It is inevitable that people perceive us in ways that differ from that which we see ourselves. “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” presents to the readers how Malcolm X viewed himself by opening up and allowing the reader to enter Malcolm X’s world. He explores his past and takes us on a journey from childhood to adulthood, showing his attempts to stay true to himself. X, before his death, was widely known as a Muslim extremist and both before and after death, many people despised him due to his widespread Muslim propaganda. Although those who knew Malcolm X in the past still saw him as who he was before his conversion of faith, those who did not know him began to develop new beliefs about Malcolm X. Malcolm X’s autobiography allows the reader to indulge into his transition into the man he became. There are many misconceptions oout about Malcolm X, claiming that he was a violent protestor and that he was the typical “angry black man”. By reading Malcolm X’s autobiography, these misconceptions are cleared as we dig deeper into his views and interactions with the Nation of Islam, how Malcolm X wanted to be remembered, and his final viewpoints on racial interactions in America.
The “Autobiography of Malcolm X”, gave Malcolm X’s raw, unfiltered, and personal views on his life growing up. Malcolm X included his past to show the reader that not only did he make mistakes in life, but that he acknowledges them and was still able to rise up from them.
During his early years, Malcolm X lived as a drug dealer and user. Malcolm X revealed that he “knew [he] had to stay high. The amount of dope [he] put into [himself] within the next several hours sounds inconceivable. [He] got some opium from that fellow. [He] took a cab back up to [his] apartment and smoked it”(X 151). Malcolm X’s drug abuse turned him into “a convict. [He] served a total of seven years in prison” (X 173) and also spent many days and nights frolicking with a white woman named Sophia. X draws on and uses these realities to prove that many people can overcome their past and grow as a new person. Who would have known that after his early preaching’s on the “devil white man”, Malcolm X would spend years alongside a married white woman named Sophia? Malcolm X breaks down barriers in order to show to the people who see him as a saint, that despite his high status, he was not born a prophet and his life was full of many wrong choices.
Others however, saw Malcolm X as a man that could not be controlled. According to many people, he was on a journey of spreading Muslim propaganda to black folks and eradicating the Christian faith. Instead, Malcolm X painted a picture of his growth from being a blind follower of the Nation of Islam, where he was lead by false prophets and hate speech, to acknowledging his wrong doing to developing a personal relationship with Allah. When Malcolm X later became a part of and understood the true meaning of Islam, he was able to admit his wrongdoings.
Through his newfound knowledge and teachings, Malcolm X brings with him a new message for his black brothers and sisters on the road for racial harmony within the United States of America. Malcolm X return as a new person after his pilgrimage to the Mecca, ready to tell of his discoveries and new ideologies of transforming America with a “bloodless” revolution. Sadly, he was assassinated by the Nation of Islam before he could fully share his contributions to the world leaving many with the stain of his lifestyle during his time as a member of the Nation of Islam on their lips. Because of this, countless individuals associate Malcolm X with being a man of violence compared to that which he wanted to be seen and remembered as.
In a 1964 article written for Saturday Evening Post, the writer firstly describes Malcolm X as a burglar, dope pusher, addict, among many others, “If Malcolm X were not a Negro, his autobiography would be little more than a journal of abnormal psychology, the story of a burglar, dope pusher, addict and jailbird—with a family history of insanity—who acquires messianic delusions and sets forth to preach an upside-down religion of "brotherly" hatred (Saturday Evening Post).” He was seen as a dangerous and angry man “Society must share the blame for making Malcolm X the angry and possibly dangerous man that he is (Saturday Evening Post),” but not only was he dangerous but he intended on sharing his violence with those he interacted with “Nobody knows just how large a following he has, but unquestionably the militant hatred he preaches was behind Some of the violence of the summer riots in the North (Saturday Evening Post).” Another article, ‘Myth and Truthfulness’, written by Robert A. Krteg claims that “At the height of his fame Malcolm X was considered “the angriest black man in the United States”1 Shortly after his cruel death, Malcolm X was spoken of as a “symbol of violence”2 (Krteg).”
Malcolm X, knowing what the world thought of him, aimed to bring the realities of his lifestyle to light. After his pilgrimage to the Mecca, Malcolm X learned of true hospitality, brotherhood, and understanding of various races working together:
"Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and the overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors and races here in this Ancient Holy Land, the home of Abraham, Muhammad, and all the other prophets of the Holy Scriptures. For the past week, I have been utterly speechless and spellbound by the graciousness I see displayed all around me by people _of all colors (X 353).”
Malcolm X wished to eradicate the racial tension among blacks and whites and was now determined more than ever to bring his new-found fire back to the United States and his new philosophies on race relations. A new teaching much different from the cult he’d once been in. Malcolm X wanted his new approach to life to be known “I tried in every speech I made to clarify my new position regarding white people-“I don't speak against the sincere, well meaning, good white people. I have learned that there are some. I have learned that not all white people are racists. (X 381).”
Malcolm X made it clear that he wanted to be seen as the person he knew he’d become after his trip to the Mecca “I was trying to gradually reshape that image. I was trying to turn a corner, into a new regard by the public, especially Negroes; I was no less angry than I had been, but at the same time the true brotherhood I had seen in the Holy World had influenced me to recognize that anger can blind human vision (X 389).” Malcolm X spoke of mutual respect towards whites and aimed to create an organization where he would allow blacks to have a brotherhood and sense of respect for each other. He was no longer brainwashed into the teachings of the “devilish white man” and longed for peace and respect between the two races instead of causing further divisions.
Malcolm X has been regarded by the media as a violent, bitter and angry person and aimed through his auto biography to share his experiences and self-evaluation of the man he became before his death in 1965.