Manning Marable spent over twenty years writing this exhaustive account of the life of Malcolm X. In it he challenges many preconceptions held about Malcolm and examines Malcolm's own autobiography - revealing the truth about his omissions and inaccuracies.

Feeling his faith shaking, Malcolm decides to undertake a pilgrimage to Mecca. Here he encounters a huge panoply of peoples all aspiring to follow the true Islamic path. He becomes convinced that unless he engages with the wider community - his ideals will falter. But some ill-chosen words after the assassination of President Kennedy leads him to become alienated from the Nation of Islam.

Read by Colin McFarlane

Producer: Clive Brill
A Pacificus production for BBC Radio 4. Show less