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The Autobiography of Malcolm X

by Malcolm X, Alex Haley

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Themes: Oppression and Slavery

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Malcolm X passionately sought to educate African Americans about the history of black oppression and slavery both in the United States and around the world. The book's first chapter swiftly introduces Malcolm's mother, who is pregnant with him and struggling to shield her family and home from threatening white men. By the end of this chapter, their house has been set on fire, and Malcolm's father has been killed by white supremacists. The oppression endured by his family and friends deeply influenced Malcolm X's life. His potential was dismissed by a school counselor who mocked his dream of becoming a lawyer or another professional.

As a grown member of the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X used the harsh history of slavery and oppression in the U.S. to awaken those he aimed to teach. He recalls, "I wouldn't waste any time to start opening their eyes about the devil white man." He noted that vividly recounting the horrors of slavery always profoundly stirred the emotions of black people hearing it for the first time. Even after being ousted from the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X continued to underscore the ongoing mistreatment of black people in the U.S., stressing that poor treatment persisted even after slavery was abolished. He told fellow guests at a dinner in Ghana that racial violence in the U.S. was predictable because "black men had been living packed like animals and treated like lepers."

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Themes: Religious Conversion

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