He first copies dictionary to build stronger vocabulary words and to improve his penmanship or handwriting because he wants to be able to write in a straight line and to learn the meaning of words he never knew existed. As a result, he copies the dictionary into his tablet page after page, read and reread his own handwriting. He finally copies the entire dictionary which helps him "to pick up handwriting speed"(172). Additionally, Malcolm begins to read and comprehend books on religion and history, which exposed him into a new different world. Malcolm X says "I never had been so truly free in my life"(173).
In Frederick Douglas’ essay “Learning to Read,” and Malcolm X’s autobiography one of the most important similarities is that they both used their learning to read as an escape of the white man's persecution. Additionally, both lived in centuries of great oppression, gained their education while imprisoned or enslaved, and overcame the immense obstacle of being black in a white man's time. However, there are obvious differences between the two, such as Douglas simply wanted equality for himself, while Malcolm took his learnings and transformed them into a seething hate of the whites. Douglas was a very clever man who was peaceful and smart, whereas Malcolm had an aggressive mentality. Instead of despising the white race, as Malcolm along with
Malcolm X, though he was self-educated, taught himself some of the world’s problems. On page 191, Malcolm X, states “The teaching of Mr. Muhammad stressed how history had been ‘whitened’ -- when white men had written history had written history books, the black man simply had been left out.” Though Malcolm X’s situation was certainly different than some students in America, he had a sense of self-motivation that was moved by the frustration of not being able to express himself in the way he desired. He later goes on to state, “As I see it today, the ability to read awoke inside of me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive. I certainly wasn’t seeking any degree, the way a college confers a status symbol upon its students.
Thesis: In “The Autobiography of Malcolm X”, Malcolm X in his telling of his life to Alex Haley uncovers the theme of positive and negative environments unearthed by the interaction of African Americans and White Americans in his life and what those kinds of environments inherently produce. Annotated Bibliography Nelson, Emmanuel S. Ethnic American Literature: an Encyclopedia for Students. Greenwood, An Imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC, 2015.This encyclopedia points out that the negative interaction he held with the white man as a young hustler was countered by these same experiences pushing Malcolm X to reclaim his “African identity”. This shows, as described by the cited work, what a man pushed by his negative interactions with the oppressive white men is willing to do to find his identity (i.e. through hustling).
It was difficult for him to copy the dictionary, because he had bad penmanship. That didn’t stop him from copying the dictionary and he kept practicing. After many months of practicing, he was able to read and write. He can finally write to Mr. Muhammad
“The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” Says Malcom x. Malcom Little was born on May 19 , 1925. His family was frequently attacked by the the Klu Klux Klan or the KKK. Malcom X was a man that risked his life to make the country fair. Malcom X was a African American leader that articled race,pride,and black nationalism.
“X” allowed me to look through the eyes of a young Malcolm X in the early 1900’s. I got to experience the events that shaped Malcolm X into the icon that we know him as today. It illustrates his struggles and his conquers. His journey from a young man lost in the world of drugs and hustling to someone who would become one of the most influential people in history is inspirational. You won’t put down this riveting page turner until you have read every single page.
Malcolm Little, or Malcolm X, was born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1925 was a slave who was imprisoned for burglary when he was twenty years old. He taught himself how to read during his time in prison by writing out every word in a dictionary he found in the prison library. He mainly read non-fiction books about the brutal human carnage and mistreatment of the nonwhite people by the white man. This encouraged him to become an African American Human Rights Activist after he was released from prison in the mid twentieth century. On the other hand, Frederick Douglass was born a slave in Talbot County, Maryland, in 1818.
In Malcolm X excerpt “Learning to Read”, Malcolm X was sent to prison at a young age where he began his journey to achieve a homemade education. Malcolm X became motivated and strived to enhance his education when he first began to write letters. He often became frustrated and discontent writing to Muhammad, not being capable of communicating how he felt. In addition, Malcolm X did not know how to write proper English since all of his youth he did not attend school and was just a “hustler.” Once, he was sent to prison Malcolm X decided to further his education and began to teach himself.
In “Learning to Read”, Malcolm X uses rhetorical analysis to argue how African Americans continued to struggle in gaining education due to racism. He informs people that through our history books, there have been modifications that restrain the truth about the struggles black people faced. Malcolm X encouraged his audience to strive to get the rights that they deserved. He demonstrates that knowledge is very important because the truth empowers us. In his interview he persuades his audience with diction, tone, pathos, ethos, and appeal to emotion to make his point.
“If someone puts their hands on you, make sure they never put their hands on anybody else again.” This bold and aggressive statement could be considered to have a negative connotation. However, to some people this is viewed as wise and true advice. The independent and strong attitude the quote and the author of it (Malcolm X) convey can truly resonate with a person’s craving for independence and strength. This, along with his relatable traits, is why Malcolm X is considered a hero to many.
A Homemade Education is an autobiography by Malcolm X, one of the first black rights activists. Malcolm was on his own from an early age as his father died when he was six and then seven years later, when Malcolm was 13 his mother was placed in a mental institution. For the next few years Malcolm went from foster home to foster home. However, at the age 20, Malcolm was sent to Charleston prison under the charges of breaking and entering, and larceny. At Charleston prison, malcolm met a man named Bimbi.
At first I had a range of ideas and most of them were vague. Those ideas were Islam, Judaism, India, Palestine Persian Empire and the Ottoman Empire. After a while of thinking I had come up with the idea and found similarities between the religions Judaism and Islam which led me to ask the question: can the Jews and Muslims ever have a solid relationship between each other again as they did many centuries ago? Currently it seems like the Muslims and Jews don’t seem to see eye to eye, ever since the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Then during my research Malcolm X came into my head.
What makes a leader? I believe a leader to be intelligent ,tough, and has the determination to achieve a goal. Having certain skills will have an impact on you being a trustable leader. Being selfless and caring are also characteristics. Malcolm X his birth name Malcolm Little is a fine a example of a leader and has most of these leadership qualities.
Live and Learn In the article “A Homemade Education” by Malcolm X is about Malcolm not knowing how to write properly, he was frustrated about not being able to convey himself in his letters that he wrote especially to Mr. Elijah Mohammed. He didn't go past the eighth grade in school, so the only writing he knew was slang. Malcolm was in prison so he began to teach himself by requesting a dictionary along with some paper and pencils from Norfolk Prison Colony school to learn the meaning of words but most importantly to express himself.
