John Matthew Smith

I've never been a fan of boxing and I'm no expert on the Civil Rights era, but this was a very compelling read. Malcolm X was a minister for the Nation of Islam (NOI) and basically a black supremacist. Cassius Clay was a talented young boxer with a big mouth and a gift for self-promotion. Their unlikely friendship, however, had dangerous results for both of them.

Malcolm X disagreed with the non-confrontational and patient "we shall overcome" approach of Martin Luther King, advocating instead for violent means if necessary to secure respect and rights for blacks. He became a rising star in the NOI and was known as "The Messenger" for Elijah Muhammad, the frail but self-proclaimed prophet Muhammad, for his fierce loyalty and captivating speaking ability.

Cassius Clay was also a rising star in the boxing world. After winning a gold medal at the Rome Olympics, he commenced a professional boxing career, winning most of his fights by knockout. He adopted an egotistical style of self-promotion but was really a quiet and thoughtful person who strongly believed in clean living and was drawn to the doctrines of the NOI because of his upbringing and the friendship with Malcolm X.

At the time Clay defeated Sonny Liston for the heavyweight title, Malcolm's standing in the NOI was declining. He was bothered by the passive stand the NOI took on black rights, but he'd also learned of Elijah Muhammad's many infidelities and was bothered by the NOI's exploitation of poor blacks. Clay, however, became caught in the middle between Malcolm and Elijah, and when Malcolm was ousted from the movement, Elijah pulled Clay in closer and gave him a new name: Muhammed Ali.

This is a fascinating look at the lives of both men and their relationship with the NOI - a relationship that eventually cost Malcolm X his life. I remember watching part of the fights against Leon Spinks as a kid in 1978, but knew nothing of his highly controversial past. I knew even less about Malcolm X, and was surprised at his extreme racism prior to his split with the NOI. (Honestly, neither of the men came off as likable, but the authors really illustrate the reasons behind their views and I felt I understood why the felt the way they did.) But this was an interesting book, and sometimes I could hardly put it down. (I received an advance copy from Amazon Vine.)… (altro)