Malcolm_X__the_Great_Escape

Cleon Williams Professor Johnson English 1102 19 September 2012 Malcolm X: The Great Escape It was amazing to me that Malcolm started out just another uneducated African-American in prison, and became a well-known human rights activist. (Malcolm X) “Without education, you’re not going anywhere in this world” Malcolm X’s, Prison Studies states, “I knew right there in prison that reading had changed the course of my life.”(pg.85) Malcolm was trying to illustrate that though he was physically incarcerated, he was finally psychologically free of the mental barriers of ignorance. Malcolm realized that he could now succeed in life, and developed a tenacious appetite for knowledge. Armed with this new knowledge Malcolm escaped his old mind-set. Malcolm admits in his essay that he had only an eighth grade education, however it was thought that he had acquired a more formal education based on his considerable amount of knowledge. Malcolm while in prison realized the importance of achieving higher learning through books, and that it would enable him to communicate more effectively. Malcolm while he was incarcerated in the Charlestown Prison was envious of a former inmate, Bimbi, due to his stockt of knowledge. Malcolm felt inferior to Bimbi because he was able to take charge in any conversation. Malcolm wanted to converse better, so after being transferred to the Norfolk Prison Colony, he then began going through (Malcolm X) “book-reading motions.” However in the beginning he was not able to articulate certain words and his penmanship needed to be improved. He then started studying the dictionary and copying down words. This allowed Malcolm the opportunity to obtain the meaning of many words, and also through writing words multiple times I’m certain that his penmanship became much better. I believe at this time, Malcolm’s eagerness to learn evolved. This new learning experience began to open up a whole new world to him. He was then able to read a book and get a greater understanding from it. (Malcolm X) “I suppose it was inevitable that as my word-base broadened, I could for the first time pick up a book and read and now begin to understand what the book was saying.” In today’s society, prisoners are in confinement due to the physical crimes that they have been convicted of. Also in society there are prisoners of ignorance those who don’t understand the importance of higher learning. When a person opens there mind to knowledge, they are actually freeing themself to a higher level of understanding. There is an expansion of one’s self when you attain more knowledge. With more understanding come greater abilities. With greater ability come more possibilities in life. If a subject is unknown, then you will be restrained by your own ignorance from showing your talent. A valuable education is essential in everyday living because without a good education many goals cannot be achieved. I have always known that education was the key to my success, and this is why I am now enrolled in college to acquire my physical therapy degree. I realize in order to reach my goal; I will have to make myself more knowledgeable by attending my assigned classes and completing all the required assignments. I know that books are the key to unlocking the door of advancement, and without the introduction of books in my higher learning then I will be confined to a limited lifestyle. Envy sparked the beginning of Malcolm’s great escape from the barriers of ignorance. Though he was physically incarcerated he learned that he could free himself psychologically from the shackles of ignorance through books. With this new love for books and understanding came a change in Malcolm no longer limited by ignorance but ”truly free”.