The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
I’m sorry I ever picked this book up. And judging by the reviews, apparently I’m the only person in the world who feels this way. I recently finished a biography of MLK Jr and found it very enlightening, and having heard about Malcolm X for years, but not knowing much, I wanted to learn. And I like Alex Haley too. It sounded like a good idea. Well, I’ve made it to page 133 and I can’t take it anymore. I’m quitting. I’m fed up with a narcissistic lying thief who “conks” his hair on every occasion and wears flashy zoot suits that he can’t afford who thinks he’s all that and more, and he’s only a teenager for Pete’s sake! He gets his brother Reginald into doing illegal things with him. He’s a terrible person! I had wanted to read to the part where he becomes a Muslim and turns his life around because I think that would be very interesting, but I can’t read another page of this horseshit! It’s really annoying and I can’t believe Alex Haley wrote this clap trap. I’m disappointed. Malcolm X was really stuck on himself and thought he was outside the rules — bigger than the rules — and he also liked to flaunt his sexual prowess with white women, which I thought was odd. He made a big deal about that. Sex, drugs, and jazz (rock and roll wasn’t around then). I’m shocked that this book is required reading in so many classrooms around the country. I think that’s appalling. And naturally I was appalled at the terrible way he was treated because of his skin color, but my dislike of him as a human being supersedes that. I’m glad to finally be putting this book away. Disappointed….
hankrules2011 