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I recently finished The Autobiography of Malcolm X, a book I’ve oddly enough never before read. I saw the movie when it came out years ago and I’ve always meant to read the book, given my ambition as a scholar. But it slipped through the cracks until now. I’m glad I finally read it.

I’ll spare you the details, as it is the autobiography of a well known man, even if it was written by Alex Haley. I was instantly struck by the powerful literary voice, something like the first time you hear the voice of Johnny Cash. You pay attention, no matter what you think of what he’s saying. I especially liked the early part of the book, his gangster years, which provides excellent insight into the mind of a marginalized segment of society and how they might resort to a lifestyle at which the rest of society shudders. Large portions seem like a rant, covering the same ground again and again, but they still have value as a historical document. The end approaches some of the soundest doctrine of the Civil Rights Era but his life was cut short before it thoroughly solidified.

For the most part I enjoyed the book immensely. Powerful and informative, The Autobiography of Malcolm X should be required reading for any course on American history that delves beyond a textbook.