I am a big fan of Malcolm X. Next to my father, Malcolm has been the biggest influence on my life. So I was very interested in getting an analysis of Malcolm's life from the extremely intelligent professor and social commentator Michael Eric Dyson.
Dr. Dyson does an excellent job of objectively presenting Malcolm's ideas and views, both positive and negative. While Dr. Dyson lauds Malcolm's discipline and ability to criticize himself, he scorns Malcolm's early misogynism. There are parts of the book that get a bit heady for the casual reader, such as Dyson's over worded explanation of two psychobiographies written about Malcolm. But overall, Dr. Dyson does an excellent job of explaining Malcolm's role in contemporary society, especially in his plea to rescue young black males.
Dr. Dyson does get off subject at times, such as his overanalysis of early 1990s black films and his semi rant against inconsistencies in the Clinton adminstration. But Dyson does an excellent job of reviewing Spike Lee's biopic on Malcolm, in fact devoting a whole chapter to it.
Overall there were some confusing points in the book that force me to deduct a star, but the book still an informative and enjoyable read about a giant in American history.
