The Autobiography of Malcolm X

   * Introduction
   * The Two Authors
   * Historical and Political Setting
   * Summary
   * Malcolm X' Personality
   * The Authors’ Intentions and Themes of the Book
   * Structure, Language and Style
   * Personal Opinion
   * Used Edition
 

Introduction

When Malcolm X was murdered in the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem on February 21, 1965, he was world-famous as "the angriest black man in America." By that time he had completed his autobiography, so we have now the opportunity to get information of this both hated and loved Afro-American leader’s life at first hand. The book "The Autobiography of Malcolm X," which he wrote with the assistance of Alex Haley, was first published in 1965.

The Two Authors

Malcolm X did not write his autobiography on his own, but he told his life to the journalist and novelist Alex Haley. Haley had already interviewed Malcolm X for the Playboy magazine. Later, he asked him if he would tell his life story for publication. After some thoughts and the agreement of Malcolm X’ spiritual leader, Mr Elijah Muhammad, he accepted under the condition that all money would go to Mr Muhammad’s organisation, the Nation of Islam. From this day until his early death, Malcolm X would regularly tell Alex Haley his life and thoughts, who ordered it and wrote it down. After "The Autobiography of Malcolm X," Alex Haley completed his own contribution to Afro-American literature, "Roots".

Historical and Political Setting

In the years around 1960, the American Negroes became increasingly active in the struggle for civil rights. The liberal, intellectual Afro-American leaders such as Martin Luther King and their supporters, who fought for equality of and integration among black and white, had participated in freedom rides and protest marches to finally abolish segregation. But suddenly, they faced opposition from not one, but two parties advocating racism and segregation: The white racists and the so-called Black Muslims. This radical Negro cult called "Nation of Islam" became in an astonishing short time a nation-wide movement and a threat to the White society, because of its radical principles such as "the white man is the devil" and its enormous popularity.
The leader of the movement was the self-nominated "Messenger of Allah", Elijah Muhammad. But the man who made the radical group popular was his minister Malcolm X. He gathered huge crowds of black people and convinced them in eloquent speeches that all whites were evil. The phenomenon Malcolm X became one of the most popular Afro-American leaders in a short time.

Although he was dismissed by his leader Muhammad, his popularity did not diminish. When he was assassinated by Black Muslims in 1965, newspapers all over the world paid tribute to him as a great Negro leader. The world-wide support for Malcolm X increased enormously again when Spike Lee’s movie was shown in the cinemas about a quarter of a century after his death. Thousands of black people all over the world could be seen wearing black baseball caps with a big white "X" on it, meaning that black Afro-Americans, who had lost their original surnames, were no longer willing to bear their former slavemaster’s name.

Summary

Malcolm Little was born on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Louise and Earl Little. Louise Little was a mulatto born in Grenada in the British West Indies and Earl Little, a six-foot, very dark skinned man from Reynolds, Georgia, was a Baptist minister and organiser for Marcus Garvey, who wanted that all Afro-Americans go back to the land of their ancestors,
Africa.  Louise, his second wife, bore six children: Wilfred, Hilda, Philbert, Malcolm, Yvonne, and Reginald. Earl Little also had three children by a first wife: Ella, Earl, and Mary. Because of the father’s advocacy for Garvey’s movement, the whole family was terrorised by the Ku Klux Klan. To avoid any more harassment by these white racists, Little had to migrate with his family to Lansing, Michigan. It did not help. The white racists of Lansing killed Malcolm’s father and laid him on a railway track,
claiming he committed suicide. Alone and without money, Louise Little got more and more desperate, before the white authorities sent her to a mental hospital. Malcolm attended school until eighth grade living with different families. When his teacher stopped him from trying to become a lawyer, he dropped out of school and went to his older half sister, Ella, who lived in Boston.

There, he took a job as a shoeshine boy at the Roseland Ballroom. A career as a hustler seemed a more tempting option, and he was soon peddling narcotics. He met a white girl called Laura who quickly became his girlfriend. Having a white girl and being a very good dancer, he soon was a notorious young man with crazy clothes and a haircut made to resemble the
hair of white people, which he was very ashamed of later. But Roxbury proved to be too small for him, and in 1942 he took a job as a railroad dining-car porter, working out of Roxbury and New York. Settling in Harlem, New York, he became more and more involved in criminal activities. He robbed, worked as a pimp, and sold narcotics. Malcolm soon learned to survive in the hustler society, which was constantly threatened by internal wars that could render every man your enemy. In Harlem he also got his nickname "Detroit Red", because his home town Lansing was close to Detroit and his hair was red. After a year in
Harlem, Malcolm was officially initiated into hustler society. He returned to Boston in 1945 after falling out with another hustler, and continued a life of crime, forming his own house robbing gang. Arrested for robbery in February 1946, he was convicted and sentenced to prison for seven years. While in prison, Malcolm became a follower of Elijah Muhammad, the leader
of a small black cult, the "Nation of Islam", with branches in Detroit, Chicago and New York. Malcolm and Elijah Muhammad corresponded by mail. Malcolm's brothers Philbert and Reginald, visiting him in prison, urged him to join Muhammad's cult, and while still in prison he did. He discarded his "slave name," Little, and took the new name "X". He improved his poor
knowledge by reading an encyclopaedia and studied plenty of books as well as the Koran and followed strictly the Nation of Islam's dietary laws and moral codes. After his parole in 1952, Malcolm X undertook organisational work for the "Nation of Islam" under the guidance of Elijah Muhammad. Minister Malcolm X founded mosques in Boston, Philadelphia, Harlem and elsewhere and made the national expansion of the movement possible, so that the membership reached approximately 30’000 in 1963. Malcolm X' vision was expressed in speeches, a newspaper column as well as radio and television interviews. In addition, he helped to found the Black Muslim newspaper "Muhammad Speaks". Minister Malcolm X was said to be the only Negro who "could stop a race riot -- or start one." In January 1958 he married Betty X, who was also a member of
the Nation of Islam.

Because of his success, other Ministers of the "Nation of Islam" grew jealous. Elijah Muhammad also began to be afraid of his best Minister who proved to be more famous than he himself. So, partly because of these tensions within the Black Muslim movement, Malcolm became critical of Elijah Muhammad. He was eventually "silenced" for 90 days after commenting
on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy with the phrase "chickens come home to roost." But before his silence was lifted, Malcolm X left the Nation of Islam to form the Muslim Mosque, Inc. on March 1964. He began to advocate a more pragmatic black nationalism and said that blacks should control the politics within their own community and, through his speeches, encouraged his followers to make changes by voting. At the height of his power Malcolm X was one of black America's most powerful voices. He had enormous influence among black youth and in progressive intellectual circles. He travelled widely in Europe and Africa and established his Organisation of Afro-American Unity. He saw the black American struggle partly as a segment of the efforts of third world nations for human rights. In 1964, Malcolm X went on his pilgrimage to Mecca, which is obligatory for orthodox Muslims, and there he began to consider changing his views towards integration. In Mecca, he saw that it was possible for black and white people to live in brotherhood, of which he was deeply touched. After the pilgrimage he adopted the name El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. The angry members of the Nation of Islam began to threaten to kill him. His home in Queens, New York, which Malcolm X shared with his wife and his six children was firebombed in early February 1965. When Malcolm X was delivering a speech in the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem on February 21, 1965,
he was shot down by Black Muslims.

Malcolm X’ Personality

Malcolm X’ personality changed profoundly during his life. Although he has always been the same person, his life can be divided in four parts, in which his character is as different as possible.

Malcolm Little: He was the son of a Baptist preacher and follower of Garvey. He was brought up in a hostile environment and always felt the hatred of white racists towards his family. Alex Haley named the chapter of Malcolm’s childhood "Nightmare". The traumatic childhood experiences and the murder of his father by whites made it possible that Malcolm later believed that the white man is the devil. The white government who was responsible for his beloved mother’s insanity, also nourished his hatred
and racism. Although willing to stay in the white society and to become a lawyer, his teacher prevented him from studying law, because he thought this was not appropriate for a Negro.

Detroit Red: Not being able to get a good job, Malcolm had to become a hustler to earn enough money for his excessive life style. He became selfish and lost all his scruples. In this society, there was no place for mercy. He did not fear any other people or death and used every kind of drugs. Although he hated the whites, he felt inferior and wanted to be like them. Because of this he straightened his hair and had a white girlfriend. When he was in prison, he hated the Christian religion which he thought was
a tool of the white society to keep the Negroes down. This led him to the perception that there must be a religion for the black people.

Malcolm X: When he found this religion, Islam, he felt an immense gratitude toward his saviour, the "honourable Elijah Muhammad." He believed everything he said and was enormously devoted to finding new members for the "Nation of Islam." Now, his hate, energy, intelligence and passion had an aim. He worked all the time for his leader and hardly slept. Malcolm X
made an astonishing change, he gave up all his vices and became an extremely virtuous man. But he did neither condemn violence, nor did he support integration. He even attacked the more liberal Afro-American leaders.

El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz: Malcolm was deeply hurt when Elijah Muhammad dismissed him. But he did not give up, he established his own movement and made a pilgrimage to Mecca. This trip changed his points of view profoundly. He became less militant and even admitted that sometimes white people can help the black movement. He also got rid of Mr Muhammad’s
doctrines and taught the real Islam he experienced in the East. When he heard of the Black Muslim’s plot to kill him, he did not feel any fear. He just wanted his family to be safe. Before he died, he declared that he would be glad if he could have helped the black people, but that all credit is due to Allah. Only the mistakes were his.

Alex Haley got the idea of writing Malcolm X’ autobiography when a publisher who had read Malcolm’s interview asked Haley if it would be possible that the then already nationally known demagogue would consent to tell the public the intimate details of his life. Haley was not sure about this, but he agreed to ask him. Malcolm X was really surprised when questioned. He was not aware that someone could be interested in his life, but after Elijah Muhammad’s agreement he said why he would do so. He hoped that his life story might help people to appreciate better how Mr Muhammad salvages black people. After the split with his leader, Malcolm X first thought of replacing some passages where he praised Mr Muhammad. But then he did not, so the profound changes of his attitude can be reconstructed. However, the financial benefits from selling the book were given to his family who lost all its security after the fall out with the "Nation of Islam". The book became a classic and a reference for every one who is interested in Malcolm X or the Afro-American leaders of the sixties. The New York Times called it "a brilliant, painful, important book." The themes mentioned in the book are the endless problems of the Afro-Americans. Malcolm X set up a sharp analysis of these problems and their origins, although his methods for a change have been proved wrong
now. However, in the last years of his life, he finally saw that some of his means were too extreme, and he began to revise his thoughts. If he had lived longer, he might have done a lot more for the blacks in the United States.

Structure, Language and Style

Alex Haley wrote the book as if Malcolm X would directly speak to the reader. But the narrator does not just tell his life, every now and then he stops and reflects about his life, the black people’s suffering or the Islam’s help for the Afro-Americans. While reading the book, people do not only get to know a great leader’s life, but also his thoughts and opinions about historical events or people.

Haley always tried to find the appropriate style and tone for each of Malcolm X’ part of life. So while he is a hustler, the pages are filled with slang words a hustler in Harlem would use, while talking about his worshipped leader, the sentences consist of praise and honour, and while he is talking to the audience on a mass rally, you can read phrases full of hate and anger, enthusiasm and faith, passion and devotion. Besides this, the book is thrilling and has suspense. Although it is full of information, it can be read like a novel – though it is just the life story of one man.

Personal Opinion

No matter if you agree with Malcolm X’ opinions, his autobiography is worth reading. What  I think is most interesting is his conversion from an antisocial criminal to a charismatic leader and advocate for the "Nation of Islam". Such an extreme change seems to be unbelievable, but after reading his autobiography, everyone can feel how much power this man had. One thing of Malcolm X’ personality I really honour is his readiness to revise his ideas and change them. Especially in the fields of politics and religion, both of which he was working in, people usually never change their beliefs and policies, even if they are proved to be wrong. But Malcolm X was different. He turned all his beliefs and his way of life upside down when joining the nation of Islam. He stopped drinking, smoking and abusing drugs instantly and dedicated his life to his leader, whereas he had been selfish and greedy his whole life before. Tragically, he trusted Elijah Muhammad too much. So, when they fell apart, he had to alter
his beliefs again. He began to establish his own afro-American movement, which he built on the principle of unity among all black people --world-wide. And once again he had to modify one of his maxims. He agreed that it is possible for white people to help the black people’s struggle. When he still was a minister of Elijah Muhammad, a white young woman came to him and asked whether she could help. He sent her away. At the end of his book, Malcolm X regretted his decision. He wished he could contact her in order to tell her what she could do. But the book does not only inform the reader about Malcolm X’ life and ideas, the entire society of the United States during this time is portrayed. To experience this through the eyes of a person of this time rather than simplified by a historian shows you all the facets of the Afro-American’s problems. In a foreword to the autobiography, Alex Haley tells us about the story of this book. He tells of the hesitant approach to the suspicious Muslim minister, Malcolm X’ increasing trust in him and the tragic end of one of the greatest Negro leaders in American history.
 
 

YUSUF ISLAM formely known as Cat Stevens

All I have to say is all what you know already, to confirm what you already know, the message of the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as given by God - the Religion of Truth. As human beings we are given a consciousness and a duty that has placed us at the top of creation. Man is created to be God's deputy on earth, and it is important to realize the obligation to rid ourselves of all illusions and to make our lives a preparation for the next life. Anybody who misses this chance is not likely to be given another, to be brought back again and again, because it says in Qur'an Majeed that when man is brought to account, he will say, "O Lord, send us back and give us another chance." The Lord will say, "If I send you back you will do the same."

MY EARLY RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING

I was brought up in the modern world of all the luxury and the high life of show business. I was born in a Christian home, but we know that every child is born in his original nature - it is only his parents that turn him to this or that religion. I was given this religion (Christianity) and thought this way. I was taught that God exists, but there was no direct contact with God, so we had to make contact with Him through Jesus - he was in fact the door to God. This was more or less accepted by me, but I did not
swallow it all.

 I looked at some of the statues of Jesus; they were just stones with no life. And when they said that God is three, I was puzzled even more but could not argue. I more or less believed it, because I had to have respect for the faith of my parents.

POP STAR

Gradually I became alienated from this religious upbringing. I started making music. I wanted to be a big star. All those things I saw in the films and on the media took hold of me, and perhaps I thought this was my God, the goal of making money. I had an uncle who had a beautiful car. "Well," I said, "he has it made. He has a lot of money." The people around me influenced me to think that this was it; this world was their God.

 I decided then that this was the life for me; to make a lot of money, have a 'great life.' Now my examples were the pop stars. I started making songs, but deep down I had a feeling for humanity, a feeling that if I became rich I would help the needy. (It says in the Qur'an, we make a promise, but when we make something, we want to hold onto it and become greedy.)

 So what happened was that I became very famous. I was still a teenager, my name and photo were splashed in all the media. They made me larger than life, so I wanted to live larger than life and the only way to do that was to be intoxicated (with liquor and drugs).

IN HOSPITAL

After a year of financial success and 'high' living, I became very ill, contracted TB and had to be hospitalized. It was then that I started to think: What was to happen to me? Was I just a body, and my goal in life was merely to satisfy this body? I realized now that this calamity was a blessing given to me by Allah, a chance to open my eyes - "Why am I here? Why am I in bed?" - and I started looking for some of the answers. At that time there was great interest in the Eastern mysticism. I began reading,
and the first thing I began to become aware of was death, and that the soul moves on; it does not stop. I felt I was taking the road to bliss and high accomplishment. I started meditating and even became a vegetarian. I now believed in 'peace and flower power,' and this was the general trend. But what I did believe in particular was that I was not just a body. This awareness came to me at the hospital.

 One day when I was walking and I was caught in the rain, I began running to the shelter and then I realized, 'Wait a minute, my body is getting wet, my body is telling me I am getting wet.' This made me think of a saying that the body is like a donkey, and it has to be trained where it has to go. Otherwise, the donkey will lead you where it wants to go.

 Then I realized I had a will, a God-given gift: follow the will of God. I was fascinated by the new terminology I was learning in the Eastern religion. By now I was fed up with Christianity. I started making music again and this time I started reflecting my own thoughts. I remember the lyric of one of my songs. It goes like this: "I wish I knew, I wish I knew what makes the Heaven, what makes the Hell. Do I get to know You in my bed or some dusty cell while others reach the big hotel?" and I knew I was on the Path.

 I also wrote another song, "The Way to Find God Out." I became even more famous in the world of music. I really had a difficult time because I was getting rich and famous, and at the same time, I was sincerely searching for the Truth. Then I came to a stage where I decided that Buddhism is all right and noble, but I was not ready to leave the world. I was too attached
to the world and was not prepared to become a monk and to isolate myself from society.

 I tried Zen and Ching, numerology, tarot cards and astrology. I tried to look back into the Bible and could not find anything. At this time I did not know anything about Islam, and then, what I regarded as a miracle occurred. My brother had visited the mosque in Jerusalem and was greatly impressed that while on the one hand it throbbed with life (unlike the churches and synagogues which were empty), on the other hand, an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity prevailed.

THE QUR'AN

When he came to London he brought back a translation of the Qur'an, which he gave to me. He did not become a Muslim, but he felt something in this religion, and thought I might find something in it also.  And when I received the book, a guidance that would explain everything to me - who I was; what was the purpose of life; what was the reality and what would be the reality; and where I came from - I realized that this was the true religion; religion not in the sense the West understands it, not the
type for only your old age. In the West, whoever wishes to embrace a religion and make it his only way of life is deemed a fanatic. I was not a fanatic, I was at first confused between the body and the soul. Then I realized that the body and soul are not apart and you don't have to go to the mountain to be religious. We must follow the will of God. Then we can rise higher than the angels. The first thing I wanted to do now was to be a Muslim.

 I realized that everything belongs to God, that slumber does not overtake Him. He created everything. At this point I began to lose the pride in me, because hereto I had thought the reason I was here was because of my own greatness. But I realized that I did not create myself, and the whole purpose of my being here was to submit to the teaching that has been perfected by the religion we know as Al-Islam. At this point I started discovering my faith. I felt I was a Muslim. On reading the Qur'an, I now
realized that all the Prophets sent by God brought the same message. Why then were the Jews and Christians different? I know now how the Jews did not accept Jesus as the Messiah and that they had changed His Word. Even the Christians misunderstand God's Word and called Jesus the son of God. Everything made so much sense. This is the beauty of the Qur'an; it asks you to reflect and reason, and not to worship the sun or moon but the One Who has created everything. The Qur'an asks man to reflect upon the sun and moon and God's creation in general. Do you realize how different the sun is from the moon? They are at varying distances from the earth, yet appear the same size to us; at times one seems to overlap the other.
 Even when many of the astronauts go to space, they see the insignificant size of the earth and vastness of space. They become very religious, because they have seen the Signs of Allah.

 When I read the Qur'an further, it talked about prayer, kindness and charity. I was not a Muslim yet, but I felt that the only answer for me was the Qur'an, and God had sent it to me, and I kept it a secret. But the Qur'an also speaks on different levels. I began to understand it on another level, where the Qur'an says, "Those who believe do not take disbelievers for friends and the believers are brothers." Thus at this point I wished to meet my Muslim brothers.

CONVERSION

Then I decided to journey to Jerusalem (as my brother had done). At Jerusalem, I went to the mosque and sat down. A man asked me what I wanted. I told him I was a Muslim. He asked what was my name. I told him, "Stevens." He was confused. I then joined the prayer, though not so successfully. Back in London, I met a sister called Nafisa. I told her I wanted to embrace Islam and she directed me to the New Regent Mosque. This was in 1977, about one and a half years after I received the Qur'an. Now I realized that I must get rid of my pride, get rid of Iblis, and face one direction. So on a Friday, after Jumma' I went to the Imam and declared my faith (the Kalima) at this hands. You have before you someone who had achieved fame and fortune. But guidance was something that eluded me, no matter how hard I tried, until I was shown the Qur'an. Now I realize I can get in direct contact with God, unlike Christianity or any other religion. As one Hindu lady told me, "You don't understand the Hindus. We believe in one God; we use these objects (idols) to merely concentrate." What she was saying was that in order to reach God, one has to create associates, that are idols for the purpose. But Islam removes all these barriers. The only
thing that moves the believers from the disbelievers is the salat. This is the process of purification.

 Finally I wish to say that everything I do is for the pleasure of Allah and pray that you gain some inspirations from my experiences. Furthermore, I would like to stress that I did not come into contact with any Muslim before I embraced Islam. I read the Qur'an first and realized that no person is perfect. Islam is perfect, and if we imitate the conduct of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) we will be successful. May Allah give us guidance to follow the path of the ummah of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). Ameen!

Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens)