by Malcolm X
First published 2021
Malcolm X takes the stage in the final years of his life, delivering speeches that cut through America's contradictions. He speaks to packed audiences between 1964 and 1965, calling for Black Americans to defend themselves against lynchings, humiliation, and systemic injustice. While other groups preach nonviolence, Malcolm argues for an uncompromising response to racial violence. He points to the gap between America's promise as a land of democracy and opportunity and its reality of structural racism. Black Americans cannot vote, must give up bus seats to whites, and face violent resistance even after the 1964 Civil Rights Act passes. Malcolm challenges police who shoot first in Harlem but use restraint in white neighborhoods. He writes memos for the Organization of Afro-American Unity and grants interviews, always pushing his audience to find courage and fight for their rights. His assassination at age 39 cuts short his mission, but his words reach across decades to new generations of listeners.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, african-american, non-fiction, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-figure, social-commentary
Setting: America, Harlem
Period: 1964-1965
304 pages · Paperback · Ubu Editora
Content warnings: racism