The Comparison of Malcolm X and Deborah Tannen
Malcolm X v.s. Deborah Tannen
Malcolm X and Deborah Tannen developed their ideas forty years apart. “Malcolm Little” was Malcolm X’s nick name (Malcolm X 85). Born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1925, Malcolm X rose from a world of street crime to become one of the most powerful and articulate African American leaders in the United States during the 1960’s (Malcolm X 85). Born in 1945 in Brooklyn was Deborah Tannen (Tannen 192). She taught in different countries, different states and many different colleges (Tannen 192). The two powerful activists were very similar and very different in many ways. They stood for separate things and each of them had two different outcomes. Malcolm X and Deborah Tannen were surprisingly alike as much as they were different. As I read Malcolm X’s story I was very fascinated. It taught me that it took him much determination and ambition to accomplish what he had. It really amazed me how he could rise from being so illiterate to become one of the most articulate and powerful black leaders in America. It made me say to myself, “If he could do great maybe I can do wonderful.” One of his methods for motivation was his envy for ”Bimbi” (Malcolm X 86). His envy for Bimbi must have been so great if it kept him from being able to pursue his goals and his future accomplishments (Malcolm X 86). I truly wonder if I would be as patient as he was. Lets look at the facts. First off, his handwriting was so poor that he could not even write in a straight line, I could only imagine how discouraging that must have been. Reading wasn’t his strength either so he had to start as any other person started to learn to read, from the basics. He did this by himself. I honestly give him so much credit because if I personally had to teach myself to read and write, I don’t know if I’d be able to patiently accept all the failures and slow progression I would make. I’d be beyond frustrated to the point where I might give up. Then, something else that strikes me
Malcolm X and Deborah Tannen developed their ideas forty years apart. “Malcolm Little” was Malcolm X’s nick name (Malcolm X 85). Born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1925, Malcolm X rose from a world of street crime to become one of the most powerful and articulate African American leaders in the United States during the 1960’s (Malcolm X 85). Born in 1945 in Brooklyn was Deborah Tannen (Tannen 192). She taught in different countries, different states and many different colleges (Tannen 192). The two powerful activists were very similar and very different in many ways. They stood for separate things and each of them had two different outcomes. Malcolm X and Deborah Tannen were surprisingly alike as much as they were different. As I read Malcolm X’s story I was very fascinated. It taught me that it took him much determination and ambition to accomplish what he had. It really amazed me how he could rise from being so illiterate to become one of the most articulate and powerful black leaders in America. It made me say to myself, “If he could do great maybe I can do wonderful.” One of his methods for motivation was his envy for ”Bimbi” (Malcolm X 86). His envy for Bimbi must have been so great if it kept him from being able to pursue his goals and his future accomplishments (Malcolm X 86). I truly wonder if I would be as patient as he was. Lets look at the facts. First off, his handwriting was so poor that he could not even write in a straight line, I could only imagine how discouraging that must have been. Reading wasn’t his strength either so he had to start as any other person started to learn to read, from the basics. He did this by himself. I honestly give him so much credit because if I personally had to teach myself to read and write, I don’t know if I’d be able to patiently accept all the failures and slow progression I would make. I’d be beyond frustrated to the point where I might give up. Then, something else that strikes me