In the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, “industry” was listed as one of the thirteen essential virtues Benjamin Franklin organized to arrive at moral perfection. He emphasized that this virtue was to “[l]ose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; [and to] cut off all unnecessary actions” (Franklin 9). Through this lens of Benjamin Franklin’s, it is evident that Malcolm X mastered this virtue of “industry”.

At first when Malcolm picked up a book to read in the Norfolk Prison colony, motivation was required to induce himself to forge “book-reading motions” (Malcolm X). Continuing such an act wasn’t going to help Malcolm resolve his dilemma of skipping words he didn’t recognize and understand, causing him to have “little idea of what the book” was about (Malcolm X). As a result, Malcolm shifted his focus to first building his vocabulary by reading the dictionary. This instance demonstrates Malcolm’s efficient use of his time while he was in prison.

Soon after, Malcolm began copying the dictionary and was eventually successful in his self-education as his “word-base broadened” (Malcolm X). Now able to read and actually understand the content, Malcolm had the opportunity to view the world at an alternate perspective through the books he read. He took advantage of his newly acquired capability and read “until three or four every morning” during his time in prison (Malcolm X). As Malcolm stated himself, “You will never catch me with a free fifteen minutes in which I’m not studying…” emphasizing his mastery in Benjamin Franklin’s “industry” virtue as he makes the most out of his time to strive for a worthy and worthwhile goal: to help the black man (Malcolm X).