Malcolm X: The FBI File

"Malcolm X: The FBI File" delves into the intense scrutiny and surveillance of one of the most iconic figures in the fight for racial and criminal justice reform. Published on February 1, 2012, this revealing book utilizes the extensive FBI documents that tracked Malcolm X from his release from a Boston prison in 1953 until his tragic assassination in 1965. Historian Clayborne Carson provides an unprecedented look at Malcolm X’s ideological evolution and his dynamic role within the broader African-American freedom struggle, juxtaposing his narrative against the backdrop of national policing strategies during the 1950s and 1960s. This book is not only a critical resource for understanding the complexities of Malcolm X's political life but also serves as a sobering reflection on the methods of surveillance that shadowed his every move. Ideal for high school students, this work prompts readers to explore the intersections of government power and civil rights, encouraging a deeper understanding of past struggles that continue to influence the fight for justice today.