Written by: Malik Abdul (Philosophy Politics and Economics)
The Autobiography of Malcolm X is one of my favourite books of all time. It tells the story of Malcolm from his birth to his death, and sheds light on racial inequality in America through a first person account of his experiences. Malcolm went to prison for home burglary. In those six and a half years, he spent his time reading books and studying subjects such as English, History, and Science. He became very knowledgeable within his time in prison, and went on to join the Nation of Islam and build a large following within America. His style of speaking was taken to be offensive and flagrant by many white people in America, but in my opinion he simply spoke his mind, regardless of how it would make others feel. The affect he had on the white mainstream media was very impactful, as it gave the black community in America an opportunity to express how they feel about the unequal treatment that they were receiving. He was a hero in the black community, and to this day he is seen as a legend who had a huge impact on racial inequality. People would come from across the country to hear him speak, and he even spoke in places such as London, Belgium, and many African countries, explaining the racial inequality that existed in America and sharing his perspective. He was supported heavily by many African nations, and Muslim nations in the middle east.
His story has been an inspiration to me, and I think that everyone would benefit from reading this book. It shows that no matter how your life starts, it’s never too late to invest in yourself and bring about change for the greater good of humanity.