Little X: Growing Up in the Nation of Islam - Softcover

Tate, Sonsyrea

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1572333642 ISBN 13: 9781572333642

Publisher: University of Tennessee Press, 2005

Synopsis

Since the 1930s, the Nation of Islam has been one of the foremost all-black organizations in the United States. Yet for most people outside the movement, it has been known only through media portrayals of the controversial leaders such as Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan. As a young girl, Sonsyrea Tate was one of tens of thousands of "Little X's, " the children raised within the Nation of Islam as future foot soldiers of black unity. In "Little X, " Tate, an award winning journalist, shows us the Nation of Islam from the inside: "Little X" is the compelling account of one woman's cultural identiy, family unity and spiritual fulfillment in a predominantly white and Christian America.

About this title

Review:

"For the Muslim who has a child that went through these same experiences, this may be an excellent opportunity to draw their child into discussion as to what still bothers them most about their past upbringing.... This book may be the opportunity they've been waiting for to at least reach out to them."

"Instead of writing a bitter condemnation of the Nation of Islam, Tate has adroitly described its purpose as well as its shortcomings." --USA Today

"A temperate and sympathetic treatment of an African-American family's religious evolution." --Publishers Weekly

"A compelling story. It provides an honest, inside view of one of America's most controversial religious movements and perceptively points to social tensions of race, gender and religious identity." --Kirkus Reviews

"Extremely valuable. Recent literature is interested almost exclusively in male leaders. Tate's book provides a new perspective. I have used the book in a number of teaching contexts to very good results." --Judith Weisenfeld, Vassar College

From the Publisher:

A touching memoir of growing up in the Nation of Islam
This is a touching memoir of growing up in the "Nation." Sonsyrea Tate gives voice to the thousands of Little Xs that grew up in a coutry that did not identify with their movement. Her tale is one that explains what the Nation of Islam offers to the African American, and ultimately what about the nation did not work for her and the women of her family. This book will speak to members of the Nation, and teach those who, until now, never knew. Thanks, Peter

About this edition

• Publisher: University of Tennessee Press
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1572333642
• ISBN 13: 9781572333642
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256