A Homemade Education. Malcolm X was destined to live an uncommon life. During his childhood, his house was

Transcription

1 Rabe 1 A Homemade Education Malcolm X was destined to live an uncommon life. During his childhood, his house was burned down by supremacists, his father passed away, and he was discriminated against at school. Furthermore, after all these events, Malcolm was convicted for burglary and served six years in prison. The time he spent incarcerated changed him. He assimilated knowledge about black history through the prison s library and constantly followed Elijah Muhammad teachings. His autobiography and more specifically A Homemade Education chapter, provides the reader an insight of his life in prison Malcolm X uses references, tone and appeals to show how he gradually became a passionate intellectual advocating for black men s human rights. Malcolm X uses references to show his intellectual growth during his time in prison. At the time of his incarceration, Malcolm X claims that when trying to write simple English, he wasn t articulate, [he] wasn t even functional (225). To improve his written expression, he copied the dictionary. He chose to reference the dictionary as it is the most elementary book. Malcolm X first acquired knowledge about the human s origin through Wonders of the World, which was mainly composed of picture, and also by reading Story of Civilization and Outline of History. These books mark the first step of his intellectual growth. Furthermore, to understand Mr. Muhammad s statement that history has been whitened, Malcolm X decided to educate himself and do his research. He chose to reference Souls of Black Folk, Sex and Race, Finding in Genetics, and the New York Times to support his education on the issue of race-mixing. With each reference, Malcolm X adds a comment to accentuate the separation between the white and non-white nations.

2 Rabe 2 By showing his intellectual progress through referencing more complex books, Malcolm X pushes his reader to acknowledge how credible he is when talking about racial issue. Moreover, he references Frederick Olmstead and Uncle Tom s Cabin to show his knowledge about slavery. He claims that slavery became one of [his] favorite subjects when [he] became a minister of Mr. Muhammad (230). Additionally, he references Herodotus, the Father of History, and Will Durant s story of Oriental Civilization to show that he expanded his knowledge on slavery. These two authors are known for writing extensive pieces of literature, and through these references Malcolm renews his statement about how well-read he is about slavery and its perpetrators. In his last segment, Malcolm is not incarcerated anymore. From this moment, he ceases to use numerous references and mentions just one discipline: philosophy. Through this reference, Malcolm X demonstrates his progress from the dictionary. Throughout his discovery of slavery and the segment describing the white-nations actions, Malcolm X uses a negative emotional appeal. He begins his appeal with a blunt statement. He portrays nations involved in slavery as devils, pillaging and raping and bleeding and draining the whole world s non-white people (230). He uses this imagery so readers would feel appalled by the white nations actions. Additionally, he uses a hateful tone to bolster his statement. By using a negative emotional appeal and a hateful tone, Malcolm X uses the context of the civil rights movement to get support from his audience. Furthermore, he read descriptions of atrocities, saw those illustrations of black slave women tied up and flogged with whips; of black mothers watching their babies being dragged off [ ]of dogs after slaves, and of the fugitive slave catchers, evil white man with whips and clubs and chains and guns (230). Malcolm X reaches out to his readers by

3 Rabe 3 using another image that portrays an atrocious scenario. Furthermore, he continues his use of a hateful tone. He qualifies the British as parasitical because of their invasion of India (231). Additionally, when explaining the conflict that faced British, French, American, against China he re-uses the term rape to describe their actions, and reminisce a famous sign saying Chinese and dogs not allowed to emphasize their barbarity (232). The use of images combined to a pejorative tone builds a hateful feeling in the reader. Also, since Malcolm X previously laid a strong case of his knowledge through referencing the different books he read, his audience may believe he makes a point. Following his negative emotional appeal, Malcolm X appeals to the readers logic to them that the white nations are evil. He starts his logical appeal by describing a theory he found in Finding In Genetics. The theory is that the first Original Man was colored because the white gene is recessive (229). Moreover, Malcolm X puts an emphasis on the race differentiation by constantly repeating the terms white man and non-white man. The repetition has for impact to stick to the readers minds which drives them to support Malcolm X s opinion about race-mixing. Furthermore, after referencing Herodotus and Will Durant s works, he shows the magnitude of the white nations action by stating statistics. Malcolm X declares that the British controlled half of a billion deeply religious brown people over India through the Great Britain s East India Company. Additionally, he claims that 115 million African blacks [ ] were enslaved and murdered (231). Malcolm X states these facts after making references to Herodotus and Will Durant. Since these two authors are well-known authors writing about history, it makes his facts credible. Similarly to his emotional appeal, he shows that he is knowledgeable due to the numerous

4 Rabe 4 books he read about race-mixing, slavery and its perpetrator. Malcolm X uses the foundation that he laid through his references to appeal to the readers logic. Malcolm X structured this essay so the readers would join his fight against black men oppression. At his incarceration, he seems naive and shows excitement while learning about new contents. While going through the dictionary [he] would never realize so many words existed! and he claimed being fascinated when he discovered the aardvark (226). Additionally, his new-found passion for reading pushes the reader to be sympathetic with him. Furthermore, by referencing all the different books he read, he wants to impress by showing his intellectual growth. He uses these accomplishments to introduce his hateful feelings about the white nations. He ceases to use a naïve tone and uses imageries combined to a hateful tone to portray the white nations. Through the descriptions of the white nations role in slavery, he uses an emotional and logical appeal to make the reader join his side. Finally, through a composed tone, he explains why he is advocating for the black men human rights. He claims that [His] homemade education gave [him], a little bit more sensitivity to the deafness, dumbness, and blindness that was afflicting the black race in America (233). In his last reference he makes a case against the condition of the black race in the United States. He concludes his plea by asking the question How is the black man going to get civil rights before first he wins is human rights? (234). He uses this rhetorical question to make his reader call into question the situation in America at that time. Through a structured use of tone, references, appeals, and imageries, Malcolm X reaches out to his audience to join his fight towards worldwide black men human rights.

5 Rabe 5 Works Cited Norton, Malcom X. A Homemade Education. The Seagull Reader.Ed. Joseph Kelly. New York: Print.