Reading the activity in which we are taught to do at the tender age of five. Some find it dreadful and a waste of time, while others enjoy being transported into a fantasy world in which they escape the troubles of reality. Few even get a whole new perspective of the ever changing world around them. For civil rights activist Malcolm Little, more commonly known as Malcolm X, it completely changed his life for the better. As an activist wanting to improve the lives of Americans in the fifties and sixties, Malcolm realised he had to take initiative and change things in order to achieve his goals of achieving equality among the races. Pursuing a higher education will benefit all in the long run is a saying as old as time, yet it holds truth to
Malcolm journey of self-enlightenment is credited to have began back in 1946 when he was “(charged) for breaking and entering, carrying firearms, and larceny and sentenced to eight years in prison where he learned to read and became fascinated with the Nation of Islam’s leader, Elijah Muhammad” (Malcolm X 231, 232). Fascination that Malcolm had with Muhammad can be described as similar to as one between a celebrity and their fans. Fans tend to mail things to celebrities like letters of admiration, declaration of love, etc, they will even go as far as to send gifts to the celebrity. Malcolm never went to such extremes and was happy just sending Muhammad letters of admiration for the most part. Frustration is expressed in the beginning of Malcolm’s essay titled “Learning to Read” as he claims that his letters were written in “slang, (like) the way I would say something such as “Look, daddy, let me pull your coat about a cat, Elijah Muhammad―”’ ( Malcolm X 232). Somehow Malcolm got it into his head that in order to be taken seriously he couldn 't be informal in his writings and began his inspiring journey of self-enlightenment from behind
The reading on Malcolm X had lots of points that hit everyday society in America for African Americans. Malcolm X was like any other man hustling on the streets to get by, like a lot you see in today society with the drug dealers and such. Starting off Malcolm X was not an intelligent man; he didn’t know how to write without a little slang to his words, he didn’t know how to articulate what he wanted to be said. Malcolm X was convicted of robbery and was sent to Charleston Prison, but was later sent off to the Norfolk Prison Colony School, this is where he gave himself the educated needed to be a well productive citizen. Malcolm X stated, “I saw that the best thing I could do was get hold of a dictionary-to study, to learn some new words (p.211). “I spent two days just riffling uncertainly through the dictionary’s pages.” “Finally, just to start some kind of action, I began copying.” Here Malcolm X is seeing his time being served in prisons to not only be a lessoned learned but to learn something that he knew he would never learn...
However, it was what happened in his life that made Malcolm X the man who people remember today. From a very early age, Little lived in fear of racism and hate groups, much of it rooting from his father’s murder by white supremacists. He was effectively orphaned by 13, as his mother was placed in a mental institution, and lived until he was 20 in several different foster homes. He was arrested for a crime and once released, went on to commit several crimes, including using and distributing drugs, etc. It was when he was imprisoned that he found the Nation of Islam, who helped him when he was released from prison to find a new life. From them, he was able to attain great oratory skills and create an environment when he spoke in which the people around him, white and black alike, felt empowered and equal. Once he discovered corruption and began to disdain the Nation of Islam, he became independent and was later assassinated. However, he along with MLK, were empowered by their stories, Malcolm’s being one of hatred, poverty, hope, and truth, that changed him to become a stimulus for African American equality in
In a time full of zoot suits and whiskey bars, it was only natural that a youth would get caught up with the current trends. For Malcolm Little, life was all about his "image," or what he wanted people to see him as. Throughout his life he spent his time identifying who he really was and what he felt in his heart to be right. Throughout certain periods, he allowed outside circumstances to influence the way he felt about things, yet in the end, he was able to come to his own conclusion about his life, and the lives of his fellow men.
Malcolm X was often encountered by Muslims from other countries who wished to “enlighten” him with what they felt was true Islam. He was initially very skeptical towards these claims but eventually his curiosity got the better of him. To get to know the religion better, Malcolm was directed by his friends to an Egyptian professor in New York, Dr. Mahmoud Youssef
In conclusion, I would like to say that this book is worthwhile reading although it is a quite thick and might take longer time to finish reading it. I might not good in reviewing a book or giving criticism for something. Reading this autobiography can benefit people in many fields. Different people will see things differently. So does when reading this book, certain people might take the lessons differently and it might benefit differently. For example, as a sociological study, it could provide fascinating insights into ghetto life and the ways which an individual learned to survive in the ghetto. Meanwhile as a religious work, it does tell about how an individual is struggling in order to find his God. And it cannot be denied as it is clear that in political work is the book has had its strongest impact.
In the essay Learning to Read, author Malcolm X recalls his profound discovery of literature and reading he experienced while being imprisoned. He explains how this discovery has allowed him to further explore many passages in his life, one prominent passage being his religion and the teachings of his idol, Elijah Muhammad. Through this recollection, Malcolm X uses rhetorical strategies such as allusion, diction, and syntax to express how he finds Muhammad’s teachings to be highly appealing. Malcolm X alludes to the literature of many renowned authors and their writings to support his claims. These allusions refer to the culture and history of black people, and Malcolm X is fascinated with the information he is able to consume through these
Malcolm X should be everyone’s hero, someone people like myself should look up to as a human being. Anyone who thinks otherwise is either a racist or is extremely ignorant. Malcolm X wore his heart on his sleeve and whether right or wrong he was never afraid to say what was on his mind to anyone who cared to listen. I personally believe Malcolm X’s beliefs give me strength to do what's right and carry myself with dignity. I remember, as a kid, my parents had tons of books about Black History books. The first book I read was a Malcolm X biography. I realized Malcolm X was truly a powerful, significant, and essential work for all time.
“I’m for the truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole” (X). This quote by Malcolm X represented his attitude towards equality and self-empowerment. The true Malcolm X was a passionate human rights activist as well as an extremely outspoken man during the fifties and sixties. X encouraged millions of African Americans to fight for what they believed in and to take pride in their ethnicity. X persuaded a multitude of African Americans that they are supreme and should not be degraded for their skin color. He learned at a very early age if he wanted something in life, he had to make some noise
In conclusion, ‘The Autobiography of Malcolm X’ is an interesting and infromative book that should be read by everyone. However, for those does not have any interest in History, you must prepare yourself physically and mentally to completing this book. From the book, we can extract many moral issues that arises without we know. Hence, as a Muslim, we should always concern and be knowledgeable as possible in order to preserve our
Language gave him leverage and he was able to gain a sense of power through it. Malcolm’s experience in prison opened up his eyes and through language he was given a whole new world which he never knew existed. None of X’s accomplishments would have been possible without the power of language. Malcolm began to realize the other side of things and eventually became frustrated at the fact that he could not express himself the way that he wanted to. For example, X states in his essay, “I became increasingly frustrated at not being able to express what I wanted to convey in letters that I wrote, especially those to Mr. Elijah Muhammad. In the street, I had been the most articulate hustler out there—I had commanded attention when I said something. But now, trying to write simple English I not only wasn’t articulate, I wasn’t even functional” (143). This comes to show exactly how frustrated he felt. X felt a sense of power and authority when he was out in the streets, but when it came to understanding a simple English word he was small and had no
Malcolm X wasn’t as innocent as many people believe. As a matter of fact, one could say he deserved to be assassinated. Malcolm X was murdered February 21, 1965. At 39 years of age Malcolm X was shot around 15 times at a speaking engagement in the Manhattan’s Audubon Ballroom. The assassination of Malcolm X was just because he preached racism. and was an advocate for violence in place of peaceful protest; however many people considered him to be a supporter of racial amalgamation.
On January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King and Alberta Williams King became the parents of a small child who eventually grew up to be one of the most influential individuals in the country. His name was Michael—better known as Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wanted to convince Americans to join the civil rights cause. While he was doing this, he became one of the most important leaders of the American Civil Rights movement. He encouraged people to disobey laws that were not fair and to accept the punishments for them. He wanted to stand up for the rights of African American people. It wasn’t an easy journey for him and although he didn’t bring an end to racial discrimination by himself, he overcame many challenges and was a major part in leading America in the right direction.
“The future belongs to people who belong for it today”(Malcolm X). In the article, “Learning to Read” by Malcolm X, and he talks about his adventures while in prison. Malcolm X was a hustler that was sentenced to seven years in prison for robbery in 1946. While in prison he tried to find different ways to give himself an education. Malcolm X goes on to further talk about what he went through while out of prison. He also explains what he learned and how it helped him later on in life while working with Elijah Muhammad who was the leader of the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X uses Ethos and Pathos to describe his way of educating himself as well as using strong word choice, good syntax, and good organization.
In the tale of Malcolm X it states, “It really began back in the Charlestown Prison, when Bimbi first made me feel envy of his stock of knowledge.” While he was in prison he began to realize that as his friend Bimbi began to talk he and take control of conversations that he wasn’t as educated as he believed himself to be. Also he’d begun to realize that being dumb and uneducated isn’t as cool as it seems when you begin to have a conversations with those who’re more educated than you are. In his tory he also states, “...nearly all of the words that might as well have been in Chinese...I saw that the best thing I could do was get hold of s dictionary-to study, to learn some words.” He felt the need to acquire the knowledge due to the fact that he wanted to understand his friend and have the knowledge to hold a conversation with Bimbi. Malcolm X wanted to expand his knowledge and his vocabulary.“Under Bembry's influence, Little developed a voracious appetite for reading.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X) His original goal for obtaining education as for the purpose of understanding hi friend Bimbi and due to that need to acquire more knowledge it lead to him discovering more about the complexities and ‘greyness’ along with the deafness and blindness that was affecting the people of America more specifically the black community in
Experiences cultivate intelligence more than formal education. The Autobiography of Malcolm X, as told to Alex Haley, illustrates that one does not need formal education to become what society deems smart. In society's views, a person who goes to school, graduates, gets degrees and has a professional job is considered intelligent. But Malcolm X refutes this idea by demonstrating that intelligence is attainable through experiential education, individual lessons taught through real life experiences. Education is learning and everyone learns whether consciously or subconsciously. Malcolm X opens his eyes to various world problems, such as religious and racial persecution, and resolves to convert African Americans to Islam. He does not have the opportunities to get a formal academic education. He is deprived of such education because of the lack of opportunities for African Americans. Malcolm X develops an open mind about education, which allows him to discover the truths in