X (Malcolm's top aide post NOI), Louis Farrakhan, and Larry 4X Prescott. He also used Malcolm's personal diary to detail his extensive trip to the Middle East and Africa during the last year of his life. Furthermore, Marable addresses Malcolm's assassination in great detail, possibly in an attempt to reopen a case that was clearly swept under the rug by local and federal law enforcement. While I get the impression that Marable is not a big proponent of Malcolm's viewpoints, especially his radical Black Muslim views, I do feel that Marable made the effort to be objective and to present Malcolm in a fair light. For any fan of Malcolm this book is a must read if you want a day to day look at what Malcolm was like during his life. In reading this, you can see Malcolm's discipline, self-analysis and constant search for truth. At the same time Malcolm's inconsistencies, contradictions, misogyny and possible homosexuality are revealed. What results is an unabashed look at this extraordinary human being, with an emphasis on the fact that he was, indeed, human.

Though I am white, was born in the UK and still only a child when Malcolm X was gunned down, his words, his rise to prominence and his brutal killing made a powerful impression upon me at the time. Even then, I somehow sensed and understood that he was not the one dimensional demonic figure that the media made him out to be. This book is both a revealing biography and a searching critique of the representation and portrayal of Malcolm X - including his portrayal of himself - both during his lifetime and in the decades since his death. Manning Marable has skilfully crafted a book that is both a highly researched and scholarly text and a gripping read. The historical context of the rise of the Nation of Islam is explained in a way that, for me, powerfully evokes the feeling of ferment of the time - a mixture of great trepidation and huge possibility. I came away from this book not only understanding more about Malcolm X but also about the long history of racial politics of which he was an almost inevitable product. It is a great pity that Manning Marable died close to the time of this book's publication. It feels like a labour of love and it would have been fascinating to hear him speak about the writing of it. A very rewarding book indeed.

Une biographie utile, avec les derniers éléments sur la question et très bien écrit pour autant qu'un francophone puisse juger.

Astonishing book!

Superb in every respect... insightful, engaging and rigorous intellectually. An essential counterbalance to Alex Haley’s book.

I had no idea about this book until I saw a PBS special on Manning Marable and then started searching around. All I can say is that I now know why they destroyed/censored the Autobiography of Malcolm X. I didn't even know that Malcolm had a gay past or that his marriage was in trouble. Such a trouble but powerful man in the end died in the only pair of clothes he owned and they had smelled like smoke from the house fire he dodged a week ago. Sad and also powerful.