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The Dead Are Arising

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Biography

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The Dead Are Arising

By: Les Payne, Tamara Payne
Narrated by: Dion Graham
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

**WINNER OF PULITZER PRIZE FOR BIOGRAPHY**
**WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD (Nonfiction)**
Finalist, LA Times Book Prize

A landmark biography of one of the twentieth century's most compelling figures,
rewriting much of the known narrative.

Les Payne, the renowned Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, embarked in 1990 on a nearly thirty-year-long quest to interview anyone he could find who had actually known Malcolm X - including siblings, classmates, friends, cellmates, FBI moles and cops, and political leaders around the world. His goal was ambitious: to transform what would become hundreds of hours of interviews into a portrait that would separate fact from fiction.

The result is this magisterial work that conjures a never-before-seen world of its protagonist, whose title is inspired by a phrase Malcolm X used when he saw his followers stir with purpose to overcome the obstacles of racism. Setting his life not only within the political struggles of his day but also against the larger backdrop of American history, this remarkable masterpiece traces his path from street criminal to devoted moralist and revolutionary.

An author who saw Malcolm X speak and could not stand the phrase 'we may never know', Payne writes cinematically from start to finish and delivers extraordinary revelations - from a hair-raising scene of Malcolm's clandestine meeting with the KKK, to a minute-by-minute account of his murder in Harlem in 1965, in which he makes the case for the complicity of the American government.

Introduced by Payne's daughter and primary researcher, Tamara Payne, who, following her father's death, heroically completed the biography, The Dead Are Arising is a penetrating and riveting work that affirms the centrality of Malcolm X to the African American freedom struggle and the story of the twentieth century.

© Les Payne, Tamara Payne 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

Americas Historical Racism & Discrimination Social Sciences United States Discrimination Crime Social justice Thought-Provoking American History Africa

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Critic reviews

Brilliant and indispensable . . . Using the fruits of decades of interviews, [Payne] brings new information and perspectives on one of the most fascinating, and often misunderstood, figures in American history (Annette Gordon-Reed, author of The Hemingses of Monticello, winner of the Pulitzer Prize)
The result of nearly three decades of investigative reporting, The Dead Are Arising is an essential new biography of one of the most compelling political figures of the twentieth century (Jill Lepore, author of These Truths)
Les Payne's The Dead Are Rising is a brilliant and indispensable depiction of the life of Malcolm X. Payne, one of America's most acclaimed journalists is at the very top of his game in these pages; using the fruits of decades of interviews to bring new information and perspectives on one of the most fascinating, and often misunderstood, figures in American history (David Blight, Sterling Professor, Yale University, and author of the Pulitzer-prize winning Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom)
In a time of breezy, green-room infotainment, Les Payne restores the art of old-fashioned shoe-leather journalism. Malcolm X was one of the most fascinating and charismatic figures of the twentieth century, but like many icons,he was not without flaws. Payne exposes some of the major ones made under the influence of Elijah Muhammad whom Malcolm treated as one would a god. Payne charts Malcolm's disillusionment with his mentor, and the tensions between two egged on by J.Edgar Hoover. Payne's detailed account of Malcolm's negotiations with the Klan alone has mini-series possibilities. The Dead Are Arising is superior to the other Malcolm books, including the autobiography, which Malcolm despised (Ishmael Reed, author of Mumbo Jumbo)
Meticulously researched and masterfully reported, this chronicle offers fresh insights and disturbing revelations that, among other things, strengthen the case for government complicity in the murder of Malcolm X. . . . A gripping read . . . [and] a worthy companion to Malcolm's famed autobiography (Nathan McCall, author of Makes Me Wanna Holler: A Young Black Man in America)
The Dead Are Arising. . . will become the definitive biography of Malcolm X (Ray Winbush, director of the Institute for Urban Research at Morgan State)
Les Payne has written a biography of this African American icon that sets a new standard for investigative journalism (DeWayne Wickham, founding dean of Morgan State University’s School of Global Journalism & Communication)
Payne's storytelling weave[s] an epic tale of Malcolm's exuberant life, his tragic death, and the Phoenix-like legacy (Farah Jasmine Griffin, author of Harlem Nocturne)
No one who wishes to reckon with the life of this man, one of the most important African American figures of the twentieth century can afford to forgo this account (Howard W. French, Columbia University)
All stars
Most relevant
Fascinating. This well researched and well rounded account of Malcolm's life reveals more than I picked up in his autobiography. Definitely will be reading for a 2nd and 3rd time

Well researched

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This was quite a long book, but the writing style, even when giving a lot of detail was quite light, conversational and easy to listen to. I don’t know enough from other sources to dispute the truth of what this author says but the background and context sounded very plausible to me. The last few chapters about the time approching his death and after he left the Nation of Islam was what I bought this audiobook for and the author did not let me down. I have never seen the Malcolm X movie, so I’m now pleased I know about the run up to his assassination. I recommend this book highly.

Detailed, strong on context

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Read the Autobiography 20 years ago and watched film by Spike Lee and recent Netflix special my wife gave me this as a gift.

Moving poignant and well researched for me this is a master work of history.

Malcolm was ahead of his time and should be celebrated.

Most In depth bio of Malcolm X - compelling!

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An amazing insight that supplements both The Autobiography & Manning Marble’s Reinvention of Malcolm X books.
A great leader that emphasised Sunni Islam and the better of his people towards that goal. He transcends just being Black in America, he represents so much more.

Hadith of Prophet SAW is “I have forbidden injustices upon myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not commit injustice”.

El-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz - Black sunni Muslim leader

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This book is so exceptional that I struggle to find the words to write a review here that would come close to doing it justice.

There was a thread on Twitter recently asking ‘what’s the book that has challenged you to readjust previously held beliefs’ - this book is that for me.

I’ll be amazed if this book doesn’t win multiple awards - it deserves to.

Exceptional

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