Victims of Democracy: Malcolm X and the Black Revolution by Eugene Victor Wolfenstein-Paperback First Edition

 

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates the University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1981.

**"Victims of Democracy: Malcolm X and the Black Revolution"** by Eugene Victor Wolfenstein is a work that explores the life and ideas of Malcolm X, situating him within the broader context of racial and political struggles in America during the mid-20th century. The book was originally published in 1970, and it examines the impact of Malcolm X’s revolutionary ideas on both the Black liberation movement and the broader social and political dynamics of the time.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Free Association Books; First Trade Paperback Edition 1989. First Published by University of California Press 1981
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 422 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1853431117
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-185343111
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches
• Condition: Used- Good

There is light foxing on the top edge and a minor crease on the left flap, but otherwise, the book is very good. The pages are clean, unmarked, and unbent. The binding is sound.

 

Here are some key points and themes that Wolfenstein addresses in this book:

### 1. **Malcolm X and the Crisis of American Democracy: **

Wolfenstein analyzes how Malcolm X’s critique of American society was deeply tied to the failures and contradictions within the framework of democracy in the United States. According to Wolfenstein, Malcolm X saw American democracy as a façade that allowed systemic racism, inequality, and oppression of Black people to persist. The book discusses how Malcolm's thoughts evolved over time, particularly his disillusionment with the American political system and his turn toward global anti-colonialism and Pan-Africanism after his pilgrimage to Mecca.

### 2. **Psychological and Ideological Dimensions: **

Wolfenstein delves into the psychological and ideological forces that shaped Malcolm X's thinking. He suggests that Malcolm’s personal experiences of racism, along with his imprisonment and subsequent conversion to the Nation of Islam, had a profound effect on the development of his revolutionary consciousness. The book explores how Malcolm's ideas reflected not only the struggles of African Americans but also the broader currents of political and social movements in the 1960s.

### 3. **The Black Revolution: **

Wolfenstein frames Malcolm X as a key figure in the broader "Black Revolution," a term that encompasses the various movements advocating for Black empowerment and liberation. This includes the civil rights movement, but also the more radical currents, including Black Power and the Nation of Islam, that sought to radically transform both the social order in the U.S. and global power structures. Wolfenstein presents Malcolm X as someone who moved away from the nonviolent, integrationist approach of figures like Martin Luther King Jr. to a more militant and separatist philosophy, seeing violence as an understandable response to oppression.

### 4. **Malcolm's Legacy and the Crisis of the 1960s:**

The book also examines Malcolm’s legacy in the context of the broader cultural and political crisis of the 1960s, including the Civil Rights Movement, the rise of Black nationalism, and the increasing radicalization of youth. Wolfenstein argues that Malcolm X's assassination in 1965, combined with the government’s attempts to undermine Black liberation movements (e.g., COINTELPRO), effectively silenced one of the most revolutionary voices of the time, but his influence continued to reverberate throughout Black revolutionary thought.

### 5. **The Theoretical Framework: **

Eugene Wolfenstein applies psychoanalytic theory and Marxist analysis to his examination of Malcolm X, viewing the leader as a symbol of the broader struggles against capitalism, imperialism, and the psychological effects of racism. He uses these lenses to understand the ways in which Malcolm X’s ideas about race, power, and liberation resonated with the social and economic realities of the time.

### 6. **Malcolm X’s Political Evolution: **

One of the critical aspects of the book is its focus on Malcolm X’s political evolution, particularly after his departure from the Nation of Islam in 1964. This period marks a shift in his views on race, religion, and international solidarity. After his pilgrimage to Mecca, Malcolm’s ideas about race and racism became more nuanced. He began to speak out more forcefully about the global struggle for human rights, emphasizing solidarity between Black Americans and oppressed peoples around the world. This internationalist perspective marked a significant development in his political thought.

### Impact and Relevance:

"Victims of Democracy" is considered a significant contribution to the academic and intellectual discussion about Malcolm X, Black liberation, and the political struggles of the 1960s. Wolfenstein’s analysis connects Malcolm X’s personal history to larger socio-political currents, offering a deeper understanding of how the civil rights and Black power movements challenged American society and its so-called democratic ideals.

The book remains a valuable resource for scholars of African American history, political theory, and social movements. It provides a comprehensive, multi-dimensional view of Malcolm X as both a man and a revolutionary thinker, placing him within the larger context of the global fight against colonialism and imperialism, while also exploring the psychological and emotional dimensions of his resistance to racism.