The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X

I first read “The Autobiography Of Malcolm X” 38 years ago, in 1982. I have read the book more than 5 additional times, each time offering new insights. The book was so inspiring that I have been obsessed with knowing more about him. I have reviewed a wide scope of works in reference to Malcolm, so it is easy for me to become complacent and to think that there is very little that is ever going to be presented that is new. This new book by Les Payne proves me wrong. I purchased Payne's book on the day of its release (October 20, 2020), and spent the next two weeks patiently going through it, going back and forth re-reading passages, careful to go over things in microscopic detail, all while taking notes. It would be fair to say that I read this book with more care and patience than any other book that I have ever read in my life. One of the reasons I love this book comes from the fact that so many people that Malcolm mentioned in his autobiography were interviewed, years after the fact, to get both their at-the-time thoughts about him and how they feel about him contemporarily. For anyone who truly knows The Autobiography, this is a treat. By choosing his investigative method, Les Payne is able to lay out a lot of new information. There are simply things here that one cannot find anywhere else in print, details that add to the richness that is the Malcolm X phenomenon. This is true of every phase of Malcolm's life, and as a staunch Malcolm supporter, I must say that there are some details here that made me wince and to feel quite sad in contemplating them. There is just so much here that no one else has ever covered in print, including extensive information that comes directly from Malcolm's siblings, who the author spent a great deal of time interviewing. I might also add that this book may well be the first or second best book ever, (along with Baba Zak A. Kondo's book) in terms of the details it uncovers about the behind the scenes planning and execution of the assassination, mainly because Payne actually interviewed people who were very much aware of the assassination's inner workings. There are at least two instances of those giving information in the last two or three days of their lives, as deathbed confessions. To this end, many of the questions I have always asked about Malcolm's assassination are answered. This is simply amazing, so amazing that when read in combination with Kondo's book, one gets a really clear picture of all of the parties who were responsible. Without giving anything away, the book will also make any reader pause and reevaluate Minister Louis Farrakhan's long-term position that he “had nothing to do” with Malcolm's assassination. A careful reader will walk away with his/her own opinion in regards to this, but there is some essential information here, and much to think about. All in all, I am thankful to Mr. Les Payne (and his daughter Tamara!) for doing the homework to put this book out, as I now believe, that after The Autobiography, it is the best book ever to cover Malcolm's life, in all of its complexity. This is a wonderful book. I said, “A wonderful book,” not a “perfect book.”

Great reading.

This was a very informative, heartfelt and sensitive narrative that complements “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” through other reports, from family and childhood friends to government informants and undercover police about the life and death of one of the most prolific Black voices of the 20th century. This added insight only adds to the genuine humanness of our shining Black prince, and our beloved brother in Islam. May Allah have mercy on him!

The most informative and interesting book,I have ever read about Malcolm X !

Very informative, deep dive into the live of the compelling Malcolm X. I appreciated how this book really expands on The Autobiography of Malcolm X and how it differentiates the incidents and people in Autobiography from the more detailed reality of what actually happened. For example, Autobiography uses composites from real people and events in Malcolm D's life to tell his story. However, The Dead Are Arising goes further and really names the true people and defines the events explored in Malcolm D's Autobiography (co-authored by the outstanding Alex Haley, whose main body of works were historical fiction (though based on detailed research)). While I learned a great deal from this book, especially about the NOI (Nation of Islam/Black Muslim movement) and how it differs from orthodox Islamic beliefs, I was somewhat disappointed by the uneven writing in this book. As it was authored by Led Payne, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and editor, I expected more. Perhaps because it was assembled posthumously by his daughter, Tamara Payne, who was very involved in the research for the book, instead of composed as a whole by Les Payne. Despite this it is an extremely worthwhile read especially as a companion to The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

An incredible biography on the Civil Rights Leader. Highly Recommended.

Malcolm X is one of my favorite historical figures, not so much for his religious beliefs, but for the person he was, and more importantly, the person he became in the end. If you've read The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley, you may think this book is unnecessary. But this book actually goes much, much deeper into his life and the people around him that were a part of his life. Definitely worth getting and reading.

Fantastic Book.

If you think you knew Malcolm X be prepared to have your evaluations shaken to the core. The author 's grasp of the facts surrounding this tumultuous era are revelatory. A brilliant and informative read. Highly recommended.

Probably about as balanced and as informative as one can be without losing the ability to critique the subject. He had a tough old life and it was cut short he was murdered just like others of promise.

Die Biografie deckt alle Lebensphasen von Malcom X ab, gerät aber etwas zu kurz, wenn es darum geht, klar die Motivationen und Ansichten von Malcom X zu vermitteln. Was hat ihn bewegt, zu tun was er getan hat? Welche Ansichten hatte er, wie in Reden und Schriften wahrscheinlich leicht zu erfahren wäre. Die Biografie deckt diese Bereiche nicht ausreichend ab. Ein paar mehr reden und Zitate wären hier hilfreich gewesen. Malcom X bleibt einem nach der Lektüre immer noch ein Rätsel. Ich hätte mir hier mehr erhofft - vielleicht braucht es zur Ergänzung auch noch die Autobiografie. Ich hätte mir aber erhofft, dass das auch in der Biografie klarer zu Tage tritt.

Thicker than I thought it would be, pictures can be misleading, A great read so far as it is in so much detail about his life, the lives of his family and what was happening in America at particular times.

I have always wanted to learn about Malcolm X and this excellent biography is the perfect starting place. It clearly sets out his life story neither hiding his flaws or over hyping his talents. Malcolm X, lifestory is a story of America trying to deal with its slaving past. In the last few years of his life, he correctly made the links between rampant Capitalism, class and racism against ethnic minorities was used as a salve to working class whites to distract them from the corruption of capitalism itself. Sadly both in America and my home country this tool is still being used.