Experience In "The Autobiography Of Malcolm X"
EXPERIENCE IN „THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X”
Motto: “I am the vector, the result of all my experiences”
„The Autobiography of Malcolm X” is one of the best and the most powerful literary works of its time, due to the fact that among all the public figures that American history has to offer, Malcolm is undoubtedly one of the most complex.
Being a sharp piece of history and an autobiography on one of the most misunderstood figures in history, the book remains as brilliant as its protagonist. He was remarkably intelligent and a charismatic leader who reflected the ills of the society around him, who changed throughout his life, and gradually evolved from ignorance to anger and enlightenment. It seems that he started as an empty vessel into which the American Black experience was poured with all the racism and violence that this implies and then reflected his experiences in his convictions and deeds.
The author, Alex Haley brought the reader face to face with Malcolm’s experiences in order to understand how and why he became the person who ended up murdered. He was a true mirror to American society and just like a mirror, he broke in the most important moments in history and also in his life.
He was born “Malcolm Little” in Omaha, Nebraska, as the son of a Baptist preacher and a homemaker. As his parents were religious followers their activities caught the attention of local white supremacists. As a result, in 1929 the small home was burned down, and two years later Malcolm's father Earl was killed in an alleged streetcar "accident."
The effort of providing all the necessary things for seven children proved too much for Malcolm's mother, and in 1938 Louise Little was committed to the state mental hospital. Malcolm was placed in a juvenile home until his half-sister brought the 15-year-old to Boston. Over the next few years Malcolm held odd jobs and turned to a life of crime, becoming a hustler. Malcolm's criminal activities came to an end, when he...
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