Argument: Malcolm X discusses his personal path towards education and how it lead him to be a political activist.
“I never will forget how shocked I was when I began reading about slavery’s total horror. It made such an impact upon me that it later became one of my favorite subjects when I became a minister” (102).
Learning about slavery through books shaped Malcolm X’s views and involvement as a minister.
Argument (overall): Reading, writing and being well educated can grant a person freedom. Also helping them towards leaving oppression.
Both authors become involved activist fighting for their freedom. And each author specifically indicates that education lead them to social activist for the rights of African Americans.
Argument: Frederick Douglass discusses how education personally helped him escape slavery and become an abolitionist.
“ I got one of our city papers,…show more content… The Story of Civilization is a history book covering Western history; on the other hand, The Columbian Orator a book consisting of a series of political poems and dialogues. Citing something that was learned from a nonfictional, credible source establishes proof of how each other used reading as a vehicle to escape oppression.
Allusion: The Columbian Orator by Caleb Bingham
Douglass reads this book about a conversation between a slave and his master that results in the freedom of the slave. Douglass learns about the correct arguments to present to a slave owner.
Anecdote: Malcolm gives an anecdote about the sacrifices he made in order to learn how to read.
“When ‘lights out’ came, I would sit on the floor where I could continue reading in that glow” (254).
Malcolm X was an avid reader who sacrificed his sleep in order to continue reading. He even broke the ‘lights out’ rule which could have gotten him in trouble.
Pathos: both authors show the importance of reading through the anecdotes they
