Malcolm X – A Life of Reinvention

“The Autobiography of  Malcolm X was him giving a tour of his life from a boat. Manning Marable’s Malcolm X – A Life of Reinvention is Google Earth’s version.” 5 April 2011

Malcolm X is a man that many people knew, and millions more thought (or hoped or wished) they knew.  From t-shirts to slogans, his image and words have been used to market music and foment revolutions.  Yet, the truth of his life and death have been obscured by his iconic status, the simple broad strokes of bad man turned good much easier to package, market and consume than the flawed, complex, powerful human being he really was.

Manning Marable (and countless others – yes, I even read the acknowledgements) presents, in Malcolm X – A Life of Reinvention, the man and the life of Malcolm Little, who was Detroit Red, who was Malcolm X, who was Malik Shabazz, who was El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz.  Marable’s research and scholarship, though, present an individual in the context of his times: detailing the rise and fall of the Ku Klux Klan, the power of Marcus Garvey, the growth of the Nation of Islam, and then details the and elucidates the gifts which allowed him to navigate successfully, and which ultimately elevated Malcolm beyond.  Marable also gives texture to the creation of Malcolm’s political evolution, from apolitical through black separatism to Pan-African revolutionary.

Drawing on years of interviews and access to documents previously unavailable, Marable “solves for X”, raising Malcolm from the moving character at the center of his autobiography to a figure in three dimensions.  Reading this book felt like meeting an old friend that I haven’t seen in a while, and catching up with what’s been going on in his life since we last saw each other.  I was also struck with how much Malcolm there was in the book, and how much his words resonate in today’s political climate.  “United States history is that of a country that does whatever it wants to by any means necessary… but when it comes to your and my interest, then all of this means becomes limited.”

I cannot more highly recommend this book.  It is simply a masterwork, both of history and human nature, that I plan on reading several more times.  During my first read, I had to stop myself from highlighting!  There was so much history, so much context and thematic structure that I didn’t want to let slip through my mind.  Having completed my first pass, I’ve grabbed both my highlighter and my notebook, because I refuse to miss the opportunity to learn.

Related Articles

• “Manning Marable’s New Biography Investigates Conflicted Reality of the Civil Rights Leader” and related posts (newblackman.blogspot.com)
• The biographer who shattered Malcolm X myths (cnn.com)
• Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention by Manning Marable – review (guardian.co.uk)
• You: Books of The Times: Stripping Away Myth and Finding Multiple Masks (nytimes.com)

Neda and Crispus – Faces of the Revolution

Neda Agha-Soltan

There are millions of Iranian women seizing the opportunity provided by the Iranian ruling party’s mistakes over the past few weeks. I tweeted a week ago that we are gazing through the looking glass at the violent upheavals that accompany a social realignment which encompasses human rights.
Two hundred and forty-four years ago, a black escaped slave was the first man to die in order to free his former masters from the economic and political oppression of the British king. One hundred and twenty hours ago, a twenty-six year old Iranian woman died on film in her effort to free her countrymen, whose interpretation of the Qur’an places women in subservience, from the yolk of oppression embodied in President Ahmedinijad and the Basij.
This confrontation of the oppressed on behalf of the oppressors speaks to the true moral conflict facing the world today. By battling oppression in Iran, Neda is freeing my daughter here in the United States. By battling oppression in 1775, Crispus Attucks freed Hillary Clinton to run for President.
President Obama has framed his comments about inalienable human rights like freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the responsibility of governments to protect the rights of the people. These are the ideals upon which the United States is based. The question becomes are these ideals truly human rights? Or are we once again exporting our version of democracy into another country?
I would argue that injustice defeated anywhere adds to a more just everywhere. That is the responsibility each of us carries within us. President Obama. Reynaldo Macias. Crispus Attucks. Neda Agha-Soltan. You.
Stand up and be counted.
Become the face of revolution.

A Bloodless Revolution

As much as I don’t like president bush, his presence at the exit door is a testament to the greatness of the United States’ Constitution, and by extension the successful experiment in democracy that our country exemplifies.  Since its inception, the framework for our government has facilitated the bloodless transfer of power between unrelated individuals. While this is a more commonplace occurrence at the beginning of the twenty-first century than it was at the beginning of the nineteenth, looking around the world it is important to realize that this is a rather impressive accomplishment.

Four Presidents, and the Future . . .

Forty-three times this transfer has occurred (the transfer of power itself, though in some cases it was precipitated by violence).  And while we have been growling, griping, snarling, snapping and screaming for CHANGE, this is one aspect of government that I’m glad remains the same.

Obama, Bush and ex-presidents have ‘historic moment’

Advice to Obama on battling presidential aging

The Shots Heard ‘Round the World

The last time we saw lines wrapped around the block on national television, it was a grim reminder that President Bush’s “hire-my-friends and gut the government” agenda was in full effect, and that the American people were at the mercy of forces that did not have their best interests or basic rights as a priority.  Governor Palin is, in that respect, very much a Bush Republican, which disqualifies her from national office.

But today, we see thousands of people getting out to vote early, HOPEful, and exercising their constitutional right, fulfilling their national responsibility, firing their Shots Heard ‘Round the World to lead the United States out from under the tyranny of George II and his step-cousins, John McCain and Sarah Palin.  They must have gotten my memo about the new American Revolution.  Did you?

Are you ready to get out and vote for Senator Obama?  Are you ready to call swing states and knock on doors?  Are you ready to give rides on Election Day?  Are you actively becoming the change you want to see?  Now is not the time to coast.  ”Complacency causes empires to fall.”  How have you helped today?

A last push to deregulate: White House to ease many rules

How Early Voting Could Cost McCain Florida

Plouffe: State of the Race

Democrats dominate early voting in key states

Early voting excitement spurs marches to polls

Obama:  We are four days away from bringing change