The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X

The dark presence of intolerance took shape early in the life of Malcolm X. Born Malcolm Little, his family battled the racist maneuverings of the Ku Klux Klan in Omaha, Nebraska. His Father Earl and Mother Louis were uncowed by subjugation and resilience. They eventually relocated from Omaha to Milwaukee before settling in Michigan. The Littles were active in Civil Rights, members of the Universal Negro Improvement Association. The fortunes of the Little family were irreversibly altered when Earl Little was killed in a tragic accident in 1931. Louise Little was left to raise a large family during the back-breaking days of the Great Depression. The poverty took a toll, and young Malcolm eventually shirked his education for more lucrative forays in petty crime. As Malcolm matured, his exploits got him jailed, where he found Religion and emerged as Malcolm X. As an early ambassador for The Nation of Islam, Malcolm’s charisma and intellect gained converts and strengthened the organization. Yet as his star rose, internecine conflict, racism, and corrupt government overreach would do their utmost to tear him down.

The Dead are Arising is a powerfully moving book about an oft polarizing figure. Malcolm X was a man who emerged out of turbulent times, gave a voice to the ignored and downtrodden. The research done by the late Les Payne is exemplary and noteworthy. He makes the past come alive for every reader to behold.