A Homemade Education

“A Homemade Education” by Malcolm X is a part of his autobiography where he talks

about the time he spend in prison and how this inspired him to get self educated so he can share his

believes with other people.

X says “in the street I had been the most articulate hustler out there … But now, trying

to write simple English, I not only wasn’t articulate, I wasn’t even functional” (266). Hi did not have the

ability to read the book fast and he could not understand most of the words. The two people who inspired

him to start his studies were Elijah Mohammad and another prisoner Binki.He wanted to express himself

better in the letters he wrote to Elijah Mohammad so he can have better understanding of his ideas and

believes. “Bimbi first made me envy of his stock of knowledge “(266) and that was a big motivation for

him too.

He started his education by copying the words from the dictionary .It took him one day to do

the first page and “Then, aloud, I read back, to myself, everything I’d written on the tablet” (267).He

started remembering the words and their meaning . He was fascinated with the knowledge and speed he

was gaining and he copied the whole dictionary. He learned a lot about people, animals, history, science

and philosophy. He was finally able to “read and understand” books. His favorite place to read was his

room but they had ‘lights out ‘time at 10 o’clock which he says “seemed to catch me right in the middle

of something engrossing” (268). Fortunately, there was a light on the landing outside his cell and once his

eyes got accustomed to the glow he was able to continue his reading.

“Reading had changed forever the course of my life “(273) because the knowledge...