SUMMARY |
ANALYSIS |
Learning to Read
MALCOLM X Learning how to read is an article about the birth of Malcolm X’s thirst for learning. He begins by explaining how his lack of ability to explain himself in the letters he wrote to Mr. Elijah Muhammad caused him frustration. In order to expand his vocabulary Malcolm decided to write down every word and definition in the alphabet. He would read what he wrote over and over again out lout to himself in order to learn the words. As his vocabulary expanded, and his reading capabilities increased, he began to read more and more scholarly articles which lead him to learn about the oppression of his race and any colored race throughout history. He spent all of his time in jail and the rest of his life expanding his knowledge on the subject. |
January 7, 2013
Being a literate person is probably the most important thing in today’s society. But to Malcolm the capacity to read didn’t equate to a simple ability. To him being a literate person was the key to freedom from centuries of oppression. Learning the things the “white” people did meant the key to a new revolution. Growing up, for me, learning how to read and write was an expectation; if I didn’t learn how to do it I failed a grade and or disappointed my parents. Furthermore, I was provided with all the resources necessary to learn. I went to a school where we had desks and semi comfortable seats. We had good teachers that instructed us and taught us. Transportation to school wasn’t free, but because to my parents getting an education was a priority they worked twice as hard to provide it for me and my sister. On the other hand Malcolm had no one, no reason to learn. His home was a jail and his desk was the floor. Even after the lights went off for the day he would continue to read in the dim light from the hallway. His resources were scarce yet he would spend up to fifteen hours a day quenching his thirst for knowledge. Literacy isn’t the simple act of reading but more so it’s a behavior. Literature in itself holds thousands of years of history, myths, traditions and more. Gaining that knowledge and extracting it from articles, books and even novels open the door to a new world, a world of knowledge and opportunity. It all begins with a simple spark of curiosity or even just a little bit of frustration as it did in Malcolm’s case. |