Mark Whitaker on ‘The Afterlife of Malcolm X: An Outcast Turned Icon’s Enduring Impact on America’

Larry is joined by writer and media executive Mark Whitaker to discuss his newest book, The Afterlife of Malcolm X: An Outcast Turned Icon’s Enduring Impact on America. They begin their conversation by talking about what inspired Mark to write the book and detailing Malcolm X’s Shakespearean life journey from harrowing childhood to celebrated civil rights icon. This leads to a conversation about why both progressives and the modern Black conservative movement have championed Malcolm’s teachings, plus a breakdown of X’s relationship with Muhammad Ali (14:47). After the break, Larry and Mark discuss how Alex Haley’s posthumous autobiography of Malcolm X came together and examine the role it has played in preserving Malcolm’s historical significance (32:06). Finally, they end the pod by taking a hard look at the events surrounding Malcolm X’s assassination and shining a light on the strength of his cultural legacy against Martin Luther King Jr.’s (45:02).

Host: Larry Wilmore
Guest: Mark Whitaker
Producers: Brandy LaPlante and Chris Sutton