While you'd be wise to approach this book with some background knowledge and context, no matter what you're background you have to feel the power of these speeches that still strike as strong today as anything you'll ever read and Malcolm's logic and sincerity hit hard. Don't think you know about what Malcolm stood for if you haven't truly read or heard and engaged his words.
I'd also highly recommend checking Breitman's The Last Year of Malcolm X along with if you have not already.

VERY VERY INTERESTING, I LOVE TO HEAR MALCOLM X'S THOUGHTS AND HIS WAYS OF SOLVING PROBLEMS WITHIN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. THIS IS A MUST READ, WE ALL NEED TO READ HIS SPEECHES AND OPEN ARE MINDS UP.