Both texts by Gaines and Malcolm X suggest a pattern that starts with writing and reading. These actions lead to a freedom of mind and therefore allow an individual to be more certain about himself. This self-certainty and education is what opens the doors to manhood, as these texts portray a man as someone who stands strong and tall despite the adversaries and obstacles that surround him. A man knows who he is and is firm in that belief, even if others try to destroy his self esteem.

Grant narrates, ““They must believe, if only to free the mind, if not the body. Only when the mind is free has the body a chance to be free’” (Gaines 200). Though this quote has quite the negative context, as Grant refuses to believe in God or that Jefferson has been fairly judged for his supposed crime, it can relate to Jefferson and even Grant himself in other ways. After receiving the notebook, Jefferson begins to write, and his words vary from thoughts about death to the difference between being a hog and being a man. Through his writing, Jefferson begins to understand himself more and with Grant’s help, starts to see himself as an actual human and not as an animal like he previously believed. Jefferson’s mind has become free and he has become overall more confident in who he is, something that Grant never really knew for himself. Grant recognizes this difference and tells Jefferson: “‘You’re more of a man than I am, Jefferson…My eyes were closed before this moment, Jefferson. My eyes have been closed all my life’” (Gaines 184). This experience with Jefferson has freed Grant’s own mind a bit, as he has never been sure of who he is or what his purpose is. Jefferson has taught him to get over this uncertainty and stand firm in his belief in himself. And through Jefferson’s own freedom of mind obtained by Grant’s encouragement and his own writing, Jefferson becomes a man, and his final moments display this change as he walks towards the electric chair.

Malcolm X also gained a sense of manhood through the freedom of mind that his self-education brought him. His first display of manhood is what actually started it all, as he was determined to be able to articulate his strong thoughts through writing and took charge of his own learning. Through his own willpower, he learned how to read and write, and soon enough, his reading would change his life forever. Malcolm X wrote, “Months passed without my even thinking about being imprisoned. In fact, up to then, I never had been so truly free in my life.” All of the books he read freed his mind and opened it up to concepts that he would have never thought possible to understand. The readings, especially those that had to do with black mistreatment, inspired him to take a stand. He wrote, “As I see it today, the ability to read awoke inside me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive” (Malcolm X). This mental alertness spurred by his freedom to think for himself is what showed him what it was he needed to do. Malcolm X, through his self-educated reading and writing skills, gained the freedom of mind to become a man – a man who dedicated his life to relieving the plight of the black man.