Books

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

I’ve been reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X and I came across a few interesting quotes. It’s surprisingly readable; I guess I was expecting it to be really intellectual. I respect Malcolm X but he’s got some funny views on a few issues. It could be the zeitgeist, but for some reason I expect more from someone who traveled the world as a champion of human rights. This one, for example, was pretty shocking to read:

“All women, by their nature, are fragile and weak: they are attracted to the male in whom they see strength.” Pg. 93

This other one made me wonder if anything has changed, and if so, for better or for worse?

“Right now, in every big city ghetto, tens of thousands or yesterday’s and today’s school drop-outs are keeping body and soul together by some form of hustling in the same way I did.” Pg. 108

And this next one, which took place during a riot in the 1940s, was just too funny:

“… we laughed about the scared little Chinese whose restaurant didn’t have a hand laid on it, because the rioters just about convulsed laughing when they saw the sign the Chinese had hastily stuck on his front door: Me Colored Too.” Pg. 114

So you can see there’s something for everyone in here. I am only about halfway through the book, so maybe some of his viewpoints will change. I know he at least stops hating white people, so there’s hope! Hah, goodnight!