Deconstructing an Empire and the Quest for the Self through the Autobiography of Malcolm X (1965)

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Date

2023

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Mouloud Mammeri University

Abstract

This dissertation attempt to study The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley (1965).Our major interest is to examine the life experiences of Malcolm X that led to his beliefs, practices, and their impact on him as a transformational leader. From his early childhood, his imprisonment, his joining to the Nation Of Islam, and his pilgrimage to Mecca. We draw our theoretical bearings from Karl Mannheim’s Ideology and Utopia (1936) and Louis Althusser’s Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses (1970). Together, these frameworks provide a comprehensive examination of the autobiography, and the constant change of Malcolm X’s vision, faith and world views, thus exposing its complexity in addressing identity, race, and power. In this study, we also relate the findings to the modern era; the results revealed that Malcolm X’s evolving thinking and worldview highlight the fluid nature of identity formation, especially in the context of systemic racism and Islamophobia. This study contribute to the ongoing dialogue about racial equality and religious tolerance by linking Malcolm X's experiences and outlook on the broader struggles faced by marginalized communities today. Additionally, the study highlights that Malcolm X’s global perspective on racial and religious justice offers a valuable framework for addressing these forms of discrimination and religious persecution that still persist in the present day.

Description

68p. ; 30cm(+CD-Rom)

Keywords

Malcolm X, autobiography, power, racial injustice, Islam, African American history, utopia, deconstruction, empire, Self

Citation

Literature and Civilization