The Autobiography of Malcolm X as Told to Alex Haley
I chose The Autobiography of Malcolm X as SARC’s February read in honor of Black History Month. The American public education system not only neglects the revolutionary works of Malcolm X but also demonizes his legacy. This is intentional—by omitting one of the world’s greatest minds from our education, they attempt to rewrite history out of fear of a Black man who boldly defied white society.
Malcolm X’s autobiography, penned by Alex Haley, is not just the story of an individual’s personal transformation; it’s a chronicle of a revolutionary awakening that challenges the very foundations of capitalism, imperialism, and white supremacy.
Growing up in the racialized ghettos of Lansing, Michigan, Malcolm’s first memories were of the Ku Klux Klan burning down his home in the middle of the night, his father being murdered at the hands of white supremacists, and his mother being failed by the welfare system, ultimately leading to her 26-year stay in a psychiatric facility. These events catalyzed him to become a revolutionary activist. Malcolm X’s journey is one of radical self-discovery, both as an individual and as a political figure.
Malcolm’s life had been surrounded by violence at the hands of white people for as long as he could remember. His father, Reverend Earl Little, was a preacher and Black nationalist who followed the teachings of Marcus Garvey. He was an organizer for Garvey’s U.N.I.A. (Universal Negro Improvement Association). As he spread Garvey’s philosophies across Omaha, Nebraska, and Lansing, Michigan, Klansmen targeted the Little family more heavily.
“Among the reasons my father had decided to risk and dedicate his life to help disseminate this philosophy among his people was that he had seen four of his six brothers die by violence, three of them killed by white men, including one by lynching. What my father could not know then was that of the remaining three, including himself, only one, my Uncle Jim, would die in bed of natural causes. Northern white police were later to shoot my Uncle Oscar. And my father was finally himself to die by the white man’s hands,” he said.
Malcolm was only six years old when his father was viciously murdered by a white mob. “Negroes in Lansing have always whispered that he was attacked and then laid across some tracks for a streetcar to run over him. His body was cut almost in half. He lived for two and a half hours in that condition,” he said. Later, the insurance company claimed he had committed suicide. From then on, his family lost their sense of stability.
Put yourself in his shoes. How could he not be radicalized by that?
Malcolm’s evolution from a member of the Nation of Islam to a more internationalist, Pan-African revolutionary reflects his deepening understanding of class struggle and global oppression. His analysis of systemic inequality was not confined to race alone but expanded to a global perspective, where imperial powers, particularly the United States, play a key role in sustaining oppressive regimes—reminding me of the most prominent global issues right now, such as the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the genocide of at least 61,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2023.
Here in America, we are in the midst of a censorship crisis as our intellectual freedoms remain at risk. As recent political shifts push for further restrictions on education, including the banning of The Autobiography of Malcolm X in K-12 schools, it’s crucial for Americans to stand up for an education that empowers students to confront injustice, just as Malcolm X did throughout his life, and reject ideas of white supremacy and Christian nationalism.
We, the American people, must acknowledge our responsibility to challenge these injustices at both the domestic and international levels. As stated in one of Malcolm’s most famous quotes, “A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.” It is time for Americans to embrace that notion and take charge. We must challenge systemic inequality, demand accountability for U.S. foreign policies, and actively support movements for justice worldwide, from Palestine to the streets of our own cities.
Malcolm’s journey from a man deeply tied to identity politics to a figure who recognized the systemic nature of capitalism as the root cause of inequality mirrors the transition of many who come to embrace socialist or Marxist ideology. He realized that racial oppression was inextricably linked to economic exploitation and imperialist forces, making his call for a revolution of the oppressed more relevant than ever and even more urgent.
One of the quotes that best encapsulates Malcolm X’s radical vision is:
"The future belongs to those who prepare for it today."
This quote is not just a call to individual responsibility but an urgent appeal for collective action that applies to us now more than ever. In a world where the capitalist class continues to profit from exploitation, imperialism, and war, Malcolm X’s life’s work is a reminder that liberation is not a passive process centered on our comfort—it requires a direct challenge to the structures of power we have been accustomed to.
Black History Month may be over, but it is never too late to honor and learn about the Black leaders and revolutionaries who are so paramount to the shaping of this country. February 21, 2025, marked 60 years since the assassination of Malcolm X. Commemorate his legacy by uplifting his life’s work, rather than erasing it from history.
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