Malcolm X and Benjamin Franklin

Though written in different times with very different circumstances, the educational narratives of Malcolm X and Benjamin Franklin are similar in their shared passion for learning and desire to communicate effectively.

Malcolm X entered a seven year prison sentence having dropped out of school in the eighth grade. His reading and writing levels were very low and while in prison felt frustrated because he really wanted to write letters, but his levels of ability prevented him from doing so effectively (street slang did not convey his message well). It was at this point that he determined to teach himself to write legibly, build his vocabulary so that he could read the materials that were to be the source of his education. He was incredibly driven. The end result was that he was a very learned man with an ability to communicate his message. He says that, “the ability to read awoke inside me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive”. 

Benjamin Franklin also discontinued his education at young age, but had had the experience of being raised in a family that valued reading and had ample materials available to him. Yet, it was not until he really wanted to effectively communicate, or rather spare, with his friend did he really hunker down and work with the a determined passion to do so. 

Both of these men came to a sort of crisis in their lives where they had to decide whether they were really going to go for it and give their all, or remain as they were.