Malcolm X_Haley_Learning to Read

Overview of Malcolm X

  • Full name: Bimbilm Little

  • Birthdate: May 19, 1925

  • Significance: One of the most articulate leaders of black America in the 1960s

  • Background:

    • Street hustler convicted of robbery in 1946

    • Served seven years in prison

    • Educated himself in prison

    • Became a disciple of Elijah Muhammad, founder of the Nation of Islam

Emergence as a Leader

  • Civil Rights Movement:

    • Became a leading spokesman for black separatism

    • Separatism urged black Americans to sever ties with the white community

  • Transition to Orthodox Islam:

    • Undertook a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1964

    • Adopted the Muslim name El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz

    • Distanced himself from the teachings of black Muslims

  • Assassination:

    • Assassinated in 1965

Self-Education in Prison

  • Initial Frustration:

    • Struggled to express thoughts in writing, particularly in communicating with Elijah Muhammad

    • Felt articulate and commanding as a hustler, but inept at writing simple English

    • Disdain for using slang in correspondence

  • Inspiration from Bimbi:

    • Encountered Bimbi in prison, who had a wealth of knowledge

    • Felt envy of Bimbi’s intellectual command in conversations

The Dictionary as a Tool

  • Acquiring a Dictionary:

    • Recognized the necessity to improve language skills

    • Requested a dictionary, tablets, and pencils from prison school

  • Learning Process:

    • Spent two days perusing the dictionary

    • Began copying words and their meanings from the dictionary's first page

    • Took pride in writing neatly and accurately

Discovery and Growth

  • Fascination with Language:

    • Remembered unusual words learned, e.g., "aardvark"

    • Saw the dictionary as a miniature encyclopedia, broadening his knowledge

  • Expanding Vocabulary:

    • Copied the entire dictionary, transitioning into deeper literature

    • Kept a fast pace due to increased penmanship skills

    • Estimated he wrote about a million words in prison

Impact of Reading

  • New Perspectives:

    • Each book revealed the suffering inflicted on non-white peoples by white colonizers

    • Saw historical patterns of oppression since the 16th century

  • Self-Reflection on Reading:

    • Reading awakened a long-dormant craving for intellectual engagement

    • Didn’t seek formal degrees; valued the knowledge that books provided

    • Recognized sensitivity to the struggles faced by the black race in America

  • Final Thoughts:

    • Defined his educational journey with the statement: "Books" as his alma mater.