While incarcerated, Malcolm X was able to educate himself further in the English language. I found it fascinating when he mentioned re-writing the entire dictionary and reading it aloud afterward. In doing so, he was able to learn of “people and places and events from history”. As mentioned in the beginning, he would pick up a book, skip over words he did not understand, and leave with little to no understanding of the entire book. I believe his idea to study a dictionary to learn some word was a creative idea which worked out great on his end. Be it that he was incarcerated, he had no excuses as to why he could not complete his goal. When he mentioned he felt free, although incarcerated, I feel as though it was an escape for him. With an understanding of Malcolm X and his life story, it is easy to say that bettering his reading skills was one of the few things the “man” could not take away. Thus, allowing him to feel free.

Rather than sulk and imagine a different story of his life, he took initiative to change for the better which was in his case; his literacy skills. As mentioned in his narrative, his new profound ability to properly read had awoken a “dormant craving to be mentally alive”. I feel as though everyone has that same dormant craving which only they can discover. Reading, for Malcolm X, had become a new hobby that took up his agenda a majority of the day. The narrative helped introduce the understanding that reading can be a fundamental part of a person’s life in terms of expanding their vocabulary and better reading skills overall. Malcolm admitted to always remaining curious and reading helped him keep that element. It allowed him to succeed in a personal goal he had set for himself.

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