Malcom X's Literacy Behind Bars

After reading Malcom X’s Literacy Behind Bars and Daniel Felsenfeld’s Rebel Music, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities between their story and my own when I came to the realization my talent. Growing up everyone around me was trying to be like the music videos, freestyling, trying to emulate the dances, or act. I would participate in freestyling, but the way I put words together had more depth than the other kids…from me wanting to be different than the people I associated myself with; I became a self-proclaimed poet.

In the article “Literacy Behind Bars”, author Malcolm X tells the story about how he taught himself to read and to write while being in prison. Malcolm X began his essay by saying people would have thought he “went to school far beyond the eighth grade.” Anytime X tried to read a book he had very little understanding of what he read because he couldn 't read most of the words.

To me, reading means many things, not only the reading of text on a page but actions of others and myself as well. Most other people may not say that they will think of baseball games when thinking of how they read in real life, but I view the game of baseball that way and I like to share about how I can read in many different ways in life. Reading books is definitely not one of my favorite hobbies to do, but every once in a while I will find a good book that will catch my interest for the next couple of months. My learning experience from reading on the field has taught me another meaning of literacy that I would not have realized if I had not thought about what reading really meant to me. I can now understand how I use reading in all different aspects of my life better, and not just in the classroom but throughout my everyday activities, like baseball.

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

Literacy has the power to transform us. By reading we learn new things and we are more likely to express ourselves to others. We can understand another’s language, other cultures, and know the way others way of thought.

Malcom X gives his speech during a time in American history when equality and civil rights between blacks and whites had not yet been established. Like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcom X also fought for the civil rights of Black Americans in the 1960s, but using different tactics. Malcom X was angry that Congress had opposed bills that were intended to support the equality and civil liberties of African Americans. In the North, where Blacks were allowed to vote, White politicians came to Black communities with promises they did not intend to keep in exchange for black votes. Malcom X urged the African American community to fight in order to gain the equal rights they deserved, by either through immediate grant of the vote (the ballot) and if denied the vote, blacks should engage in violent opposition to the white rule (the bullet). Malcom X’s stature as a civil rights leader and prominent figure in the Nation of Islam helped strengthen these appeals. Throughout his speech, Malcom X shifts between various tones to make his speech more impactful towards his audience. He mainly spoke in an assertive tone, which proved the seriousness of his arguments. During his rhetoric appeals, it is evident that X moved into subtle changes of mood and tone to captivate the emotions of his audience.

In Malcom X’s “Literacy Behind Bars”, Malcom shares his journey of self-educating himself while behind bars in the Charlestown Prison. Malcom attempted to read books, but never succeeded because he struggled to understand the meaning of the words on the page in front of him. He claims that prison allowed him to study more than he would have if he had attended college. Although Malcom struggled on an intellectual level, he serves as a prime example of an individual with self-belief and self-determination which lead to great success. Personally, I can relate to Malcom X in the sense that my personal experiences with education have allowed me not only to believe in myself but also have a mindset that allows me to come to certain realizations not only about myself but also about the world around me.

I first understood reading was important when I had to take a reading test in elementary. I was told the test would determine whether I would move on to the next grade level. That was when I realized I had to take reading important. I didn’t like having to read 4 different stories, but I knew I had to try my best to pass. The test results took forever to come in which made it even scarier. Once my teacher told me I had passed I felt a huge relief. Ever since I have never doubted the importance of reading.

I have my journey in learning how to read and write never stops. Understanding the importance of literacy came to me at the high school, when I faced real challenges and understanding how important that is to learn, to create, to dream and to help others.

This book was written about the like of Malcom X, a Black Nationalist leader and civil rights reformer, whose birth name was Malcom Little. He was the fourth of eight brothers, he was also the one with the lightest skin. His father was an outspoken Baptist preacher who was “officially” killed by a street car as a form of suicide, however rumors say that he was killed by a black legion. His mother was placed in a mental hospital not too long after his father’s death. Consequently, her children were placed on foster care. Life was not easy for Malcom, nor was it for any African American, Blacks constantly struggled for acceptance by the white population causing them to develop destructive habits in failed efforts

We all know reading is boring, time consuming, and compulsory. All though, most kids would agree with that statement, some may disagree. Some can say that if one does not read they can lose knowledge and become less smart. If you don't read there can be consequences for stopping. Reading is valuable because it gives readers the power to escape, to maximize their potential, and to strengthen their mind.

“Coming to an Awareness of Language” by Malcom X explains his life behind bars with studying, trying to learn more words from a dictionary, and learning how to write. Knowing that he was behind ever since the eighth grade he wanted to be someone and learn more new words that he hasn’t even heard of. He wanted to become a better communicator but he knew to become one he had to learn the dictionary.

From an early age I always enjoyed reading and read often. As a result, reading became an aspect of print literacy I would consider a strength. I still enjoy reading greatly and would say that I am a highly active reader. A large benefactor in this, in my opinion, was the creation of eBooks and e-readers such as the kindle. Having owned a Kindle for many years, I can say with certainty that it has made books easier to read and a lot more accessible

When I was younger and I learned how to read, I did not realize that I was learning something that would change my life. I will never be able to recall ever learning this skill nor will I ever be able to pinpoint when it actually began to help me in my everyday life. What I do know is that without literacy living life would not be easy. When I go shopping and purchase a new shirt I do not think twice about what the shirt says. When I go out with my friends I do not hesitate before I type out a text to my mother telling her where I am

Reading helps in mental development and is known to stimulate the muscles of the eyes and it is also an activity that involves greater levels of concentration and adds to the conversational skills of the reader.