Minister, leader, and revolutionary. These three words are best used to describe Malcolm X, the revered Muslim minister who remains one of the most respected and controversial figures in American history. Charismatic, proactive, and dynamic, Malcolm X's legacy includes raising the self-esteem of African-Americans, connecting them with their heritage, and serving as the face of the disenfranchised in the time of civil unrest. On what would have been his 100th birthday, we're examining Malcolm X's legacy through various media that honor a complex individual.
Perhaps the most prominent book of the 20th century, The Autobiography of Malcolm X serves not only as a spiritual conversion, but delves deeper into Malcolm's psyche from his childhood, experiences with racism, Black nationalism, and introduction to the Nation of Islam. Released nine months after his assassination, the Alex Haley-assisted work solidified its place in American literature and also served as inspiration for future projects.
Spike Lee had already established himself as a successful director when he released Do the Right Thing in 1989. However, his 1992 film Malcolm X established him as a true auteur. Using the aforementioned biography, the film succeeds by dramatizing Malcolm's life, including his criminal career, incarceration, conversion to Islam, pilgrimage to Mecca, and eventual assassination. For his gripping portrayal of Malcolm X, Denzel Washington received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and widespread acclaim.
Malcolm X was not only oratorically gifted, but he was a deep thinker as well. This sentiment is especially true thanks to the critically acclaimed biography The Portable Malcolm X Reader, an invaluable portrait of Malcolm as a cultured, complex, and beloved being. Conceived as a companion to the aforementioned biography, this biography includes never-before-published material in the form of news articles and police reports that will leave readers impressed and appreciative of Malcolm's contributions to society.
To speak up is to speak out. No one understood or emulated this message better than Malcolm X. By Any Means Necessary, a collection of speeches and writings, presents the minister's revolutionary stance in the form of writings and readings that will inspire future generations to stand against injustice.
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