The Dead Are Arising by Les Payne and Tamara Payne is a meticulously researched biography of Malcolm X, praised for its depth and new insights. While some critics note it can be dense, its narrative strength and compelling revelations outweigh any drawbacks. This balanced view offers a fresh and authoritative exploration of Malcolm X's life.

Avid readers of meticulously researched biographies and American history enthusiasts will find The Dead Are Arising by Les Payne and Tamara Payne captivating. Fans of Isabel Wilkerson's The Warmth of Other Suns or David Remnick's King of the World will appreciate this in-depth exploration of Malcolm X's life and the broader civil rights movement.

The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X by Les and Tamara Payne, based on over thirty years of research, chronicles the life of Malcolm X from his parents' escape from racial tensions in the South to his rise as a prominent leader in the Nation of Islam and ultimate assassination. Readers should be aware of depictions of racial violence, criminal activity, and assassination.

Informative / Mysterious / Challenging / Emotional / Dark

- Les Payne, an acclaimed journalist, spent decades researching and interviewing sources for The Dead Are Arising to provide an in-depth biography of Malcolm X.
- Tamara Payne, Les Payne's daughter, played a crucial role in completing the book after her father's passing, ensuring his meticulous work came to fruition.
- The Dead Are Arising won the National Book Award for Nonfiction in 2020, highlighting its critical acclaim and significance in historical scholarship.

**Les Payne**  
The primary author who dedicated thirty years to researching the life of Malcolm X. His work was completed by his daughter Tamara Payne after his death.

**Tamara Payne**  
Les Payne’s daughter, who completed her father’s research and manuscript on Malcolm X following his unexpected passing.

**Malcolm X**  
Born Malcolm Little, he is the central figure known for his transformation from a troubled youth to a prominent leader advocating for black empowerment and separation.

**Louise Little**  
Malcolm X's mother, who is light-skinned, educated, and dedicated to promoting dignity and pride in her children. She is a strong supporter of Marcus Garvey’s teachings.

**Earl Little**  
Malcolm X's father, a dark-skinned, hardworking preacher devoted to Garveyism, known for his defiance towards white domination and his moral shortcomings.

**Marcus Garvey**  
Jamaican-born activist who founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association, advocating for racial pride and the separation of races, clashing with other black leaders seeking integration.

**Noble Drew Ali**  
Founder of the Moorish Science Temple, known for his uncertain background and teachings about the origins of black people, who was acquitted of murder before dying young.

**Wallace Fard Muhammad**  
Founder of the Nation of Islam with a mysterious past, known for his teachings on black solidarity and the inherent evil of white people, who disappeared under unexplained circumstances.

**Elijah Muhammad**  
Prominent follower of Fard and later leader of the Nation of Islam, known for his controversial claim of divine leadership and eventual conflict with Malcolm X.

Les Payne

Tamara Payne

Adult

Biography

Nonfiction

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Part 1: “1925-1939”

Introduction-Part 1

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Part 2: “1939-1946”

Part 2 The Dead Are Arising Part 2 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “1946-1963”

Part 3 The Dead Are Arising Part 3 Summary & Analysis

Part 4: “1963-1965”

Part 4-Epilogue

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The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X

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