Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X were influential civil rights leaders who utilized a variety of techniques to overcome the obstacles on their path to achieving literacy. Douglass was an African American advocate, best known for his influence on slave abolition. He is also widely known as an inventor, inventing peanut butter and the telegraph. Malcolm X, on the other hand, was a human rights activist who acquired literacy in a national prison. He originally advocated for African American civil rights before reaching an epiphany on a pilgrimage to Mecca, the holy capital of Islam. He converted to a well-known Sunni Muslim leader, advocating for equality between all races. Douglass and Malcolm X both grew up in difficult circumstances that could be improved through the art of reading and writing. As a result, both of these men were consumed with the desire to learn to read and write well.
Douglass and Malcolm X were placed in challenging situations which influenced and strengthened their desire to master the art of reading and writing. Douglass, as a 19th century African American, was expected to be a slave for his entire life. He desired to master reading and writing to obtain knowledge that would allow him to escape from slavery. Malcolm …show more content…
Douglass would befriend impoverished white boys, presenting the intention of donating bread with them. However, Douglass would secretly “convert as many of these hungry little urchins into [reading] teachers as [he] could” (Douglass 148). He applied a similar technique on his journey to mastering writing. He would challenge his coworkers to a writing competition by bluffing that he was a better than them. In actuality, he devised this plan to manipulate his coworkers into providing him writing lessons. Douglass used his intelligence to manipulate other human beings into teaching him how to read and
Douglass and Malcolm X were placed in challenging situations which influenced and strengthened their desire to master the art of reading and writing. Douglass, as a 19th century African American, was expected to be a slave for his entire life. He desired to master reading and writing to obtain knowledge that would allow him to escape from slavery. Malcolm …show more content…
Douglass would befriend impoverished white boys, presenting the intention of donating bread with them. However, Douglass would secretly “convert as many of these hungry little urchins into [reading] teachers as [he] could” (Douglass 148). He applied a similar technique on his journey to mastering writing. He would challenge his coworkers to a writing competition by bluffing that he was a better than them. In actuality, he devised this plan to manipulate his coworkers into providing him writing lessons. Douglass used his intelligence to manipulate other human beings into teaching him how to read and