Miguel Montano Professor Wolcott ENC 1102 Reading Journal #1: Malcom X, Learning to read Summary X, Malcolm, and

Alex Haley. The Autobiography of Malcolm X. New York: Grove, 1965. Print. After a Malcolm X went to prison for robbery at age 21, where he discovered the teachings of Elijah Muhammad and found a different purpose in life; but he was embarrassed by his ineptitude. It was in such an isolated and controlled environment that he was able to work on himself. Thus, envy and frustration prompted him to improve his literacy level. His first attempts in reading ended in failure, so he took a very simplistic approach and borrowed materials from the prison to copy the entire dictionary. Soon he discovered his passion for knowledge, and literacy became his source of freedom and purpose in life. His readings eventually led to his resentment towards the white establishment and western culture as a whole. His literacy became his rebirth. Analysis 24 August 2012

Ego played a huge part in his exigence He didnt start to read due to any appreciation for literature, but rather to function Emotions played a huge role, he was frustrated, envious, uncertain Almost quit before he discovered the dictionary Materiality: Dictionary, books endowed upon his prison, tablets & pencils, glow of light at night, school library setting, special treatment giving him more books than other prisoners, isolated bunk Discovery led to excitement and interest Knowledge became power, empowerment became purpose His literacy was his only passion and escape from his reality, he was steadfast in making his time in prison productive He copied the entire dictionary, his hardworking character wasnt directly caused by his literacy experience, but it shone in his determination Didnt read books until he learned the basics of reading and writing, facing his own ineptitude head on instead of letting his ego get in the way, courageous He read virtually all day and night, because it freed his mind, was it a conscious realization or a reflection on

Montano 2 his experience? Sponsorship: prison management, his passionately learned inmates, Elijah Muhammad, friends& family in outside world, Pankhurst Pankhursts interests ended up becoming his, but values were also deeply personal, since none of the other people in contact with those resources became powerful movement leaders International nature of information opened his worldview, and the scope of it expanded his resentment from antiwhite America to anti-western civilization Reading became about understanding, he saw past the literal contents of the book and started to create his own analysis and conclusions outraged at lights out, very strong feeling, ended up timing guards so he could continue to read; his violent past made his determination to do something productive an object of pride His readings became his purpose in life, but he took the information he wanted from them, I doubt others would derive the same passion even if put through same experiences His exigence in learning to read expanded once he achieved his desired of literature His exigence in writing this passage was to provide an inspirational example, and his civil rights views shed through tremendously, but his main point was to showcase his passion and determination