Post 8

A Literacy sponsor explains how larger economic and social forces impact the development of an individual’s literacy. One of Malcolm X's literacy sponsors was a man named Elijah Muhammad, the leader of Nation of Islam, who created a United States mailing campaign that gave money to prisoners that would write a one page letter to him. A prison educational program at that time provided the tools for prisoners to learn how to read and write. Therefore, his other sponsors were the prison workers along with the family members that visited him. On a side note, it is also known that Malcolm X copied an entire dictionary while in prison because of his fascination with learning and words. His socioeconomic conditions contingent on race and class determined his access to sponsors because of how limited his opportunities were to contact sponsors and to communicate with them. Malcolm X's literacy sponsors constrained and negatively impacted his literacy acquisition because he they were also limited in their abilities and honestly could only do so much to develop Malcolm X's reading and writing skills. Also, I could not see the educational system in a prison caring too much about furthering prisoners educational abilities. Prison wardens along with guards probably would not be too happy about an African American prisoner being educated in their prison system. It is a shame that racism was so prevalent in our country's history. It can still be seen, especially in our prison system, across our nation till this day. Malcolm X is a great example of an individual that had the will to strive and succeed against all odds and can serve as a role model for individuals of all races.