Yes, Malcolm X 'changed the world'
Honoring Malcolm X's 100th anniversary and historical legacy
Monday, May 19, 2025, was the 100th anniversary of iconic leader Malcolm X’s birthday. And while the Rev. Al Sharpton and other leaders honored his legacy this week, I thought about a moment at a past job when our team was asked to talk about a book that changed the world.
I was trying to decide whether I would choose Alex Haley’s “Roots” or Alex Haley’s “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” — two books that were assigned to me to read in sixth grade. (I assume Kim Fields and Condoleezza Rice would have heart palpitations over schools teaching something like that, but my teachers were unapologetic when it came to teaching the good, the bad and the ugly in Black history.)
I chose Malcolm X’s autobiography and told the book editor my choice. She popped over and asked me what made me choose that book. I ran off a few reasons why it was so significant to Black students when I was growing up. The editor then explained that she was looking for books that “changed the world.” I paused, repeated my choice and counted off other book titles other writers chose, including a cookbook.
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I asked her how would a book about recipes change the world more than a book about one of the most iconic names in history. She fumbled over her answer, explaining that “anybody can cook” so the chef’s publication was more universal. I nodded and asked her if she was confident that she could walk around our newsroom and ask other writers, editors and photographers whose name they were more familiar with — this chef or Malcolm X. I told her I had no problem with completing an unofficial survey to see if I was wrong.
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She walked away without another word. Later, I got an email from her asking me to get the opinion of an expert about why Malcolm X’s book “changed the world.” I chose someone who I’d interviewed from a prior newspaper I’d worked for, still wondering why my opinion wasn’t enough of a reason — considering the original email asked us to think of a book that changed the world. I got my interviewee’s quote, loved his quote and added it in. I honestly expected the write-up to be ignored even with an expert opinion and moved on with my workweek. To my surprise, when the book series came out, mine was also included.
