Malcolm X

Malcolm X used literacy as the main tool to gain knowledge. If Malcolm X were alive today he would have been just as likely to have needed and valued literacy. Writing can be used as a means of increasing understanding of complex subjects. Technology can prove to be too distracting for cognitive learning. Malcolm X used writing as a way to memorize and better understand words. While imprisoned in the Charleston Prison he began to copy the dictionary from beginning to end. In doing so Malcolm started thinking about the words he had written down and even remembering their meanings.In today[‘]s era of TV and video Malcolm X would have surely valued literacy equally as he did in his time. The act of writing helps the writer better understand complex subjects. In the case of Malcolm X the copying of the dictionary helped him broaden his vocabulary and gave him a better understanding of written works. [During his prison studies Malcolm X realizes a connection between writing and cogn itive learning. â€Å" I woke the next morning, thinking about those words immensely proud to realize that not only had I written so much at one, time but id written words that I never knew were in the world.Moreover, with little effort, I also could remember what many of these words meant. †] As Malcolm continued to learn new words, he was able to pick up a book for the first time, read it and understand what the book was saying. There is good evidence that writing things down might in fact help the writer remember things better. While Malcolm X was re writing the dictionary he was absorbing more than if he was to watch a video or television. [deleted]Malcolm X compares the dictionary to a miniature encyclopedia. [ â€Å"with every succeeding page, I also learned of people and events from history.Actually the dictionary is like a miniature encyclopedia. †] As he proceeded to re write the dictionary he found himself learning about people, places and events from history . In todays era of technology television programs and videos can be too distracting for cognitive learning. The overwhelming amount of entertaining media can prove distracting when using television or movies as a learning tool. One must be able to differentiate the educational programs from entertaining fictional programs. The dictionary [,]however[,] is filled with factual knowledge and is a more effective learning tool.Malcolm X accredits most of his knowledge to the time he spent imprisoned. In his time in jail he had [few] distractions, which allowed him to better absorb knowledge. In today’s technologically driven world there are many more distractions than in the past. With distractions such as television, movies and video games one can be content with just passing time rather than learning and further increasing their knowledge. Malcolm X emphasizes the harm of distractions on cognitive learning. Had he lived in today[‘]s technologically driven world he would hav e had many more distractions to worry about.If Malcolm X had lived in today’s era of television and video he would have needed and valued literacy all the same. Malcolm’s desire to learn would have pushed him away from the distractions of television and videos. Even in today[‘] world Malcolm would have valued the dictionary as his main source of knowledge. Motivated to learn as much as he could he would have used writing as his major tool in cognitive learning. Only by copying the dictionary was Malcolm X able to absorb as much knowledge as he did. Malcolm X Robert Jones Engl. 2072-001 02/24/2010 Compare and Contrast Of Malcolm X Poems Malcolm X, one of the most iconic faces of the civil rights movement if often paid tribute to by writers and poets. Robert Hayden and Margaret Walker are two African American poets that paid homage to Malcolm X. Interestingly enough; two poems about the same person are written in two completely different ways and focus on separate intervals of his life. Robert Hayden focuses on Malcolm’s life as a big picture and uses metamorphosis as the central theme, along with metaphoric language throughout to paint the picture of a very religious, very focused man. Margaret Walker focuses on the death of Malcolm X. She uses sonnets to form her poem and vehement descriptive language to paid homage to the late Malcolm X. Immediately in the next four lines Malcolm’s childhood transforms into his teenage/young adulthood years. He seems to be happier than he was as a child, yet still troubled. He became known as Dee-troit Red Malcolm was already fleeing his given name on the search to change who he felt he was. The metamorphosis that Hayden focuses on is made even more apparent with this line. He conked his hair Hayden does not meaninglessly place this line into the poem. The conking of the hair was something that was very popular amongst many African American males during the 1920’s through the 1960’s. This was an attempt by Malcolm to appear to look more like a white male. The attempt of metamorphosis was not only the central them of Hayden’s poem but was also a central theme in the life of Malcolm X. Malcolm’s childhood controlled what he was slowly becoming as an adult. â€Å"His injured childhood bullied him†¦he could not hurt the enemy powered against him there. In these few lines in the poem it was apparent that Malcolm have made some attempts to better himself and perhaps gain equality but the evidence of his troubled youth and need for change held him back. Part three of Hayden’s poem solidifies the theme of metamorphosis. â€Å"He X’d his name†, the letter X is used in the poem as a means of abandonment. Perh aps even abandonment into the unknown. The Malcolm X that is known by many today is shown in this part of the poem. â€Å"He became his people’s anger†¦vengeance for their past. † The by any means necessary Malcolm that is immortalized was ere in part three. He was viewed by many as an angry individual. His metamorphosis is finally at its fulfillment here. Hayden still uses the term ice to create the opposition of Malcolm. â€Å"Drive them from the lush ice gardens of their servitude† Ice is apparently still the evil white people that were present in the beginning of the poem because Hayden speaks of servitude in this line, which is slavery. Malcolm change is permanent now and he is attempting to change those around him as well. Part four of this poem is where the changed Malcolm meets his demise. He becomes a martyr. Hayden writes that â€Å"time brought the iconic trophies. † In this point on Malcolm’s life his change was forever due to his death. â€Å"Hejira to his final metamorphosis†, Hejira is a burial place in Saudi Arabia. Hayden places this city in the poem to allow readers the omnipotent feel that Malcolm’s final metamorphosis was directly linked and guided to his death. Margaret Walker focuses on Malcolm X’s death her poem â€Å"For Malcolm X† was meant to pay homage and perhaps even respect to Malcolm X. There are some similarities found between her poem and Robert Hayden’s poem. Her central theme is death. She uses sonnet form to paint a picture of the funeral of Malcolm X and also creates emotion through her descriptive language. â€Å"All you violent ones†¦whose hearts cry out heartbreak†, in these two lines there are seemingly opposite meanings but Margaret Walker paints the picture of struggle just as Hayden did at the beginning of his poem. Both authors uses profoundly descriptive dialect. â€Å"Whose black faces have hollowed pits for eyes†, the scene created here jumps out because of the way it was written. The central theme of death becomes dominant in this one line. The eyes have been thought of by many as a portal to ones soul. If it is hollow the person if thought to be lifeless or without a soul. Using black instead of African American creates a feeling of death. Black is the generally accepted color of attire to mourn ones death at a funeral. Another similarity that was apparent between both Walker and Hayden was their views of white people. Although Hayden uses terms such as: icy: Walker uses the term white devil. Both are very descriptive language used to describe the white man at that point in time. Margaret Walker creates the scene by allowing readers insight into the scene of the funeral. All you gambling sons and hooked children and bowery bums†, this is letting us know the people who are in attendance at this funeral. Both authors make it apparent that the black bourgeoisie is just as negatively thought of as the hateful white person. Malcolm conked his hair which after he had done it became apparent to him that he was trying to portray himself more favorably in the white person’s eye s. Margaret Walker speaks of the black bourgeoisie and this one the more popular occurrences of the black bourgeoisie, to conk their hair. Margaret Walker and Robert Hayden both acknowledge Malcolm’s relation to the Nation of Islam. Hayden focused his poem around this segment of Malcolm’s life. Walker’s description of Malcolm’s body shows that his religion was an important part of his life. â€Å"The snow white moslem head-dress around a black face†, she maintains the theme of death through the contrast of color here. Walker just as Hayden used metaphoric language in her poem to describe what Malcolm and his words meant to people. â€Å"Our blood and water pour from your flowing wounds†, with Malcolm’s death many people felt as though a part of themselves had died as well. He was a driving force in the civil rights movement and people found life in him. With death being the central theme the lines subsequent to this one describes things that would physically kill a person but it gave a new perspective on life to those who heard his words. â€Å"You have cut or breasts and dug scalpels into our brains†, his words pricked the hearts of many of the people who heard them and caused them to think more and take charge of their freedom. Describing this through actions that would lead to death made these lines in the poem very profound. Malcolm X How is it that a man who was completely illiterate, a criminal and even worse he was black, in a time that meant you were less than a dog, could go on to lead a nation of black people towards freedom? Malcolm X is the classical story of tenacity, adversity, and determination and his end result was triumph. To Malcolm X reading was the most important thing in the world to him, and no matter how hard it would be he wanted nothing more than to learn. He knew that if he were to change his life around and make something of himself, he had to begin with the smallest of aspect which as learning how to read.His persistence did not Just help him become the man he wanted to be, but it propelled him into the history books and he will forever remain a figure for many because he simply chose to take advantage of one of the most basic educational tools which is reading. Showing the world that every man deserved to be treated equally and that no matter how big or small your goals are if you are ten acious enough then you will reach them. Malcolm X played a major role in African American history. He was a Civil Rights leader and was very powerful to many people f his time and even now.He enforced the idea that all people were created equal and that the way of life should remain that way. Malcolm has influenced much of society today. He changed the world's direction and shape in many ways. He inspired many African Americans to fight racism continuously and proactively. He offered an alternative to martin Luther kings argument to non-violence and pacifism. He also showed that African Americans could also be articulate and highly intellectual. While in prison, Malcolm is tried to make great use for his time.He ran across a man named Bimbo, whom he became very Jealous of, because Bimbo seemed to have it all together. Malcolm envied Bimbo, Elijah Muhammad, and had great respect for him even though he did not know him. Malcolm loved the way that Bimbo always was in the topic of discu ssion in many conversations people were having, and to Malcolm, Bimbo's vocabulary was flawless. He felt as if he knew exactly what he was talking about and that he was an all-around amazing person. After watching Bimbo in amazement he began to read books. Books in which he could barely understand.Saying, â€Å"They might as well have been in Chinese. † Soon after, he went to the Norfolk Prison and began trying reading more and more. He requested a dictionary, a tablet, and some pencils from the prison, and once they were granted to him he began copying pages from the dictionary, Just reading it back to himself over and over. He was self teaching himself to read, write and understand all at once. He took it one step at a time, one day at a time and his strategy was to start with copying the first page in the dictionary of As, and then he read them back to himself continuously.He eke up the next day thinking about the previous words he had written and was shocked and proud to have written that many words. This is what began to mold Malcolm X into an amazing man, he was able to teach himself to understand the fundamentals of reading and writing and then went on to make a monumental movement in African American history. All it took was some dedication and belief in himself. Malcolm used many different dictionaries while imprisoned. He was so fascinated with his learning the dictionary so quickly that he went on the next day and began writing the second page.He explains in the article, â€Å"l studied the next page and the same experience came when I studied that (X 16). † The more pages he wrote in the dictionary the more he would explain that he would learn more about people, places and events in history. Soon after the As section had filled a full tablet he moved onto the B section of the dictionary. â€Å"That was the way I started copying what had eventually became the entire dictionary (X 16). † He was extremely successful while in priso n, how many men are sent to prison and then teach themselves to read?He took it upon himself to take a bad situation and turning it into time for him to reflect and prepare himself to become great, which speaks volumes of his character and determination. It was Civil Rights leaders like Malcolm X who have helped to ensure no one has to struggle to obtain the ability to read and write. He made it his purpose to educate everyone in future generations so that it would help lead too brighter, wiser America. It was during the time of self-enlightenment that Malcolm brother, Shorts, visited him and Jail talked about his recent conversations with the Muslim Religions Organization of the Nation of Islam.After liking to his brother he explained to him, Malcolm decided to study the Nation of Islam. He came across the leader of the nation, Elijah Muhammad. Muhammad preached that white society constantly worked to keep African Americans from empowering themselves and achieving political, econom ic and social success. Among other goals, the Nation of Islam fought for a state of their own, one separate from state inhabited by the white people. Malcolm was named the minister at the No's Boston mosque, Temple No. 11. The following year he also became the minister at Temple No. 2 (Philadelphia) and Temple No. (New York). In the sass's he was invited to participate in numerous debates and television shows. In 1963, the New York Times reported that Malcolm X was the second most sought after speaker in the United States. This is when Malcolm X began to become a household name and began to affect people's lives on a completely different level. Even though Malcolm X was seen as a great man and one of the greatest leaders to ever walk the face of this Earth, he was scrutinized by so many people as well.Unlike Martin Luther King Jar, who was equally as important to the Civil Rights movement in America, Malcolm X as a physical, demanding and aggressive person. He didn't choose to have sit ins, protests and marches, he made it his purpose to get his message across loud and clear. He viewed protests as futile, while they served their purpose, most of the time people do not like to acknowledge there is a problem until people began to get hurt. This is also led to some criticism from his own race about the way he did things, but still he stood by his beliefs and knew in his heart that what he was doing was for the good of his people.Even though his views weren't always agreed with by everyone hey were very effective and no one ever denied how intelligent and how caring he was. For the times Malcolm X was the worst nightmare for the typical suburban, middle class White American. He was aggressive, persistent, intelligent and didn't wait for result but demanded them. Ever since he realized how much he wanted to be someone, he made it his agenda to change everything about his old self. He learned how to read and never stopped educating himself, adopted the Islamic faith , and even changed his name from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X.He saw it more important than anything else to lead his people. He was tired of Blacks being unable to read the most basic things such as a daily newspaper, he was unhappy with the way Blacks were being treated and took it upon himself to change all of that by changing himself and then showing the world that if you want something in life you have to take it. Even today many people are still adopting the principles that Malcolm X brought forth to us, all of which started from a man wanting to make something of himself because he was tired of seeing himself, and more importantly, seeing his people struggle. Malcolm X Robert Jones Engl. 2072-001 02/24/2010 Compare and Contrast Of Malcolm X Poems Malcolm X, one of the most iconic faces of the civil rights movement if often paid tribute to by writers and poets. Robert Hayden and Margaret Walker are two African American poets that paid homage to Malcolm X. Interestingly enough; two poems about the same person are written in two completely different ways and focus on separate intervals of his life. Robert Hayden focuses on Malcolm’s life as a big picture and uses metamorphosis as the central theme, along with metaphoric language throughout to paint the picture of a very religious, very focused man. Margaret Walker focuses on the death of Malcolm X. She uses sonnets to form her poem and vehement descriptive language to paid homage to the late Malcolm X. Immediately in the next four lines Malcolm’s childhood transforms into his teenage/young adulthood years. He seems to be happier than he was as a child, yet still troubled. He became known as Dee-troit Red Malcolm was already fleeing his given name on the search to change who he felt he was. The metamorphosis that Hayden focuses on is made even more apparent with this line. He conked his hair Hayden does not meaninglessly place this line into the poem. The conking of the hair was something that was very popular amongst many African American males during the 1920’s through the 1960’s. This was an attempt by Malcolm to appear to look more like a white male. The attempt of metamorphosis was not only the central them of Hayden’s poem but was also a central theme in the life of Malcolm X. Malcolm’s childhood controlled what he was slowly becoming as an adult. â€Å"His injured childhood bullied him†¦he could not hurt the enemy powered against him there. In these few lines in the poem it was apparent that Malcolm have made some attempts to better himself and perhaps gain equality but the evidence of his troubled youth and need for change held him back. Part three of Hayden’s poem solidifies the theme of metamorphosis. â€Å"He X’d his name†, the letter X is used in the poem as a means of abandonment. Perh aps even abandonment into the unknown. The Malcolm X that is known by many today is shown in this part of the poem. â€Å"He became his people’s anger†¦vengeance for their past. † The by any means necessary Malcolm that is immortalized was ere in part three. He was viewed by many as an angry individual. His metamorphosis is finally at its fulfillment here. Hayden still uses the term ice to create the opposition of Malcolm. â€Å"Drive them from the lush ice gardens of their servitude† Ice is apparently still the evil white people that were present in the beginning of the poem because Hayden speaks of servitude in this line, which is slavery. Malcolm change is permanent now and he is attempting to change those around him as well. Part four of this poem is where the changed Malcolm meets his demise. He becomes a martyr. Hayden writes that â€Å"time brought the iconic trophies. † In this point on Malcolm’s life his change was forever due to his death. â€Å"Hejira to his final metamorphosis†, Hejira is a burial place in Saudi Arabia. Hayden places this city in the poem to allow readers the omnipotent feel that Malcolm’s final metamorphosis was directly linked and guided to his death. Margaret Walker focuses on Malcolm X’s death her poem â€Å"For Malcolm X† was meant to pay homage and perhaps even respect to Malcolm X. There are some similarities found between her poem and Robert Hayden’s poem. Her central theme is death. She uses sonnet form to paint a picture of the funeral of Malcolm X and also creates emotion through her descriptive language. â€Å"All you violent ones†¦whose hearts cry out heartbreak†, in these two lines there are seemingly opposite meanings but Margaret Walker paints the picture of struggle just as Hayden did at the beginning of his poem. Both authors uses profoundly descriptive dialect. â€Å"Whose black faces have hollowed pits for eyes†, the scene created here jumps out because of the way it was written. The central theme of death becomes dominant in this one line. The eyes have been thought of by many as a portal to ones soul. If it is hollow the person if thought to be lifeless or without a soul. Using black instead of African American creates a feeling of death. Black is the generally accepted color of attire to mourn ones death at a funeral. Another similarity that was apparent between both Walker and Hayden was their views of white people. Although Hayden uses terms such as: icy: Walker uses the term white devil. Both are very descriptive language used to describe the white man at that point in time. Margaret Walker creates the scene by allowing readers insight into the scene of the funeral. All you gambling sons and hooked children and bowery bums†, this is letting us know the people who are in attendance at this funeral. Both authors make it apparent that the black bourgeoisie is just as negatively thought of as the hateful white person. Malcolm conked his hair which after he had done it became apparent to him that he was trying to portray himself more favorably in the white person’s eye s. Margaret Walker speaks of the black bourgeoisie and this one the more popular occurrences of the black bourgeoisie, to conk their hair. Margaret Walker and Robert Hayden both acknowledge Malcolm’s relation to the Nation of Islam. Hayden focused his poem around this segment of Malcolm’s life. Walker’s description of Malcolm’s body shows that his religion was an important part of his life. â€Å"The snow white moslem head-dress around a black face†, she maintains the theme of death through the contrast of color here. Walker just as Hayden used metaphoric language in her poem to describe what Malcolm and his words meant to people. â€Å"Our blood and water pour from your flowing wounds†, with Malcolm’s death many people felt as though a part of themselves had died as well. He was a driving force in the civil rights movement and people found life in him. With death being the central theme the lines subsequent to this one describes things that would physically kill a person but it gave a new perspective on life to those who heard his words. â€Å"You have cut or breasts and dug scalpels into our brains†, his words pricked the hearts of many of the people who heard them and caused them to think more and take charge of their freedom. Describing this through actions that would lead to death made these lines in the poem very profound. Malcolm X Robert Jones Engl. 2072-001 02/24/2010 Compare and Contrast Of Malcolm X Poems Malcolm X, one of the most iconic faces of the civil rights movement if often paid tribute to by writers and poets. Robert Hayden and Margaret Walker are two African American poets that paid homage to Malcolm X. Interestingly enough; two poems about the same person are written in two completely different ways and focus on separate intervals of his life. Robert Hayden focuses on Malcolm’s life as a big picture and uses metamorphosis as the central theme, along with metaphoric language throughout to paint the picture of a very religious, very focused man. Margaret Walker focuses on the death of Malcolm X. She uses sonnets to form her poem and vehement descriptive language to paid homage to the late Malcolm X. Immediately in the next four lines Malcolm’s childhood transforms into his teenage/young adulthood years. He seems to be happier than he was as a child, yet still troubled. He became known as Dee-troit Red Malcolm was already fleeing his given name on the search to change who he felt he was. The metamorphosis that Hayden focuses on is made even more apparent with this line. He conked his hair Hayden does not meaninglessly place this line into the poem. The conking of the hair was something that was very popular amongst many African American males during the 1920’s through the 1960’s. This was an attempt by Malcolm to appear to look more like a white male. The attempt of metamorphosis was not only the central them of Hayden’s poem but was also a central theme in the life of Malcolm X. Malcolm’s childhood controlled what he was slowly becoming as an adult. â€Å"His injured childhood bullied him†¦he could not hurt the enemy powered against him there. In these few lines in the poem it was apparent that Malcolm have made some attempts to better himself and perhaps gain equality but the evidence of his troubled youth and need for change held him back. Part three of Hayden’s poem solidifies the theme of metamorphosis. â€Å"He X’d his name†, the letter X is used in the poem as a means of abandonment. Perh aps even abandonment into the unknown. The Malcolm X that is known by many today is shown in this part of the poem. â€Å"He became his people’s anger†¦vengeance for their past. † The by any means necessary Malcolm that is immortalized was ere in part three. He was viewed by many as an angry individual. His metamorphosis is finally at its fulfillment here. Hayden still uses the term ice to create the opposition of Malcolm. â€Å"Drive them from the lush ice gardens of their servitude† Ice is apparently still the evil white people that were present in the beginning of the poem because Hayden speaks of servitude in this line, which is slavery. Malcolm change is permanent now and he is attempting to change those around him as well. Part four of this poem is where the changed Malcolm meets his demise. He becomes a martyr. Hayden writes that â€Å"time brought the iconic trophies. † In this point on Malcolm’s life his change was forever due to his death. â€Å"Hejira to his final metamorphosis†, Hejira is a burial place in Saudi Arabia. Hayden places this city in the poem to allow readers the omnipotent feel that Malcolm’s final metamorphosis was directly linked and guided to his death. Margaret Walker focuses on Malcolm X’s death her poem â€Å"For Malcolm X† was meant to pay homage and perhaps even respect to Malcolm X. There are some similarities found between her poem and Robert Hayden’s poem. Her central theme is death. She uses sonnet form to paint a picture of the funeral of Malcolm X and also creates emotion through her descriptive language. â€Å"All you violent ones†¦whose hearts cry out heartbreak†, in these two lines there are seemingly opposite meanings but Margaret Walker paints the picture of struggle just as Hayden did at the beginning of his poem. Both authors uses profoundly descriptive dialect. â€Å"Whose black faces have hollowed pits for eyes†, the scene created here jumps out because of the way it was written. The central theme of death becomes dominant in this one line. The eyes have been thought of by many as a portal to ones soul. If it is hollow the person if thought to be lifeless or without a soul. Using black instead of African American creates a feeling of death. Black is the generally accepted color of attire to mourn ones death at a funeral. Another similarity that was apparent between both Walker and Hayden was their views of white people. Although Hayden uses terms such as: icy: Walker uses the term white devil. Both are very descriptive language used to describe the white man at that point in time. Margaret Walker creates the scene by allowing readers insight into the scene of the funeral. All you gambling sons and hooked children and bowery bums†, this is letting us know the people who are in attendance at this funeral. Both authors make it apparent that the black bourgeoisie is just as negatively thought of as the hateful white person. Malcolm conked his hair which after he had done it became apparent to him that he was trying to portray himself more favorably in the white person’s eye s. Margaret Walker speaks of the black bourgeoisie and this one the more popular occurrences of the black bourgeoisie, to conk their hair. Margaret Walker and Robert Hayden both acknowledge Malcolm’s relation to the Nation of Islam. Hayden focused his poem around this segment of Malcolm’s life. Walker’s description of Malcolm’s body shows that his religion was an important part of his life. â€Å"The snow white moslem head-dress around a black face†, she maintains the theme of death through the contrast of color here. Walker just as Hayden used metaphoric language in her poem to describe what Malcolm and his words meant to people. â€Å"Our blood and water pour from your flowing wounds†, with Malcolm’s death many people felt as though a part of themselves had died as well. He was a driving force in the civil rights movement and people found life in him. With death being the central theme the lines subsequent to this one describes things that would physically kill a person but it gave a new perspective on life to those who heard his words. â€Å"You have cut or breasts and dug scalpels into our brains†, his words pricked the hearts of many of the people who heard them and caused them to think more and take charge of their freedom. Describing this through actions that would lead to death made these lines in the poem very profound.