Education and literacy are very important and play many roles in everyday lives. Over many years, education and literacy have been viewed as something to be proud of and something to strive towards, this can be seen back in the mid-20th century, while in more recent times, the views have changed to almost the polar opposite of the original views. Today, they aren’t as cherished or valued as they were back in the day. In the time of Malcolm X, the mid-20th century, education and literacy were valued much more because of the perceived difficulty of gaining them. The ease of access now a days, due to technology, to education, such as books, makes the value of education and literacy go down much more than how it was valued back in the times …show more content…
Both of the main characters in the stories want to further their knowledge in literacy, simply because they “crave” knowledge and want to become intelligent just to become intelligent. They didn’t want knowledge to get a degree or a job, they wanted knowledge just to better themselves, unlike current views in America. Despite the difficulties that they faced in order to get better educated and overcome their illiteracy, they still tried because they knew knowledge is very valuable.
These things can be seen in the Library Card, where Richard Wright stumbles upon an author, Mencken, and his novels while reading an article. His want to read can be seen when he says “I want to read. I can’t get books from the library. I wonder if you’d let me use your card” (347) He asks to borrow his card, even knowing how dangerous it is, just so he could get a chance to read. In Malcolm X, Malcolm also wants to read to satisfy his thirst for knowledge. He reads the dictionary, writes down every word, and is excited to do more. On the other hand, with the technology today, people don’t have to struggle like them nearly as much. We haven’t been deprived of education, like they were, so we don’t cherish it as nearly as much as they did. In the article Negative
The power of literacy enables one to become self-aware and opens up new opportunities, leading to a better life. Not only does literacy have the capability to impact significant lives like those of Malcolm X and Frederick Douglass but also a mere individual like myself. Learning how to read and write allowed me to gain knowledge and opened up the opportunity to be able to attend college where I was able to gain even more knowledge. With that knowledge, I became more aware of the opportunities I had and how an individual like myself could contribute to society. I was able to forge my own path that will lead to a successful
Since the past, black people had been oppressed and excluded from a formal education, leading them to find ways to educate themselves. While they open their minds to new worlds and perspectives, they encounter themselves with a disastrous world that discriminates them and unjustly takes their rights away from them. In these essays, “Learning How to Read and Write” by Frederick Douglass and “Learning to Read” by Malcolm X, both authors tell their stories about how they found their way into the world of literacy even though they were banned to do it. Because they left ignorance back, they realize all the injustices that surround them. In my opinion, literacy is one of the most important tool humans possess to be aware of the issues of the world. Knowing about world problems makes people able to decide how to act towards situations and helps avoid being led by people that the only thing they want from others is power.
Both faced challenging circumstances on their journey to literacy but both knew that in order to escape the reality they faced they would have to become literate.
It is unsettling to imagine what my life would be like if my father was not fortunate enough to receive the education and guidance that he had. Maybe my parents would not have left the crime-ridden streets of Johannesburg to seek safer lives. I probably would have followed in my grandfather’s footsteps and worked in the grim conditions of a South African gold mine. Perhaps I would become a discouraged alcoholic like my uncle, working as an underpaid, over-scheduled steel mill welder. It is not possible to know, but in most likelihood, I would not be in the fortunate position I am now. Education is a necessity to attain a prosperous life. A strong educational foundation must concentrate on the skills of reading and writing. Often a quality education is not accessible to lower socioeconomic class citizens, which results in those people remaining stagnant in their current class. In Sherman Alexie’s essay, “The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me”, it is clear that individuals of lower class designations must seek alternate methods to become literate to compensate for the limited opportunities they have due to stereotypes that obstruct access to effective education.
School teachings are full of artificial context to brainwash students into thinking that school is the only place you can learn. Education can be taught by exploring your passion and interests even if it’s not seen as academically correct. In the article, “Hidden Intellectualism,” by Gerald Graff, he suggests that students should be able to “exploit students’ nonacademic interests, but to get them to see those interests through academic eyes.”(Gerald Graff, page 400). In contrast, Malcolm X in “A Homemade Education,” wants to spread awareness about black history through actual academic readings. Both Graff and Malcolm believe that passion plays a role in learning, however, for Graff it's the teacher's job to use the students interests first, whereas Malcolm wants students to find their passion and be self educated just like himself.
Although both Richard Rodriguez and Malcolm X’s lives were profoundly impacted by becoming educated, how they acquired their education and the consequences of becoming educated were different for each author. The path that Richard Rodriguez took in his quest
In the excerpt “Learning to Read” from his 1965 Autobiography, Malcolm X argues that he had more opportunity to learn about the world and specifically black history in prison than he would have received in a formal education setting. He describes the process in which he essentially taught himself how to read and write, and how it lead to an awakening of his desire to learn everything he could through voracious reading. X illustrates to the reader the painful histories that he read about and the powerful knowledge which he gained to show that one needs little more than access to a book collection and the motivation to learn in order to become educated. This reading resonated with me as a learner whose love for independent learning often takes a backseat to the demands of academia and provides a key concept which I plan to instill in my students as a future teacher.
The “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” has been regarded by many as one of the most influential slave narratives in American history. This colorful autobiography has and will forever situate Douglass at the forefront of the American abolitionist movement. Many scholars involved in the study of African American history, including James Matlack, a writer for the Atlanta Review of Race and Culture assert that the effectiveness of Douglass’s narrative rests upon his superior technique in sharing his experience and elating them to the general American population (Matlack 15). In this short narrative Douglass wonderfully exploits several themes that soon
For some education is a foregone conclusion, particularly those who are wealthy and have means to attend an institution of higher learning. Education is not the sole purview of the wealthy, while having means provides a lower bar for entry, lack of means does not prevent one from enlightening the self. Such is the case for both Frederick Douglas and Malcom X, two men who enlightened themselves without access to the wealth that tethers education to those of the upper class. Hard work and determination can win the day and bestow a freedom that only an advanced education offers. These two men are shining examples of what can be accomplished when someone refuses to be denied an education. This story tells about, Malcolm X and Fredrick Douglas,
Education is an important aspect in the lives of many individuals. Education is often seen as a means to better oneself. With education, a whole new world can be opened up to individuals. For African Americans education is key to achieving a variety of things in life. During the days of slavery, African Americans were not allowed to be educated. It was frowned upon and strictly discouraged because slave masters knew that they could not dominate an educated person. Any slave caught trying to read or write was punished. There are many individuals whose main purpose is to fight for the rights and equality of African Americans and fighting for the right to be educated was one of these goals. African Americans alike wanted to be educated because they know it would lead to progress and a better overall situation. Now in today’s society we see that even though many before us has fought for the right to be educated some do not see it as a privilege. In this paper, the views of Malcolm X, W.E.B. DuBois and Oliver Cromwell Cox will be examined in regards to their thoughts on education.
Our opinions, beliefs and feelings are heavily influenced by the amount of education that we receive. Education is the backbone to a person’s subjectivity and authority. Malcolm X brought much attention to the importance of improving academic knowledge in his essay “Learning to Read” through his own life experiences. Malcolm X claimed that “in the street, [he] not only wasn’t articulate, [he] wasn’t even functional” and that “[he] became increasingly frustrated at not being able to express what [he] wanted to convey in his letters that [he] wrote” (189). As a result of this inability of his that he sought out so educate himself so that he would no longer struggle to be “articulate and functional” when trying to express himself. Malcolm X began self-education while in prison, where he spent “sometimes as much as fifteen hours a day” (197), devoting his time to studying. Before he acquired his academic knowledge Malcolm X self proclaimed himself to be the “most articulate hustler in the street” (189), but after becoming educated, he became known as one of the most reputable leaders throughout the Civil Rights movement. Malcolm X and Toni Bambara
In Jonathan Kozol’s “The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society” and Malcolm X’s “Literacy Behind Bars” they both talk about the advantages of being literate, as well as the hardships that those who are illiterate goes through. Using these articles, we can see that it’s important to be as literate as possible because, a literate person would be more confidant in interacting with others, they’re less likely to be cheated, they don’t have to rely on others, and ultimately their world view is much bigger.
As claimed by Malcolm X, education is crucial to one's life more than any other experience because you have the opportunity to understand your history and community better. As claimed in the passage “How I Discovered Words: A Homemade Education”, Malcolm focuses on how he would spend days
Education is one of the most essential necessities of a personal life because without education, we would not have a brighter future. In two essays “Learning to Read and Write” and “A Homemade Education”, Malcolm and Douglass describe what they have gone through in order to become more successful in their pursuits in life. While Malcolm X lived part of his life in prison, he spent his time writing numerous definitions from a dictionary amongst the walls and tables. The elements of the dictionary motivated him to not only become a free man, but a well educated one at that. Douglass, who also taught himself, began his life in slavery. But after a series of attempts, he escapes from slavery and pursues into his
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela. Without education, there is simply no telling of what this world would be like. There wouldn’t be doctors, lawyers, businesses etc. Life and everything around us would be fatuous. Schools and education give us a plan in life and help guide us. Throughout the years education has changed tremendously. It had its improvements throughout the decades, and it also has had its falters as well. Education in America is an issue in this country and it definitely needs to be tweaked and improved. Education is what makes us people who we are and what we will be. Nelson Mandela had it right, there is no weapon more powerful than education.