Malcolm X: In Our Own Image.A NEW KIND OF |OLOGY' The flourishing neo-"Malcolm X Malcolm X, 1925–65, militant black leader in the United States, also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, b. Malcolm Little in Omaha, Neb. He was introduced to the Black Muslims while serving a prison term and became a Muslim minister upon his release in 1952. movement" receives a tremendous boost from St. Martin's St. Martin's or St. Martins may refer to:
tr.v. as·sas·si·nat·ed, as·sas·si·nat·ing, as·sas·si·nates 1. To murder (a prominent person) by surprise attack, as for political reasons. 2. revolutionary's life and how he is perceived by the African-American populace today. Collectively, the essays do a very good job of capturing the wide range of feelings Malcolmologists express when discussing the man, who upon his return changed his name to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. Unfortunately, however, because there is no background information on the essayists--which include Amiri Baraka Amiri Baraka (born October 7, 1934) is an American writer of poetry, drama, essays and music criticism. Biography Early life Baraka was born Everett LeRoi Jones in Newark, New Jersey. , Angela Davis Angela Yvonne Davis (born January 26, 1944 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American communist organizer, professor who was associated with the Black Panther Party (BPP) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). , Patricia Williams and John Edgar Wideman--some readers may not in the full impact of why these particular writers came up with these particular views. Their "credentials" are relevant because there is some obvious political maneuvering afoot in these essays. And that aspect makes this collection important and even more stimulating to read. Readers should each essayist's "definition of blackness" is subtly revealed in their evaluations of Malcolm. There is fiery anti-sellout rhetoric, observations about Malcolm's views on women, discussions of Malcolm's sexuality, arguments about the significance of Malcolm as an icon and analysis of his motives in many areas. The section by Patricia Hill Collins Patricia Hill Collins, (born May 1, 1948-) is Distinguished University Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park and former head of the Department of African American Studies at the University of Cincinnati. on the strengths and weaknesses of Malcolm's nationalist views is a "must read." And with each essay, you will find that reviewing these impressions of Malcolm will help you formulate your own views on those very same issues. The most likely overall effect of the book will be to motivate most readers to think about writing his or her own essay. In Wood's essay, he hopes that in discussing Malcolm X, African-Americans will begin to really start talking to one another. And there's a good chance Malcolm X: In Our Own Image will get the ball rolling at a fast clip. --Matthew S. Scott Malcolm X: In Our Own Image, edited by Joe Wood, St. Martin's Press, New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , 1992, 256pp, paperback, $18.95 |
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