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The Autobiography of Malcolm X

by Malcolm X, Alex Haley

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Themes: Religious Conversion

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A significant portion of The Autobiography of Malcolm X is dedicated to Malcolm's journey to Islam. His conversion is considered classic because it happens at a time when he is at his lowest point, finding hope in Islam through Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam. This transformation takes place in prison, where Malcolm has ample solitude and time for study and reflection. Upon his release, he is filled with the zeal and passion of a new believer, determined to share his newfound understanding with other African Americans. To symbolize his departure from his previous life, he takes on the name Malcolm X.

Later, Malcolm X experiences a second conversion to what he describes in his autobiography as "the true Islam." After being expelled from the Nation of Islam, he undertakes a religious journey to Mecca, called hajj. During this pilgrimage, he undergoes a profound transformation as he witnesses the diversity of Muslims of all skin colors united in prayer. His political perspectives shift, leading him to realize that while global unity among black people is essential, his earlier blanket condemnation of all white people was misguided. He writes to his followers in the United States, stating that he has been "blessed by Allah with a new insight into the true religion of Islam and a better understanding of America's entire racial dilemma."

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