The Autobiography of Malcolm X
The autobiography chronicles the author's life from his childhood to his conversion to Islam and rise as a prominent figure in the Nation of Islam. It details his experiences with racism, poverty, and crime, as well as his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. The narrative explores themes of identity, spirituality, and social justice, offering a personal perspective on the complexities of American society during the mid-20th century.
By Malcolm X · First published 1965 · Genre: Biography, Autobiography, Social Commentary · 19 chapters · 178,134 words
First lines
When my mother was pregnant with me, she told me later, a party of hooded Ku Klux Klan riders galloped up to our home in Omaha, Nebraska, one night. Surrounding the house, brandishing their shotguns and rifles, they shouted for my father to come out. My mother went to the front door and opened it. Standing where they could see her pregnant condition, she told them that she was alone with her three small children, and that my father was away, preaching, in Milwaukee. The Klansmen shouted threats and warnings at her that we had better get out of town because "the good Christian white people" were not going to stand for my father's "spreading trouble" among the "good" Negroes of Omaha with the "back to Africa" preachings of Marcus Garvey.
What this Textopian page supports
The Autobiography of Malcolm X is listed on Textopian as a novel by Malcolm X, dated 1965 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Malcolm X
- Date: 1965 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Biography, Autobiography, Social Commentary, Political Literature, History
- Length: 178,134 words
- Structure: 19 chapters, 2,262 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Autobiography of Malcolm X?
- How does this novel by Malcolm X fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Biography first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Black Mans History by Malcolm X.
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Genres
- Biography — The work is a personal account of the author's life, detailing his experiences and transformation.
- Autobiography — It is a first-person narrative that reflects the author's own life story and perspectives.
- Social Commentary — The text critiques social issues, particularly race relations and systemic injustice in America.
- Political Literature — It discusses political ideologies and movements, particularly those related to civil rights and black nationalism.
Tags
Autobiographical · Memoir · Biography · Nonfiction · Social Justice · Civil Rights · Racism · Discrimination · Islam · Conversion · Personal Growth · Self-Discovery
Contents
- Nightmare
- Mascot
- Homeboy
- Laura
- Harlemite
- Detroit Red
- Hustler
- Trapped
- Caught
- Satan
- Saved
- Savior
- Minister Malcolm X
- Black Muslims
- Icarus
- Out
- Mecca
- El-Hajj Malik El-Sha
- 1965