Most people know very little of Malcolm X. Some will recall that he was a civil rights activist who turned his life around by self educating himself in prison. Others will tell you that his real name was Malcolm Little and he was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Those who’ve really studied his biography will remember that Malcolm dropped out of school at the age of sixteen, and moved to Boston after having his dreams of becoming a lawyer crushed by a teacher who said “that’s no realistic goal for a nigger.” There are hundreds of things I could tell you about Malcolm X, however I will concentrate on only one of his greatest achievements. Malcolm’s greatest personal achievement occurred during his first years in Charlestown Prison when Malcolm put aside everything he learned on the streets, and opened up his eyes to a whole new world by self educating himself purely by reading hundreds of books, and writing thousands of words.
First of all it’s important to have somewhat of an understanding of the reasons behind Malcolm ending up in prison. Malcolm was a very bright student, in fact he graduated top of his class during his last year of school. Unfortunately after receiving the somewhat discouraging remark from his teacher, as cited earlier, Malcolm lost all interest in education. Seeing no interest remaining in Omaha, Malcolm moved to Boston in 1941, and two years later, to Harlem. In Harlem Malcolm became exposed to the criminal world like never before. Although he started out as being part of only petty crimes, by 1942 Malcolm progressed to coordinating various narcotics, prostitution, and gambling rings. For the next four years Malcolm hit rock bottom on many occasions – he had gone from situations of being on multiple heavy drugs at the same time, to being held at gunpoint, to holding others at gunpoint, to organized burglary of suburban houses. Ironically burglary, less serious then most of his other crimes, is what landed Malcolm in prison.
It’s hard to pinpoint the reason for Malcolm’s life going down such a dark path. Maybe it was the result his teacher’s remark, or possibly the effect of his father’s death, or his mother’s commitment to a mental hospital in Kalamazoo. Either way, for one reason or another, Malcolm X has chosen to give up on his education, move to Boston, and pursue his life of crime. After not having read a book for five years, Malcolm had a difficult time formulating simple sentences, and as nearly hard of a time holding up an intelligent conversation with an educated fellow inmate.
However, after being imprisoned for about a year, Malcolm started turning his intellectual life around. After looking through an African-American Encyclopedia in the prison library and seeing the rich history of the African man, a new sense of pride awakened with him. Hungry for more insight onto the history of his race, Malcolm began reading one book after another, expanding his mind. To improve his writing and vocabulary, he went as far as hand copying an entire dictionary into a series of notebooks. Malcolm read all the time, even at night after lights out, which resulted in his vision diminishing and causing him to wear glasses after prison. As a result of all the reading, his vocabulary grew at exponential rates. During his years in prison Malcolm has expanded his mind to great lengths, changed his intellectual and spiritual life around, and most importantly, set himself free.
After getting out of prison, Malcolm became a follower of Elijah Muhammad, and the religion of Islam. Within Malcolm X thousands of people found strength, wisdom, and understanding. Many young black men have followed in his footsteps, changed their lives, and found pride within themselves. Many people have looked up to Malcolm X during his public years of preaching, but even more have looked up to him after the publication of his autobiography.
To me Malcolm X is a symbol of strength. I believe that nothing but true strength lies within a man who was raised in the streets, knew nothing but crime for his entire adult live, and was still able to open his mind to a whole new world of knowledge. Malcolm inspires me to live my life treating all others with respect, compassion, and understanding. He inspires me to keep an open mind, and to take the freedoms I have today for granted. Many people have said that Malcolm’s preaching approach was too militant, but I have to disagree. Given the situation, and the suppression level of African Americans in the fifties and sixties, the approach Malcolm took was the only one that would’ve brought upon change.
Unfortunately Malcolm’s life, like of many other great leaders, ended with an assassination. On February 21st 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated at Audubon Ballroom in his beloved New York City. Fifteen hundred people attended his funeral in Harlem six days later. At the end of the ceremony friends and followers took the shovels away from the gravediggers, and buried Malcolm themselves. After his death, Malcolm’s popularity and teachings have reached new heights, many of his writings are still taught today, and many people are still inspired by him.
“You don’t have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do is to be an intelligent human being.”
Malcolm X
Most people know very little of Malcolm X. Some will recall that he was a civil rights activist who turned his life around by self educating himself in prison. Others will tell you that his real name was Malcolm Little and he was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Those who’ve really studied his biography will remember that Malcolm dropped out of school at the age of sixteen, and moved to Boston after having his dreams of becoming a lawyer crushed by a teacher who said “that’s no realistic goal for a nigger.” There are hundreds of things I could tell you about Malcolm X, however I will concentrate on only one of his greatest achievements. Malcolm’s greatest personal achievement occurred during his first years in Charlestown Prison when Malcolm put aside everything he learned on the streets, and opened up his eyes to a whole new world by self educating himself purely by reading hundreds of books, and writing thousands of words.
First of all it’s important to have somewhat of an understanding of the reasons behind Malcolm ending up in prison. Malcolm was a very bright student, in fact he graduated top of his class during his last year of school. Unfortunately after receiving the somewhat discouraging remark from his teacher, as cited earlier, Malcolm lost all interest in education. Seeing no interest remaining in Omaha, Malcolm moved to Boston in 1941, and two years later, to Harlem. In Harlem Malcolm became exposed to the criminal world like never before. Although he started out as being part of only petty crimes, by 1942 Malcolm progressed to coordinating various narcotics, prostitution, and gambling rings. For the next four years Malcolm hit rock bottom on many occasions – he had gone from situations of being on multiple heavy drugs at the same time, to being held at gunpoint, to holding others at gunpoint, to organized burglary of suburban houses. Ironically burglary, less serious then most of his other crimes, is what landed Malcolm in prison.
It’s hard to pinpoint the reason for Malcolm’s life going down such a dark path. Maybe it was the result his teacher’s remark, or possibly the effect of his father’s death, or his mother’s commitment to a mental hospital in Kalamazoo. Either way, for one reason or another, Malcolm X has chosen to give up on his education, move to Boston, and pursue his life of crime. After not having read a book for five years, Malcolm had a difficult time formulating simple sentences, and as nearly hard of a time holding up an intelligent conversation with an educated fellow inmate.
However, after being imprisoned for about a year, Malcolm started turning his intellectual life around. After looking through an African-American Encyclopedia in the prison library and seeing the rich history of the African man, a new sense of pride awakened with him. Hungry for more insight onto the history of his race, Malcolm began reading one book after another, expanding his mind. To improve his writing and vocabulary, he went as far as hand copying an entire dictionary into a series of notebooks. Malcolm read all the time, even at night after lights out, which resulted in his vision diminishing and causing him to wear glasses after prison. As a result of all the reading, his vocabulary grew at exponential rates. During his years in prison Malcolm has expanded his mind to great lengths, changed his intellectual and spiritual life around, and most importantly, set himself free.
After getting out of prison, Malcolm became a follower of Elijah Muhammad, and the religion of Islam. Within Malcolm X thousands of people found strength, wisdom, and understanding. Many young black men have followed in his footsteps, changed their lives, and found pride within themselves. Many people have looked up to Malcolm X during his public years of preaching, but even more have looked up to him after the publication of his autobiography.
To me Malcolm X is a symbol of strength. I believe that nothing but true strength lies within a man who was raised in the streets, knew nothing but crime for his entire adult live, and was still able to open his mind to a whole new world of knowledge. Malcolm inspires me to live my life treating all others with respect, compassion, and understanding. He inspires me to keep an open mind, and to take the freedoms I have today for granted. Many people have said that Malcolm’s preaching approach was too militant, but I have to disagree. Given the situation, and the suppression level of African Americans in the fifties and sixties, the approach Malcolm took was the only one that would’ve brought upon change.
Unfortunately Malcolm’s life, like of many other great leaders, ended with an assassination. On February 21st 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated at Audubon Ballroom in his beloved New York City. Fifteen hundred people attended his funeral in Harlem six days later. At the end of the ceremony friends and followers took the shovels away from the gravediggers, and buried Malcolm themselves. After his death, Malcolm’s popularity and teachings have reached new heights, many of his writings are still taught today, and many people are still inspired by him.
“You don’t have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do is to be an intelligent human being.”
-Malcolm X