Malcolm X Learning To Read Summary

In the essay Learning to Read, Malcolm X details the process in which he learned to read and the tremendous effects it had on his perspective of the race issues in America. During his stay in prison, Malcolm X was given the opportunity to spend timeless hours learning as much as he could about reading and the English language. Furthermore, Malcolm X was fortunate enough to stay at a prison that had an extensive library. As a result, Malcolm X was able to discover and learn more about his own culture. Malcolm X learned that the African American culture is unfortunately cast in the shadows of the white population and neglected in textbooks as well as history. Not only does he believe the white population suppresses African Americans, but he believes

In his essay, Malcolm X writes about how learning to read and write opened his eyes to the oppression that surrounded him and the world. Malcolm is a black man that was put in prison when he noticed that he felt uncomfortable when he did not understand anything that he read and that he could not write correctly. His incapacity to read and write was what inspired him to request a dictionary, something to write on and a pencil. That initiative changed his life forever. He copied down the whole dictionary, which helped him to learn words and their meanings. “ With

Malcom X once said, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” This quotation means that education is an important thing, and we should prepare for our future. Fredrick Douglass and Malcom X are two different men who write similar aspects. Fredrick Douglass is a slave, and Malcom X is a criminal, both were deprived of obtaining a higher sense of education. They are two activists who grew up to realize the importance of an education, in reading and writing. In Frederick Douglas’s essay “Learning to Read and Write” and Malcolm’s “Learning to Read” one can compare and contrast the analysis both essays.

Can reading really be influential? Do you believe that reading can change lives? Malcolm X, one of the most influential man of his time thought so. One day he was able to turn his life around by just picking up a book and learning how to read. Whether it was in a jail cell or in a library he was reading wherever he went. In Malcolm X’s essay “Literacy Behind Bars” he writes about the topic of how reading changed his life. Throughout his life in prison, Malcolm X shares his experience of how learning how to read had changed his life forever. This essay shows how the ability to read and write opens new pathways into your imagination that you may not be able to experience if you lacked the ability to do so. Learning how to become literate did not come easy back then especially since he was African American. During his life in prison he realized that you do not need a college education to be successful; you just need to know how to read and write. The way Malcolm structured his essay helped improve his ethos much like other things did. Malcolm X’s encouraging tone was evident throughout the essay. He writes his essay with such a tone, because he is explaining his personal struggle of learning how to read and how it paid such dividends in his life after prison. By using this type of tone he appeals to people’s emotions through the use of logos, which in result helps build his ethos. As well as his tone he also uses different rhetorical devices to keep the reader engaged. The use of irony throughout the essay in appealing to the reader because it keeps them interested in the essay that they are reading. Similarly, his use of opposition within the essay makes the reader think about what they are reading. People may need to reread a sentence or two because how the opposition is used in the essay, which keeps them focused and aware of what they are reading. By utilizing several rhetorical devices, including pathos, opposition, and ethos, that being said, Malcolm X conveys the message of how reading changed his life.

In Malcolm X, Jason Hunter writes about the life, religion, death, and legacy of Malcolm X throughout his life time, 1925 to 1965. Hunter utilizes a combination of primary and secondary sources to explain the impact Malcolm X had on his time period, as well as the legacy left behind for the later generations. Though mainly using The Autobiography of Malcolm X, the author is able to highlight the details of X’s lifetime and legacy. To do this, the author makes use of chronological order, separating each chapter as if it is a section of X’s life. Each of the five main chapters are broken down into smaller subchapter for the smaller important details. Hunter starts off describing the early life and troubles X encounters, and end the book off

There are multiple similarities and differences between “Learning to Read and Write” by Frederick Douglass and “Learning to Read” by Malcolm X. For example, both authors were unwillingly enslaved, which motivated their desire to read, write and speak their mind. Malcolm X was falsely accused and sentenced to prison while Frederick was a life-bound slave. Through their situations, they both found a similar benefit: reading and writing. Both men were also influenced by people and literature. Frederick Douglass received brief teachings from his mistress and knowledge from challenging literate children, which positively impacted his level of reading and writing.

In both essays, Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X discuss their journey of learning to read and write. Each text demonstrates the importance of being able to think for one’s self. Both authors are able to describe the obstacles faced while pursuing knowledge. This essay will analyze times in each man’s life where they found challenges in continuing their road to education.

This goes to show that anybody no matter if you’re in school or locked away in a prison cell you can push yourself and excel your intelligence. Malcolm X was one of the greatest spokesmen for African Americans during the civil movement, but it wasn’t just his strong voice that moved people it was also his intelligent way with words that he did not fully acquire until he was sentenced to prison. Malcom X was already a smart man, he was street smart and knew how to talk to the common people but it wasn’t enough for him to the point where he wanted to be able to express himself further more into depth which he did not maintain the knowledge then. It was in Norfolk Prison Colony School where he acquired the further knowledge and intelligence from spending days reading, writing, and copying the dictionary to expand his vocabulary.

Summary and response to Malcolm X Literacy played an important role in developing Malcolm’s knowledge during his time in prison. Literacy also encouraged him to become involved as a human rights activist. As time progressed during his time in prison Malcolm gained a sense of authority for leadership. “Learning how to read” by Malcolm X is effective due to his humor, tone of language, and his credibility.

(1). X began copying words from the dictionary into a tablet, until he had learned all the words in it. Broadening his vocabulary allowed X to understand books in the prison’s library. In his view, the newly acquired knowledge opened a new world, “… I had never been so truly free in my life.” (2).

Race has been a major impact Malcolm X adulthood life because he has been treated inhumanly for most of his life. Even when he turns Muslim he still holds a grudge against white people, but it is thanks to race that he starts fighting against racism. Malcolm X states that, "Every white man in America, when he looks into a black man's eyes, should fall to his knees and say 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry-my kind has committed history's greatest crime against your kind; will you give me the chance to atone?' But do you brothers and sisters expect any white man to do that?” Malcolm X shows anger against white people, at the time he wanted white people to pay for their sins.

Malcolm X refuse to adopt his father’s last name Little because he was rejecting the slave name. He felt that that he did not have the proper last name that belong to ancestors from Africa. He felt that Little was a slave owner master name and that does not belong to him. Being a slave and taking their last name meant that you were their property. He was nobody property , so he decided to change his last name to X. X represent the unknown name of his African ancestor and their culture which was stole during slavery. Malcolm X wanted show his respect to his ancestors and showed his love for his African heritage.

Malcolm X was a muslim, black man who cared very much about gaining equal rights. He was, in a way, an extremist. Though only taking action when he felt necessary, when he did take action, it often had drastic effects on the people and events occurring around him. Unlike Martin Luther King or other leading civil rights activists, he did not believe in peaceful protest. He believed in “whatever means necessary” to accomplish his goals. Because of his strong efforts and his unmatched determination, Malcolm X, formally known as Malcolm Little, changed the course of the civil rights movement. If not for him, the events that played out to cause the eventual conclusion of the struggle would have been forever altered.

At the start of Malcolm X’s journey toward his education, he realizes that education is more essential than getting trained to get a job or getting a college degree. In the essay “How I Discovered Words: A Homemade Education”, he talks about what he went through to become the person he is now. With that said, he was a civil right activist, speaker, and he encouraged African American to fight racism. When he was sent to Charlestown Prison he took the time to teach himself and become more knowledgeable. He envies the guy he meets in prison because he is more knowledgeable and understands things better. Malcolm X begins to read dictionaries and more books to gain expertise and comprehend what others have to say. Additionally, you don't necessarily need to attend a good school to have a positive outcome in your education. According to Malcolm X, reading books helps you develop more information, gives you a bigger idea, and you can understand things differently. I do believe in Malcolm’s understanding of why it is important to get an education. No matter what you do you'll work for what you want, you'll manage to teach yourself new things, and you'll accomplish to understand ideas better.

In prison, Malcolm X created some reading habits to better his learning. One of those a methods was to copy word by word in the dictionary to also reading and studying the words once or twice a day. This method helped him memorize what the words meant and spelled, helping him create a style he could follow. Malcolm X also read the words a lot to know how they sound and should be pronounced. This was a reading style Malcolm had created during his prison time. Malcolm X had also written letters and notes to practice his penmanship. What Malcolm X didn’t understood from the words he would study again until he knew what it meant.