Malcolm X’s article on learning to read serves to demonstrate how someone at their lowest point can overcome anything with self-motivation and a desire to become better. Malcom X describes his low point when he became imprisoned for seven years. During this time, he decided to do something productive with his life and teach himself how to read, something which he once had difficulty with along with the difficulty of conveying his words effectively onto paper. He chronologically describes his journey through this process. He explains how he taught himself to read and actually understand complex words by reading and copying down every page of the dictionary, starting with the letter A. He quickly developed a love for reading ad found himself reading whenever he could. Through this, he became educated. He thanks his imprisonment for this level of understanding, because he believe if he would have went to college instead, he would not have received the same motivation as he did. Without such understanding he would not have been introduced to the world of history, particularly that of African American people.
I can agree with Malcom X’s view of the world when it comes to seeing reading as an opportunity to learn more about the world at large. I also understand where he is coming from when he describes his self-motivation. Although I attend college, I tend to find myself teaching myself on certain subjects rather than my actual teachers. It is also agreeable that no matter what someone is struggling with, it is possible to overcome such difficulties and rise from your lowest point, as did Malcom X.
I can agree with Malcom X’s view of the world when it comes to seeing reading as an opportunity to learn more about the world at large. I also understand where he is coming from when he describes his self-motivation. Although I attend college, I tend to find myself teaching myself on certain subjects rather than my actual teachers. It is also agreeable that no matter what someone is struggling with, it is possible to overcome such difficulties and rise from your lowest point, as did Malcom X.