What is more truthful: an autobiography or a biography?
Biographies often offer facts backed up by multiples sources and evidence. Additionally, they are more inclined to provide unbiased information as there it is not controlled by a single source who’s ideas are meant to be taken unquestioned. Biographies allow the reader an objective approach to looking at someone’s life, an approach that has already been filtered through the author's mind. The author parses out reality from myth and when they include questionable stories they explain why it is questionable. This gives the reader a fuller picture of the examined subject and helps them see what information should is actually supported by evidence versus what may have been misconceptions. …show more content…
Considering the last sentences of the autobiography (excluding the epilogue), I wonder what Malcolm’s real intentions were with this book as compared to what he claims they are, “And if I can die having brought any light, having exposed any meaningful truth that will help to destroy the racist cancer that is malignant in the body of America -- then, all of the credit is due to Allah. Only the mistakes have been mine” (440). While eerily similar to Austine’s claim, Malcolm closing remarks may be considered in much the same way. Because his autobiography was written with a ghostwriter and because he is a public figure, I am more inclined to question the motivations for making this claim. As a public figure with an ongoing cause, one which Haley was somewhat in support of, ending the book with this claims obviously is trying to send a message. It seems his dying wish is for people to credit Allah wish all his success and to take responsibility for his own failures, however, I wonder to what degree it was about people knowing he remains faithful rather than just praising Allah. Further, numerous times in the …show more content…
He claimed trust does not come easily to him, but after years of being lied to, he still accepts a new idea that is presented to him. If he had not expressed the difficulty of betrayal I would be wary to accept that he does, in fact, want Allah to take all the good credit while he accepts the mistakes. After Elijah Muhammad’s betrayal was revealed to Malcolm, he tries to edit change the manuscript; later, however, he decided to keep what he had said. This speaks to the nature of writing an autobiography whereas he continues to live his position on issues change, but to be fully understood he has to show the process of reaching his final stance on issues (476). To understand Malcolm X the way he wants to be understood, one has to understand faith and betrayal. Throughout his life, Malcolm subscribed to certain ideals and subsequently abandoned them. His reformation from the Nation of Islam to “true Islam” represents no religious reformation but a looking for another ideology to subscribe to. Further, when writing a book, one really just want their ideas to be communicated and understood. Miscommunication would be detrimental to cause of the book, for, if I interpreted his motivation in all his action as to get money or fame, all
Biographies often offer facts backed up by multiples sources and evidence. Additionally, they are more inclined to provide unbiased information as there it is not controlled by a single source who’s ideas are meant to be taken unquestioned. Biographies allow the reader an objective approach to looking at someone’s life, an approach that has already been filtered through the author's mind. The author parses out reality from myth and when they include questionable stories they explain why it is questionable. This gives the reader a fuller picture of the examined subject and helps them see what information should is actually supported by evidence versus what may have been misconceptions. …show more content…
Considering the last sentences of the autobiography (excluding the epilogue), I wonder what Malcolm’s real intentions were with this book as compared to what he claims they are, “And if I can die having brought any light, having exposed any meaningful truth that will help to destroy the racist cancer that is malignant in the body of America -- then, all of the credit is due to Allah. Only the mistakes have been mine” (440). While eerily similar to Austine’s claim, Malcolm closing remarks may be considered in much the same way. Because his autobiography was written with a ghostwriter and because he is a public figure, I am more inclined to question the motivations for making this claim. As a public figure with an ongoing cause, one which Haley was somewhat in support of, ending the book with this claims obviously is trying to send a message. It seems his dying wish is for people to credit Allah wish all his success and to take responsibility for his own failures, however, I wonder to what degree it was about people knowing he remains faithful rather than just praising Allah. Further, numerous times in the …show more content…
He claimed trust does not come easily to him, but after years of being lied to, he still accepts a new idea that is presented to him. If he had not expressed the difficulty of betrayal I would be wary to accept that he does, in fact, want Allah to take all the good credit while he accepts the mistakes. After Elijah Muhammad’s betrayal was revealed to Malcolm, he tries to edit change the manuscript; later, however, he decided to keep what he had said. This speaks to the nature of writing an autobiography whereas he continues to live his position on issues change, but to be fully understood he has to show the process of reaching his final stance on issues (476). To understand Malcolm X the way he wants to be understood, one has to understand faith and betrayal. Throughout his life, Malcolm subscribed to certain ideals and subsequently abandoned them. His reformation from the Nation of Islam to “true Islam” represents no religious reformation but a looking for another ideology to subscribe to. Further, when writing a book, one really just want their ideas to be communicated and understood. Miscommunication would be detrimental to cause of the book, for, if I interpreted his motivation in all his action as to get money or fame, all