#The Autobiography of Malcolm X - Malcolm X, Alex Haley

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chilly jasperBOT
chilly jasperBOT
chilly jasperBOT
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@blissful gyro,@sturdy mist,@brisk wharf,@tough wigeon,@gritty dome,@eager umbra,@slow grove,@torpid rock,@vague wren,@tired dust,@kind crescent,@serene copper

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The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley BR starts tomorrow (depending on timezones)!!! 😱 This BR is also part of the OBC Classics 2026 - Part 2 event (check here #classics-2026 message)!! ⬅️

⚠️CW/TWs: Refer to https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/87517871-7ab9-49cf-9d9c-81af5b83e72c for info

💡__Did you know:__ Malcolm X famously read and copied the entire dictionary word by word whilst he was incarcerated, which later was a key turning point in the narrative. 🤯 The writer Alex Haley also conducted extensive interviews with Malcolm X over several years in the process of writing the book, hence the coauthor credit. 💭

‼️Reminder: Don’t forget to post your thoughts (with chapter indications and spoilers) to earn BR points!!

Pre-discussion Questions:
🪧 What do you know about the American Civil Rights Movement?
🤔 If you had to guess, will this book feel more inspiring, challenging, or unsettling?
📚 If someone wrote your life story right now, what would the central theme be?

Happy reading!!! 🤗

chilly jasperBOT
brisk wharf
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I'm so excited for this! I have had this on my tbr for so long and 2026 will be the year to read it! ehhe I have read Haley's Roots and loved it, so I'm expecting his talents to be showcased here as well with the collaboration.

  • I'm pretty familiar with the Civil Rights Movement, but I'm hoping to learn more
  • I'm guessing it will be a mix of all of that given his reputation for reform
  • ooof. idk about a theme for my life, but it would be titled: Wait, what?
blissful gyro
kind crescent
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🪧 I know a bit from learning about it in school. I am looking forward to seeing another perspective.
🤔 I think it's going to end up being a pretty close call for all of them, honestly. Depending on how this is written combined with the events of the time, they all are contenders for the top ranking.
📚 I have no clue. Probably something along the lines of better finding out just who I am.

serene copper
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🪧 What do you know about the American Civil Rights Movement? - I know major movements but need to dive in deeper into the history.

🤔 If you had to guess, will this book feel more inspiring, challenging, or unsettling? - I started this during pandemic but didn’t get far into it because of life but want to start over. It’s most probably challenging and unsettling.
📚 If someone wrote your life story right now, what would the central theme be? - I am at midlife and feel stuck in career so I can see finding new passion/career lol

stone compass
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Just started reading the autobiography and realize we are two days from his birthday, 101 years after his birth 😮

stone compass
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Happy birthday, Malcolm! 🎂

kind crescent
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Starting!

kind crescent
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Chap 1
||Wow. So much happens just in these first pages! It is devastating to see. Malcolm's father and uncles have a rough go of it. For only one to die of natural causes is wild to me.

The amount of prejudice here is aligned with what I know of the time period. The 1930s also was rough with the depression that rocked the country too. I can't begin to fully comprehend what Malcolm and his family went through.

His mom, especially, had a very difficult time. I wonder if part of this (seeming) mental break that causes her to get put in a mental hospital and lose rights over her children was in part causes by the events that she has to go through.||

kind crescent
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Chap 2
||Malcolm seems to be a good enough kid with more energy than he knows what to do with. Him being expelled from school and being sent away seems a bit extreme.

The family he is with seems to be quite nice indeed, which is a change from what we've seen so far. I do find it interesting that there seem to be two types of white people when it comes to the use of n****r. Malcolm states it well that this family doesn't appear to be using it in a malicious manner, possibly not even fully realizing how he feels about it. Then you have the other type that doesn't necessarily care how Malcolm or others feel about it's use, deciding to use it how/when they want no matter what.

I like that he has made a friend with Ella and is able to visit one summer, then move to Boston later. Had he not, I feel like his story would be wildly different and maybe not memorable like the one we have.||

kind crescent
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Chap 3
||I feel like it is often about being friendly and who you know when it comes to jobs. Malcolm hitting it off with Shorty opens doors for him. From getting a job to learning more about life and how to make it in Roxbury, Malcolm is under Shorty's wing.

Getting a conk sounds wicked painful. The things people do for beauty/to fit in is crazy sometimes.||

kind crescent
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Chap 4
||Watching Malcolm continue to grow into himself is nice to watch. I can't imagine being that busy with a job and dancing so much, but it sounds like a great time.

Zoot suits were such a bold, fun fashion statement. Sky's the limit on creativity there, I feel like.

The way lindy hopping is described sounds fun. And extremely tiring.||

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Chap 5
||By the end of this chapter Malcolm is only 17?! He has done so much!! It is mind blowing that he has had so many jobs and experiences at this point. Shoe shine, restaurant work, trains, all of it is something different.

He seems to have a great personality overall, though, to make friends and have so many people like him. I am enjoying learning more about the time period through a set of eyes that isn't the usual one.||

kind crescent
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Chap 6
||I appreciate that Malcolm and his family do still try to see each other on occasion. Considering everything that has been thrown at them, having support in some way is nice.||

kind crescent
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Chap 7
||Malcolm knows a lot of famous people. It seems like part of this is that it was a bit easier to potentially mingle with them during this period of time? (Not saying it was a breeze, but definitely not as difficult as it is in today’s society.)

Getting into more/harder drugs does not seem like a good thing for Malcolm and his future.||

kind crescent
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Chap 9
||Looks like Malcolm didn’t take long to get back into business. They are all so bold, to rob so many places like that. I feel like all of the drugs are causing him to slip a bit. He’s making some poor decisions that have now gotten him caught.||

kind crescent
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Chap 10
||I kind of expected a little more on how Malcolm handled the transition to no drugs when he got to prison. Also, nutmeg as a replacement for other drugs? That doesn’t seem like it could be real, but I’m sure it is.

Once Malcom better understands Islam from his brother, he seems to go into learning about it and following rules pretty quickly. I imagine that this becomes a turning point for him.||

kind crescent
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Chap 11
||The amount of reading that can be accomplished at a prison is astounding. Watching Malcolm build on what he knows, even going so far as to read and write better, is a good sign from him.

He is really diving into this new religion, isn't he?||

kind crescent
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Chap 12-13
||After prison, Malcolm is deeply involved with his faith and learning more. His being enamored with Elijah Muhammad has me a little concerned with potential fallout there, but he appears to be doing well for himself.

His transition from odd jobs to ministering is a turn that I wouldn’t have expected if we didn’t see the clear development of his character. I feel like ministering is also his longest job to date at this point? So, good for him finding something that he is invested in.||

kind crescent
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Chap 14
||The growing numbers of people converting to Islam is wild to see. It isn't something I have ever thought about or been aware of. For so many to be ex-cons and junkies that the brothers help through the tough times is commendable.||

kind crescent
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Chap 15
||It is interesting to see how much of an impact Malcolm is having to people across the nation. Even if his statements get skewed in the papers, he seems to still be quotable. The amount of white people that write him surprises me a little, especially since it doesn't appear to even be mostly hate mail.||

kind crescent
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Chap 16
||Wow. Elijah Muhammad having multiple affairs was not on my bingo for this book. This is already bad enough, but then for him to lock out Malcolm and strive to bring him down? (At least, that's how I read it.) I feel like he was justifying everything that he's done as okay because someone needed to act out these events from the Bible.

A bit delayed, but I feel like the Nation of Islam takes from Islam but isn't the same thing? I mean, Muhammad is claiming to be a messenger and then does things that he shouldn't, really. I can see why there has been a sharp turn. It is also a bit wild to me that many appear to be okay with going through on Muhammad's requests even if it is against the religion?||

kind crescent
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Chap 17
||Malcolm's reactions to everything that happens in this chapter is refreshing. They are almost childlike and a bit naive, but it is clear how excited and enchanted he is with everything. The way he is treated is also drastically different than that of the US and he details this positive approach in letters to his wife and sister.

While it is nice to see others not being as racist in other countries, it is sad that there is such a difference.||

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Chap 18
||Malcolm does so much more than just going to Mecca! He travels a lot, presents his thoughts, meets many people. His experiences here are amazing!||

kind crescent
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Finished!
||Wow. I definitely need time to process this more fully.

However, a few notes/thoughts:

  • the sheer amount of things that Malcolm does in his life is astounding. I lost count of how many jobs he had, tbh. But, he seemed to dive into every one of them, no matter what it was.
  • he had a magnetic personality that shone through in his writing as well as the information provided in the epilogue. He seemed to be able to make friends easily and had great luck with having a helping hand when it was needed.
  • there is so much information about Malcolm and his life. I honestly knew none of it. This was a great read and I am glad that I have a better understanding of Malcolm and the events happening in this time period.||
stone compass
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AMAZING! so great and encouraging to see you finish the book so quickly. going to catch up soonnnn

carmine spindle
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Hey this event is going to go on till december right?

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We can contribute to discussions till then right?

kind crescent
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Yes!

sturdy mist
blissful gyro
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dis one next

blissful gyro
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ch4 ||Laura's seems to be a sad story of what happens when the parents are too controlling, not allowed to do anything, so at some point they just start rebelling hard...||

astral yoke
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Ch 1: || “…Wilfred, for being nice and quiet, often stayed hungry. So early in life, I had learned that if you want something, you better make some noise.” Poor Wilfred. I feel like I’m a bit of a Wilfred myself, so this part hits hard kekCry ||

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|| oof that’s tragic what happened to his father despairge also smh insurance companies ||

blissful gyro
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Ch6 ||"domineering, complaining and demanding wives who had just about psychologically castrated their husband's were responsible for the (prostitute) rush" 💀 💀 💀 💀 💀 💀 💀 💀 💀 ok buddy ||

blissful gyro
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Ch6 ||"only three things scared me, jail, a job and the army" lmao real||

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Ch6 ||that draft dodge was some divine shit. Gives me inspiration||