Quote 1: “Many who today hear me somewhere in person, or on television, or those who read something I’ve said, will think I went to school far beyond the eighth grade. This impression is due entirely to my prison studies.” -Malcom X
Response: Many who have listened to the words of Malcolm or read what he said have very little knowledge about him. His language and the way he speaks makes him come off as a well educated man. You may think he went through K-12 as the smartest kid and graduated college with many degrees. In fact this is not the case. Malcolm was self taught. everything he knew he learn himself. While growing up he didn’t get the education he needed. While in prison he decided he wanted more knowledge and to improve his language so he taught his self and studied.
Quote 2: Ā “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. Anyone who has read a great deal can imagine the new world that opened Ā Let me tell you something: from then until I left that prison, in every free moment I had, if I was not reading in the library, I was reading on my bunk. You couldn’t have gotten me out of books with a wedge” -Malcolm X
Response: To Malcolm reading and learning the words in the dictionary really helped him out. When he first started he knew very little and could write very little. As he studied and practiced the words in the dictionary his vocabulary and writing became stronger. This achievement gave him the knowledge to finally understand what he was reading. Reading became one of his favorite things to do.
Quote 3: “Between Mr. Muhammad’s teachings, my correspondence, my visitors,… and my reading of books, months passed without my even thinking about being imĀprisoned. In fact, up to then, I never had been so truly free in my life.” -Malcolm X
Response: Studying in prison opened up many doors for Malcolm. When he was locked up he felt caged in. His knowledge of words and his writing were bad. He studied to change this. He was finally able understand the words he was reading. He may have been locked up, but reading freed his mind from prison. He could now obtain more knowledge. His imagination would have also been free. Reading all sorts of books can free anyone from their current situation. Reading is like an escape from reality for most people.
Sharif–
This is a good close reading of these quotes. Hopefully, by writing about each quote, you gain a better understanding of what the author is saying overall… That’s the point of, as the author Mike Bunn has shown us, “reading like a writer.”