The Awakening of Malcolm X

A Novel

By: Ilyasah Shabazz, Tiffany D. Jackson

Narrated by: Landon Woodson

This program includes a bonus interview with the author.

The Awakening of Malcolm X is a powerful narrative account of the activist's adolescent years in jail, written by his daughter Ilyasah Shabazz along with 2019 Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe award-winning author, Tiffany D. Jackson.

No one can be at peace until he has his freedom.

In Charlestown Prison, Malcolm Little struggles with the weight of his past. Plagued by nightmares, Malcolm drifts through days, unsure of his future. Slowly, he befriends other prisoners and writes to his family. He reads all the books in the prison library, joins the debate team and the Nation of Islam. Malcolm grapples with race, politics, religion, and justice in the 1940s. And as his time in jail comes to an end, he begins to awaken - emerging from prison more than just Malcolm Little: Now, he is Malcolm X.

Here is an intimate look at Malcolm X's young adult years. While this audiobook chronologically follows X: A Novel, it can be listened to as a stand-alone historical novel that invites larger discussions on black power, prison reform, and civil rights.

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux

"In this fictionalized biography of Malcom X's young adult life, written by his daughter, narrator Landon Woodson brings deep emotion to a man whose youth was fraught with injustice. Woodson transitions smoothly between Malcom's childhood/teens and his early 20s, evoking both the desperation and hope of a young Black man who could no longer stand for the unjust treatment of his people." (AudioFile)

©2020 Ilyasah Shabazz and Tiffany D. Jackson (P)2020 Macmillan Audio

Important Read

Not only was this expertly narrated by Landon Woodson, but it was also impeccably written by Shabazz and Jackson.

Malcom X is not a historical figure that I know a ton about, but this book definitely has me interested in learning more. This fictionalized account of his life "becoming" Malcom X encompasses so much more than just a biographical narrative about him. Mass incarceration, systemic racism, and family bonds are threads that tie this novel together.

Highly recommend!

Amazing Performance

This was a great read. Loved hearing about Malcolm’s life prior to the Nation. Thanks to Ilyasah Shabazz for writing this book. Also Landon Woodson did such a great job narrating, I went to find other books he narrated :-)

Great Read

This will take you back on time.. also will really put into perspective why the black family still struggles to maintain any real progress as a unit. The crimes committed by our government for so long really shines through in this book. This read evoked so many emotions but uplifted my spirit to know that my people fought, fought and lost but did put up a bit of a fight. This was a fight we were destined to lose.

Outstanding

This book was very good. I love how the stories of Malcolm X are inspirational even after his passing. He will always be a Worldwide inspirational from the homes to the universities. I enjoyed listening & learning as if I was sitting in a classroom.

Charlie Perry
Host of the Really Charlie podcast

Kudos to a job well done!

I couldn’t stop listening to this audiobook, from the writing to the storytelling, such an awesome piece of literary work; depicting the struggles of Malcolm X through an unjust prison system and an traumatizing life. I highly recommend this book and/or audiobook, as this is part of our history. The struggles that Malcolm went through, molded him to be a great leader of our past. While the story is heartbreaking; it’s truly a great piece of work.