A Homemade Education Analysis

The consistent turtle wins the race against the sporadic rabbit, proving that being assiduous is a trait very often looked over. The rabbit’s natural talent is presumed to win a race against a “slow but steady” turtle, but is astonishingly defeated by his subordinate opponent with its striking determination. This idea of perseverance is displayed within the stories, “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr., “Graduation” by Maya Angelou and “A Homemade Education” by Malcolm X. In both essays by Maya Angelou and Malcolm X; their strong desire for educational fulfillment overrides their inconvenient circumstances and they achieve their goals by standing up for their dreams. In addition, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. both
being incarcerated, make use of their dampened experiences, as each want to express a message and become proactive in either fighting for moral justices or discovering the horror in black brutality throughout history. Furthermore, Maya Angelou promotes education and Martin Luther King Jr. advocates racial equity, both striving for the notion of equality for colored folks. All three authors’ personal narratives epitomize the conquer of emotional and physical weakening adversity, thus defining the trait that is persistence. Malcolm X and Maya Angelou prove that their work ethic towards education symbolizes tenacity, as Angelou overcomes the despairing racial inferiority by politician Donleavy and Malcolm X strives to augment his literacy. Both authors unfortunate placement during racial oppression becomes an internal conflict which they succeed in overpowering. This strength is shown by Maya Angelou in the quotation: “We were on top again. As always, again. We survived. The depths had been icy and dark, but now a bright sun spoke to our souls” (Angelou 86). This sudden change of positive attitude is inspired by Angelou’s fellow graduating classmate, Henry Reed. His final words to the entire graduating class induces an alteration as his words lock into the minds of all students, rather than entering one ear and going out the other. From being previously minimized by the uninvited speaker, politician Mr. Edward Donleavy, Angelou blossoms from her quick emotional impair of discouragement and regains her clarity in self- worth; realizing that a few discouraging words should never be the blockage toward her success, instead is a sense of motivation to prove wrong. Relatable to Angelou’s defeated adversity is Malcolm X’s deprivation in acquiring his furthered education. Malcolm X’s obstacle of being imprisoned is his challenge, but not his restrain. His powerful desire to learn found him ways to achieve it, even under the harsh circumstances of being in prison; this can be seen in the following quotation,: “And as soon as the guard passed, I got back out of bed onto the floor area of that light-glow, where I would read for another fifty-eight minutes-- until the guard approached again” (Malcolm X 137). As directly said in the quotation, Malcolm X took his chance with the prison guards and used the little light given to him during the night as his opportunity to advance his knowledge. It is the influence of wanting education which overcomes Maya Angelou and Malcolm X’s personal barriers and generates perseverance for their own benefit. Imprisonment for both Martin Luther King Jr.
and Malcolm X creates time for them to examine the actions of white people and needed justice; this showing persistency as King Jr. expresses his reasoning for his activism in a letter and Malcolm X acknowledges the intense maltreatment the colored race is exposed to throughout history by whites. Martin Luther King Jr. fights for what he believes is morally correct, this is displayed in his writing: “We must come to see that, as the federal courts have consistently affirmed, it is wrong to urge an individual to cease his efforts to gain his basic constitutional rights because the quest may precipitate violence. Society must protect the robbed and punish the robber” (King Jr. 418). In King Jr.’s experience, he has devoted his time to campaign and spread his words on the lack of fairness given to the colored race. His isolation in jail is dedicated to his attempts at bettering his community and producing unification. This unethical decision made by local white officials is unlawful. Despite the inequitable situation, King Jr. strives through his position and acts on his beliefs. On the other hand, Malcolm X’s experience is dedicated towards advancing his literacy to better convey his messages to his leader Mr. Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm X’s influence is shown in this statement: “The teachings of Mr. Muhammad stressed how history had been “whitened”—when white men had written history books, the black man had simply been left out”
(Malcolm X 137). While he had taken his imprisonment as a chance to improve his writing, Malcolm X discovers the intensity of his so-called silenced history. Striving to justify the reason his race was concealed of being a part of historical records, he learned about slavery and the intensity of how his people were treated. That being a display of his tolerance regarding the opposition of respect for blacks. Both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X exhibit their persistence in their desire for correction of what they believe is wrong. Living during racial segregation for both Maya Angelou and Martin Luther King Jr.
is an impediment which collapses with their continuous efforts to urge the importance of racial integration. Angelou reveals this in her diligence towards her childhood education and King Jr. stresses the need for equality in a cell block. Angelou displays her hard work in the statement: “Somewhere in my fatalism I had expected to die, accidentally, and never have the chance to walk up the stairs in the auditorium and gracefully receive my hard-earned diploma. Out of God’s merciful bosom I had won reprieve. ” (Angelou 79). Maya Angelou understood the world she was born into; a world surrounded with disparity of skin color. Her astonishing performance in school as a young girl, rewarded her with graduating as the top of her class; this assiduity she showed for learning is influenced by her desire of a greater future; one that eliminates inequality, and provides her with a successful life in her own skin. As for Martin Luther King Jr., being in jail does not end his efforts on ending racial discrimination. Oppositely, he makes the endeavor through a letter to clergymen, his certainty is shown in the quotation: “I have no fear about the outcome of our struggle in Birmingham, even if our motives are at present misunderstood. We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham and all over the nation, because the goal of America is freedom” (King Jr. 423). Disregarding King Jr.’s unfair circumstance,
he remains to preach his positivity on what he knows he and the rest of his advocates will achieve. Maya Angelou and Martin Luther King Jr. both use their strength in perseverance to demonstrate the necessity of equality.