The Dead Are Arising

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An epic biography of Malcolm X emerges, based on hundreds of hours of interviews conducted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Les Payne over nearly thirty years. Beginning in 1990, Payne sought to interview anyone who knew Malcolm X—siblings, friends, cellmates, FBI agents, and political leaders—to create a comprehensive portrait that distinguishes fact from fiction. This work reveals a previously unseen world of its subject, inspired by Malcolm X’s phrase reflecting his followers' determination to combat racism. It situates his life within the political struggles of his time and the broader context of American history, tracing his transformation from street criminal to devoted moralist and revolutionary. Payne vividly depicts crucial moments, including a tense 1961 meeting with the KKK and a detailed account of Malcolm's assassination in Harlem in 1965, suggesting the complicity of the American government. This penetrating and riveting narrative underscores Malcolm X's significance in the African American freedom struggle and the broader story of the twentieth century.