The iconography of Malcolm X

Published in 2013 by the University Press of Kansas, The Iconography of Malcolm X was written by historian Graeme Abernethy to explore the evolution of Malcolm X's public image. The work meticulously examines how his visual presentation—ranging from his sartorial choices to his gestures—was captured by photographers, journalists, and artists to shape his shifting perception in the American consciousness. By analyzing primary source imagery and media framing, Abernethy deconstructs how a man frequently demonized by the mainstream press became a singular, transformative figure in the Civil Rights Movement.

Abernethy's research focuses on the intersection of media studies, history, and visual culture. The book functions as a scholarly assessment of how the iconography of Malcolm X was curated and contested, both during his lifetime and in the decades following his assassination. It is well regarded for its academic rigor and its departure from traditional biographical narrative, instead opting for a critical inquiry into how the symbols of his identity were deployed to serve both his own ideological goals and the reactionary narratives of his detractors.