Hunter 1

CharNeequa Hunter
Donna Molina
DIRW 0310
19 September 2016
Graphic
Malcolm X, formerly
Malcolm Little, was
a militant black
nationalist leader.

Malcolm Xs Literacy
Behind Bars
Malcolm X obtained
his homemade
education in prison.

Malcolm X had very

little education.

Malcolm X began
furthering his
education in Norfolk
Prison Colony by
studying the

STRAP
S Literacy Behind Bars
T Narrative from a book
R 1st person
A Malcolm X wrote this article to inform the black race how he obtained his education
in prison.
P Inform

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Summary
Malcolm X was a black nationalist leader, who rose to global fame as an advocate
for Pan-Africanism. Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little in 1925. He changed his last
name, which he considered a slave name, with the letter X to represent his lost African
tribal name. Founder of the Muslim Mosque Inc. and the Organization of Afro-American
Unity, Malcolm X was assassinated by political rivals on February 21, 1965. Malcolm X
had very little education, but when he went to prison he taught himself how to read and
write better. It begun in Charlestown Prison, when he ran across Bimbi, and was
impressed by his stock of knowledge. Malcolm started picking up books from the prison
library, but he was having a hard time comprehending them. Malcolm transferred over
to Norfolk Prison Colony. Thats when he began to study the dictionary as
well as coping each word down into his tablets.
After practicing that task on a daily basis, Malcolm could pick up a book and
read and understand what the book was saying. Malcolm started reading every free
moment he had. Reading opened another world to him, and it also helped time fly by for
him while he was in prison. Malcolm X felt his homemade education gave him

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sensitivity to the deafness, dumbness, and blindness that was afflicting the black race in
America.

My Response
The Malcolm X Literacy Behind Bars article was very interesting and informing. I
was very shocked to find out that Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little. I watched
the movie on Malcolm Xs life about a year ago, but I dont think the movie
mentioned his name change nor the fact that he taught himself how to read and
write in prison. Im still in disbelief that Malcolms education level was no higher
than 8th grade. Listening to him speak you would think that he had been to
college, but to know that he obtained a higher education in prison is very
impressive to me. I feel like Malcolm X wrote this article to persuade incarcerated
black men to do something productive with their time. However, I also feel that he
was expressing the importance of education and how the mind can be a powerful
tool in life. I just wish that this worlds generation had a leader like Malcolm X to

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motivate all individuals to strive for a better education. Reading this article has
really motivated me to read more during my spare time, and to expand my
vocabulary as well. To know that Malcolm became so intelligent, strictly from
teaching himself, has really encouraged me to expand my capabilities to learn
self-sufficiently and with dire dedication.
EASY Vocabulary
Emulate (verb)
E- I tried to emulate the dance moves.
A-Neglect
S- Imitate
Y- Drawing, dancing

Immensely (adverb)
E- The restaurant was immensely crowded.
A-Less
S- Extremely
Y- My graduation party, my sisters wedding

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Dormant (adjective)
E- The volcano was dormant for a decade.
A-Alive
S- Asleep
Y- Relaxing, resting

Works Cited
X, Malcolm, and Haley Alex. Malcolm X Literacy Behind Bars 1965