The Autobiography of Malcolm X audiobook cover - As told to Alex Haley

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

As told to Alex Haley

Alex Haley, Malcolm X

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The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Early Life & Trauma+
Youth, Hustling & Crime+
Prison & Spiritual Awakening+
Rise in the Nation of Islam+
Disillusionment & Break from NOI+
Mecca & Ideological Shift+
Assassination & Legacy+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 10
Why did Malcolm believe his mother treated him more harshly than his siblings when he was a child?
  • A. He was the youngest child and required the most attention.
  • B. His light complexion and reddish hair reminded her of her white rapist father.
  • C. He constantly skipped school to attend UNIA meetings with his father.
  • D. He was the only child who refused to help her after his father's death.
Question 2 of 10
What pivotal school incident made Malcolm realize his white teachers did not view him as an equal, despite his academic success?
  • A. He was expelled for placing a tack on his teacher's chair.
  • B. He was stripped of his class presidency after dancing with a white girl.
  • C. A teacher told him his dream of becoming a lawyer was unrealistic and suggested he become a carpenter.
  • D. His teachers refused to let him read books from the school library.
Question 3 of 10
How did Malcolm later view the process of 'conking' his hair, which he learned from his friend Shorty?
  • A. As an important rite of passage for young Black men in Harlem.
  • B. As a clever hustle to gain the trust of wealthy white jazz club patrons.
  • C. As an emblem of self-degradation and a brainwashed attempt to 'look white.'
  • D. As a necessary disguise to evade the police while selling drugs.
Question 4 of 10
What was the primary reason Malcolm received an unusually harsh ten-year prison sentence for burglary?
  • A. He had a long prior record of violent offenses in Harlem.
  • B. The judge was particularly upset that he had conspired with two white women.
  • C. He assaulted an undercover police officer during his arrest.
  • D. He refused to testify against his partner, Shorty.
Question 5 of 10
According to the teachings of the Nation of Islam, what did the 'X' in Malcolm X's name represent?
  • A. A mathematical symbol denoting his status as an unknown variable in society.
  • B. A rejection of the Christian cross that his father had preached about.
  • C. The true ancestral African family name that had been forever lost.
  • D. A title given only to the highest-ranking ministers within the organization.
Question 6 of 10
Which event in 1957 brought national television and newspaper attention to Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam?
  • A. Malcolm's controversial remarks following the assassination of JFK.
  • B. The successful lawsuit against New York City after police brutally beat a member named Brother Hinton.
  • C. A massive rally held at the Savoy nightclub in Harlem.
  • D. Malcolm's highly publicized debate with a prominent civil rights leader.
Question 7 of 10
What was the initial cause of Malcolm's deep sense of betrayal by his mentor, Elijah Muhammad?
  • A. Muhammad publicly criticized Malcolm's aggressive recruitment tactics.
  • B. Muhammad ordered Malcolm to stop speaking to the press entirely.
  • C. Malcolm learned that Muhammad was facing paternity suits from two of his secretaries.
  • D. Muhammad refused to support the civil rights protests in Birmingham.
Question 8 of 10
How did Malcolm's pilgrimage to Mecca profoundly change his views on race?
  • A. He realized that orthodox Islam strictly segregated believers by skin color.
  • B. He experienced genuine brotherhood with Muslims of all colors, altering his belief that white people were inherently racist.
  • C. He concluded that religion was a tool used by governments to oppress minorities globally.
  • D. He became convinced that African-Americans should immediately emigrate to Saudi Arabia.
Question 9 of 10
After returning from Mecca, what advice did Malcolm X have for white people who wanted to help his newly formed Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU)?
  • A. He invited them to become full voting members of the OAAU to show racial unity.
  • B. He told them to start their own anti-racism organizations within their own white neighborhoods.
  • C. He asked them to financially boycott businesses that refused to hire Black workers.
  • D. He told them there was absolutely 'nothing' they could do to help.
Question 10 of 10
In Ossie Davis's eulogy for Malcolm X, how did he characterize Malcolm to counter the narrative that he was a man of hate?
  • A. As a peaceful compromiser who always sought the middle ground.
  • B. As a misunderstood politician who secretly worked with the government.
  • C. As a proud example of a strong, uncompromising Black man who simply wanted the best for his people.
  • D. As a tragic figure who had completely abandoned his faith before he died.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X — Full Chapter Overview

The Autobiography of Malcolm X Summary & Overview

The Autobiography of Malcolm X (1965) is a profound and personal account of one man’s journey from dropping out of school and entering a life of crime and drug addiction to finding redemption through human rights activism. These blinks tell the story of a curious and evolving mind: a man who dedicated his life to helping African-Americans gain identity and freedom from oppression by any means necessary.

Who Should Listen to The Autobiography of Malcolm X?

  • Human rights activists
  • Historians
  • People interested in the civil rights movement

About the Author: Alex Haley, Malcolm X

Malcolm X was one of the most important activists in the history of African-American rights. Malcolm X Day is celebrated on 19 May each year in many cities including Berkeley, California, where offices and schools are officially closed. He has been portrayed in numerous movies by actors such as Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington.

Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner Alex Haley wrote Roots: The Saga of an American Family. He was also senior editor of Reader’s Digest, a respected journalist and groundbreaking interviewer. He ghostwrote The Autobiography of Malcolm X from extensive interviews with his subject.

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