[lormand]

When I was in college during the "X" fad in the early 90's, I was tasked with reading "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Haley. The assignment was given to me by my Afrocentric English teacher who wore a necklace with a continent of Africa emblem. I found that almost all of the black students and teachers who were into 'X' only identified with the early flaming racists Malcolm X, not the one that was killed by the Nation of Islam. If you only read the first half of the autobiography, you will miss the best part. The best part is when Malcolm X realizes the lies and deceit of the Nation of Islam and denounces them. His trip to Mecca convinced him that Elijia Mohammed and his ilk were a force for evil.

I enjoyed reading it, but it was not the experience my afrocentric teacher thought I was getting.

I used to get a kick out of asking any random black student wearing an X cap, "what was Malcolm X's real last name"....none of them had a clue.

Answer: "Little"

[dignitasnews]

I had heard the “political chumps” speech before on youtube, but cant say I knew much about Malcom X before editing this article for Gary. What I did know about him was that , yes, his post-Nation days showed a greater political maturity but as Gary pointed out in one of the quotes he used, even in his early days he recognized the hypocrisy of liberalism. It really is a damn shame that while he is put up as a cultural icon, few in the black community (or American as a whole) have really looked into his viewpoint. From this article, I myself have put the “Autobiography” on my reading list.

[a fool in paradise]

Another 60s title read by black activists and hip hop artists is Iceberg Slim's PIMP (his autobiography).

Well written but poison to the mind and spirit. He does "redeem" himself in the end denouncing the life and expressing regrets. But it's the tales of sinning that the gangstas love.

In the midst of learning how to have control over his prostitutes, he comes to the realization that you have to make them forget that Lincoln ever freed the slaves. And if they start to pose a threat to your stable or security, get them hooked on heroin or make them go crazy so they can’t narc on you to the Man.

The race hustlers who attack those who threaten their position as "leaders of the community" are much like that.

[Mears]

I also read it years ago and found it a great book.

He was a VERY interesting man.

.