Malcom X is an interesting person to study when it comes to self-education. He was not an academic scholar but he was a champion of self-education.
Malcom X was born in 1925 as Malcom Little in Omaha. His father was a Minister with the Baptist church and he was a great follower of Marcus Garvey. The father died when Malcom was 6 years old.
His mother was admitted in a mental home and as a result his siblings were brought up in different foster homes. At the age of 17, Malcom settled in Harlem, New Yolk. He started engaging in crime, drugs and prostitution.
At 19, Malcom was arrested and imprisoned for 10 years. He was illiterate at that time. He was basically looking for education desperately. This is what set him on the route of home-made education.
He started by reading and copying every word in the dictionary. He read the entire dictionary. His desire for education was triggered. He would read everywhere: library and in his bunk.
He always preferred to read in his cell but the rules required that the lights be shut out at exactly 10 o’clock. That did not prevent him from reading. He continued reading using the light at the landing outside his cell.
He only slept 3-4 hours every day. He further notes that while he was a hustler on the street he slept less hours than that.
He read, read and read books. His most read topics were history, colonization in Africa, Opium Wars in China. He also read books on philosophy, genetics and religion.
Malcom X later played a great role in the fight against racism in the US. He also became a great spokesman for Black Muslims. He was feared and respected in equal measure.
Malcom X had a wide open mind and he was willing to study any area. He was interested in all types of knowledge. Malcom X used to advise the youth to read everything in order to avoid any brainwashing by any man.
Acknowledgement: Photo – source wikimedia commons
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