"[Myers] seamlessly fuse[s] historical notes on the era with the activist's story... [a] carefully researched portrait of a deeply devoted individual," said PW in a starred review. Age 10-up. (Jan.)
Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
Myers traces Malcolm Little's life from his childhood experience. Pivotal in those early years was an incident when Malcolm confided in a favorite junior high teacher that he hoped to be a lawyer someday. When the teacher suggested such a goal was not realistic for a black man and that, perhaps, a carpenter would be a better choice, Malcolm "simply gave up on the American dream." What follows is a gripping story of a young, angry man searching for himself and something to believe in. He finds both in the Nation of Islam and the teachings of Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm Little becomes Malcolm X-gifted orator, organizer, and a leader of the Black Muslims. Myers does a terrific job of contrasting Malcolm X's "by any means necessary" message and style with Martin Luther King's advocacy of nonviolent protest. In the process, the reader gets an inside look at the Civil Rights movement in America during the 1960s.
The ALAN Review - Richard F. Abrahamson
Gr 5 Up-- Myers organizes Malcolm X's life into four stages: his childhood; his adolescence; his period of working under Elijah Mohammad; and his life after breaking with the Nation of Islam. Throughout, his experiences and actions are presented in a broader social context, from the beliefs of Marcus Garvey, who exerted such an influence upon Malcolm's parents, to the culture of adolescent black males in the 1930s and 1940s, to the contrasts between the Nation of Islam's views and those of Martin Luther King, Jr, with all the shadings in between. The author discusses the evolution in Malcolm's character, as his belief in Islam gradually taught him that not all whites were the enemies of African-Americans. He strikes a good balance between his subject's personal life and broader social issues and movements. Myers does not judge whether or not Malcolm X's views were better than those of King, but rather shows how both appealed to specific audiences and contributed to the struggles of the 1960s. Surprisingly, though, there is very little discussion of current controversies that have emerged from the two points of view. Black-and-white photographs and a reproduction of a page from Malcolm's extensive FBI file help readers to visualize the key personages and events in America's past. Myers's evenhanded approach will provoke thought and discussion among reluctant readers, who may find Jack Rummel's fact-laden Malcolm X (Chelsea, 1989) slow going. --Lyn Miller-Lachmann, Siena College Library, Loudonville, NY
Neither adulatory nor critical, Myers' biography pays eloquent tribute to the brilliant, radical African American leader who remains a hero for many young people today. Quoting extensively from the best-selling "Autobiography of Malcolm X", Myers sets Malcolm X's personal life against the history of segregation and the civil rights movement. He traces the dramatic changes in Malcolm X's life and thinking: from his childhood in a proud, loving home to his dislocation and poverty after his father was killed; from top student to street hustler; from prison inmate to leading voice in the Nation of Islam; from separatist to pan-Africanist who came to accept brotherhood with all individuals of goodwill--until his life was tragically cut off by assassination. Myers shows how Malcolm X relished his image as the "bad man" of the black movement in contrast to Dr. King, and that "his anger, his biting wit, his dedication . . . provided the other side of the sword, not the handle of acceptance and nonviolence, but the blade." He spoke to the voiceless because he had walked in their shoes, calling on them to free themselves from the slavery of self-hatred, of wanting to be part of the mainstream that had rejected them
The writing doesn't have the sustained power of Myers' best fiction (like "Somewhere in the Darkness" ), and the lack of source notes is a serious drawback for those who want to explore further. But Myers' final chapter is a strong essay summarizing Malcolm X's life and legacy, and throughout the book, passages of quiet intensity capture the essence of the man: "They were shocked to see how he had changed. He was shocked to see that they had not changed." As Myers shows, change was the essence of this leader, who was always transforming himself, whether on his pilgrimage to Mecca or in the streets of Harlem. Teens who haven't yet read the "Autobiography" will ask for it after reading this account, and the Spike Lee movie will spark even more interest. Includes photos, bibliography, and chronology.
