In this excerpt from Malcolm X’s autobiography, I observed that Malcolm X used his time in prison wisely. He found passion in literature. With only having formal education up to the 8th grade, he used his time in prison to continue his education that he never had the chance to get. I found dedication in Malcolm X when he started to copy off the dictionary. Using a dictionary is a good way to expand vocabulary, especially when it is all that Malcolm X had at that time. Copying off the dictionary also helped him easily memorize the words and helped with his handwriting. I like that he called it his “homemade education” instead of “self taught”, because he used the resources that were available in prison. With his available resources and new literacy skills, he learned about the truth of slavery and how history has been whitewashed.
One thought on ““Learning to Read””
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Right, his story affirms the importance of having some control over our own learning, so that we can access the resources that will make a difference to us, rather than simply relying on what we are told by people in authority.