Malcolm X

Though the essay, "Just Wanna Be Average" told of a learning experience that I could relate too, I was really inspired by Malcolm X's "Learning to Read".
I loved reading about his desire to communicate being so strong that he chose to dig in with such depth and tenacity to teach himself to read and write. It's hard to face your inability. Malcolm X noted his when he recounted that on the street he was an "articulate hustler" who could "command attention", but when it came to writing his simple english was not effective. He quickly discovered that even trying to read in the library with the little skill that he had, was not going to work because he got stuck on too many words to make the reading a productive experience. He obtained a dictionary and copied it, word for word. This did two things, 1) he learned to write legibly and 2) he learned the meaning of words and how to use them. Once he accomplished this task, he could read. He could really read. He could read and understand and from that understanding he educated himself. When he emerged from prison people who encountered him, considered him to be a learned man. When he was asked where he had attended college, he replied "Books".