Little X: Growing Up in the Nation of Islam

By: Sonsyrea Tate

Narrated by: Janina Edwards

In Little X, Sonsyrea Tate reveals, through the acute vision and engaging voice of a curious child, the practices and policies of the mysterious organization most know only through media portrayals of its controversial leaders, Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X, and Louis Farrakhan. First published in 1997, Little X chronicles the multigenerational experience of Tate's family, who broke from the traditional Black church in the 1950s to join the radical Nation of Islam, then struggled to remain intact through disillusionment, shifting loyalties, and forays into Orthodox Islam. Little X is also an absorbing story of a little girl whose strict Muslim education filled her with pride, confidence, and a longing for freedom; of a teenager in an ankle-length dress and headwrap, struggling to fit in with non-Muslim peers; and of a young woman whose growing disillusionment with the Nation finally led to her break with the Muslim religion.

Little X offers a rare glimpse into the everyday experience of the Nation of Islam and into a little-understood part of America's history and heritage.

Selected by the American Library Association as a Best Books for Young Adults. The book is published by The University of Tennessee Press.

©2005 The University of Tennessee Press (P)2015 Redwood Audiobooks

Still searching

I am a white male lifelong Baptist. I was interested to see a story from a completely different perspective. I enjoyed listening to the book. I had hoped that she would come to a conclusion as to what set of beliefs are correct but it seems that she sanctions all beliefs. That is untenable.

One experience is not the whole story...

I wanted to like this book but I don't. I respect the author's experience but I do not believe that it accurately represents the experience of children growing up in the Nation of Islam. Her family put her through a lot and the NOI was only a brief part of her experience as a Muslim. The narrator was, in my opinion, not the best choice for this book. Her pronunciation and intonation was distracting and simply off. Overall it was an interesting story of one girl's experience. I would like to hear other people share their experiences of growing up X.

Good book

This is a very interesting life-story with a lot of value for those seeking to explore islam and conversion to other faiths. Also, the narration is inmersive and engaging. Highly recommended!

Great read and an even better listen

I don't remember what lead me to read this book 15 years ago. I was glad I did it have me great insight on religion and the effects it can have on people. I highly recommend for any and everyone struggling with life's ups and downs.

didn't meet expectations

I thought I would get real insight on the NOI but I simply some of the same I've heard on the street. the author told more about her family than about the nation itself. or maybe there's nothing more to know, not sure but overall the book left me wondering about what wasn't being told.