Chapter 1
The prison cell library
Chapter 2
The power of the spoken word
Chapter 3
Expanding the horizon
Chapter 4
A lasting legacy of self-determination
Ch 1 · The prison cell library
choko At Charlestown State Prison, twenty-year-old Malcolm realized his limited vocabulary blocked him, prompting him to copy the dictionary by hand.
Quiz
What was the real name of the fellow inmate known as 'Bimbi' who inspired Malcolm X's intellectual transformation?
Quiz
In which year was Malcolm Little first sentenced to prison, starting the journey that led to his transformation?
Fun Fact
Dictionary discovery: Malcolm X found that copying the entire dictionary by hand not only built his vocabulary but also dramatically improved his messy penmanship.
Quiz
What was the first word in the dictionary that Malcolm X recalled springing to his mind, complete with an illustration?
Quiz
Which specific prison facility in Massachusetts offered Malcolm X the progressive educational environment and library where he copied the dictionary?
Glossary
autodidact (noun)
A person who is self-taught. Malcolm X became an autodidact by reading books inside his Norfolk Prison Colony cell late at night.
A person who is self-taught. Malcolm X became an autodidact by reading books inside his Norfolk Prison Colony cell late at night.
Quiz
How many hours a day did Malcolm X estimate he spent reading and studying during his peak prison years?
Quiz
How did Malcolm X describe the dictionary after realizing it taught him about people, places, and historical events?