Autobiography of Malcolm X

Written By Omma Ahmed
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Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley
Reviewed by Omma
📕📘📗📒📙

For me, there are very few books that hold as much relevance today as they did during the time they were written, and this is definitely one of them.

Malcolm X’s story is one that is as powerful as it is inspiring and deserves to be acknowledged by all as it delves headfirst into the issue of racism that is prevalent even today in modern American society.
I loved how he described his life with such brutal honesty and didn’t try to hide his flaws, but actually embraced and learnt from them. His transformation from a child in foster care, to a self-made eloquent man, with a thirst for knowledge is what I found truly moving, and again inspirational. This is also true for his religious transformation as a Christian to entering mainstream Islam.

This book was key in helping shape my support for the current Black Lives Matter movement. His journey of self-discovery and his unapologetic blackness and political stance is truly beautiful and one that shouldn’t be forgotten.

A firm favourite. A must-read.

Omma Ahmed

I’ve always loved reading as a kid because it was one of the few Asian-mum approved hobbies although she would have preferred ‘less novels and more school books’! I also grew up in the Harry Potter era so that’s when I really remember falling in love with reading. (Big up my Y7 English teacher for reading a few pages of Philosophers stone at the end of every lesson! You were a real one Mr Williams!) I love being part of this book page (even though I slack massively due to lack of energy and concentration!) because sometimes it felt like a lifeline to help keep me sane. We started it during the time I was feeling really shitty about my Crohn’s disease. It’s been a tough 7 years and the last 3 have probably been the hardest especially mentally so when Linda suggested putting this page together, without hesitation I was down and I’m so proud of us! Writing reviews helped me to organise my thoughts and even resulted in me creating a second Instagram page (@AnOstomateForLife) about my Crohn’s journey. Yes that was a shameless plug and I’m not sorry! Along with reviews, I’ve also loved the creative side of things such as having input in our logo, creating our bookmark and taking book pictures even though it’s awkward af in public! So a few of my fave books: The Godfather by Mario Puzo (made me love the film even more! I’m a self-proclaimed movie buff too btw), Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Healy, The Harry Potter series (obviously), Jemima J by Jane Green, Moonlight over Manhattan by Sarah Morgan, Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple and We Should All Be Feminists Chimamanda Adichie.

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