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Article

Malcolm X and his autobiography: Identity development and self-narration

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Citation

Gillespie A (2005) Malcolm X and his autobiography: Identity development and self-narration. Culture and Psychology, 11 (1), pp. 77-88. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354067X05050746

Abstract
This paper takes up Tappan¡¯s (2006) project of analyzing the identity development of Malcolm X. Considering Malcolm X¡¯s autobiography as an instance of mediated action, I show how he uses the mediational tool of ¡®development as metamorphosis¡¯ to narrate himself. Because of the similarity between this mediational tool and Tappan¡¯s own theory, I question Tappan¡¯s use of the autobiography to illustrate his theory. Utilizing data sources beyond the autobiography, the present analysis makes three theoretical points. First, the development of Malcolm X¡¯s identity is not so much a series of ¡®liberations¡¯ as it is the accumulation of discourses from different social strata. Second, it is the complex and unresolved inter-relations between these discourses that comprises the uniqueness of Malcolm X. Third, ideological becoming is often, as in Malcolm X¡¯s case, constrained by social structure. In conclusion, I discuss methodological issues concerning the analysis of a public figure such as Malcolm X.

Keywords
Malcolm X; Identity; Dialogical self; X, Malcolm, 1925-1965; Identity (Psychology); Autobiography

Journal
Culture and Psychology: Volume 11, Issue 1

StatusPublished
Publication date31/03/2005
URL
PublisherSAGE
ISSN1354-067X
eISSN1461-7056

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