Malcolm X Response Questions

                                    

1.       

      1.Who or what motivated Malcolm X to begin his studies? 

     I think that there were two motivations for Malcolm X that inspired him to begin his studies. The first motivation for Malcolm was when he realized that he was not conveying his thoughts and ideas to Mr. Elijah Muhammad as clearly as he would like. The other motivation was Bimbi, an inmate he met in Charlestown Prison. Malcolm X was envious of Bimbi’s array of knowledge, and this inspired Malcolm X to learn as much as he possibly could. These two people motivated Malcolm X to improve his literacy skills.

2.     

          2.  What did Malcolm X do to increase his vocabulary?

     To increase his vocabulary, Malcolm X copied the dictionary word for word, starting with the first page. He would then reread what he wrote to become more familiar with the words. After these exercises, Malcolm X discovered that he was able to read and understand books that previously he was not able to.

3. This piece is sometimes printed under the title “Prison Studies”; what’s the difference between

the initial responses a reader might have for an essay called “Homemade Education” vs. one

entitled “Prison Studies”? 

     When I read the title “Prison Studies,” I think of a collection of information based on prison. The title “Homemade Education,” makes me think of a person that learned and studied on their own, that they sought out information and learned it.

4. What are the different ways someone might react to the term “homemade”? What does the

word mean to you, in terms of the way you were raised? (think food, clothes, or family

projects…both positive and negative)  

     To me, the word homemade means something that is not manufactured on an industrial scale. I think that some people may think of something that is homemade as being less than, or not up to scale. I think that there are many ways to obtain or achieve what it is you desire, so I do not have a negative perception of the word homemade.

5. At the end of the essay, Malcolm X states that even though he was in prison, he “had never

been so truly free.”  What do you think he means by this…how is this possible

     I think that before knowing how to read and write, he felt restrained, he felt trapped; he was not able to convey his thoughts to the best of his ability. After studying the dictionary and learning how to write new words, he was able to communicate exactly what he wanted. Malcolm X mentioned that he was introduced to a whole new world of words, words he never knew existed. I think that any new information that you learn gives you a better understanding of the world.