The Awakening of Malcolm X

Gr 7 Up–How did Malcolm Little, the son of a Lansing, MI, Baptist minister, become the renowned Malcolm X? When Malcolm is 20, he is caught up in the robbery of an empty house. He relies on the testimony of his friend Sophia, a white woman, to minimize the amount of trouble he will be in, however, she lies and he is sentenced to eight-to-10 years in prison. The conditions in the prison are beyond wretched. He stews in anger during the first part of his incarceration while his family begins to follow the principles of the Nation of Islam. “Wake up, Malcolm” is a phrase repeated throughout the novel and helps readers identify the pivotal situations forming who becomes known as Malcolm X. During his incarceration, Malcolm reads, learns, and discovers his gift for public speaking and debate. The central momentum of this novel is how Malcolm X was motivated to learn and use his knowledge to influence others. The book concludes with valuable sections of additional information about the Nation of Islam and the prisons mentioned in the novel, a timeline from Malcolm’s birth until his release, and a list of the books he read while incarcerated.