Who ghostwrote the Autobiography of Malcolm X?

• A. Alex Haley
• B. Malcolm X
• C. James Baldwin
• D. Richard Wright

Answer: (A)

Ghostwriting happens when a writer takes the stories and memories of a person and turns them into a finished book, while the person provides the content and voice. In the Autobiography of Malcolm X, the book is presented as “Malcolm X, as told to Alex Haley.” That wording shows Alex Haley did the actual writing, organizing Malcolm X’s interviews and recollections into a coherent narrative, shaping the prose and structure. Malcolm X supplied the experiences, beliefs, and perspective, but Haley crafted them into the published memoir. This collaborative process is why Alex Haley is the correct answer. The other names didn’t contribute to writing this work; they’re important figures in African American literature, but they weren’t the ghostwriter for this autobiography.