‘The Autobiography of Malcolm X’ to be released as e-book

It’s been a long wait, but “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” will be released as an e-book, according to the Associated Press. Malcolm X’s estate hopes to release a digital version of his famous memoir by May 19, which would have been his 90th birthday.

The now-classic book, written in collaboration with “Roots” author Alex Haley, was a bestseller when it was released in 1965. Malcolm X did not live to see its success; he was assassinated earlier that year.

Though “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” was released in print by Ballantine, an imprint of Penguin Random House, the e-book will be self-published by his estate.

Estate attorney L. Londell McMillan said self-publishing the e-book is in keeping with Malcolm X’s principles. “Malcolm X was a fervent advocate for self-help, self-reliance and self-respect,” McMillan said.

Penguin Random House has planned special 50th-anniversary editions of the book in print.

“While we would be honored to be asked to publish an e-book edition, we are aware, and respectful, of the estate’s interest in publishing the work as an e-book under their own direction,” an editor told the AP.

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