In Defense of Liberty and Education for All

1610 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Malcolm X's A Homemade Education Essay

In Defense of Liberty and Education for All How does a society become socially free and have equal opportunity for all its citizens? According to the conventional democratic American belief, all people should be granted the same educational opportunities so that everyone has the fair chance to succeed in society. However, in William A. Henry's essay, "In Defense of Elitism," he argues for the archaic belief that society should limit higher educational opportunities because most people do not have the capability to compete in college. Henry wants to scale back the number of college students in America to an accomplished few. As such, Henry contends that the educational standards will ultimately rise, which will make college more prestigious. Upon inspection though, Henry's views and beliefs are rendered false because his evidence is exaggerated, distorted and inappropriately compared and contrasted to support his claims. In reality, Henry's beliefs clash with America's true intentions for a democratic society, which are depicted in Benjamin R. Barber's essay, "America Skips School." The journalist and critic, William A. Henry III, criticizes the egalitarian American view regarding education, which he believes degrades the value and accomplishment of receiving a college degree in an American society. Henry tries to argue this by explaining that there are too many students enrolled in college and that the standards and requirements of courses will as a result decline. The essay argues that obtaining a college education has become too commonplace and that the prestige and honor of higher learning has diminished. Essentially, he thinks the American society has allowed too... ... middle of paper ... ...Prentice Hall, 1996. 185-193. The African American activist, writer and lecturer, Malcolm X, claimed that intense independent learning in isolation is far more effective than to attend college where there are more distractions that interfere with studying. Malcolm X defines his views on the basis of his own challenges and victories in overcoming his illiteracy in prison and the facts in history that show how the formally educated White man can still act in ignorance and blindness towards other races. The purpose of his essay is to inform individuals that they have the power to change themselves in order to overcome obstacles in life that try to stop them from realizing and living their dreams. Malcolm X's essay speaks to African Americans who do not realize their full potential and to college students who may want to reconsider their means of getting an education.

Show More
Related

  • Most Overrated Product: The Bachelor's Degree By Marty Nemko

    1166 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the article “America’s Most Overrated Product: The Bachelor’s Degree” by Marty Nemko, the author argues several different views on why higher education may be very overestimated. For starters, the author shares his opinion more than anything else due to him being a career counselor. The purpose of this essay is to explain to the readers that most people start off with the idea of living the American Dream. Which is practically going to college to have a better life and career. But over the time the idea of working very hard for a Bachelor’s degree has become very dimmed. Furthermore, for some people, when they think of the American Dream they think of hope for bettering themselves and also helping their families. Unlike the author, Nemko feels that even the thought of trying to pursue to get a bachelor’s degree is overrated. The audience of this passage would most likely be teenagers going into college and parents. Nemko states that “Colleges are quick to argue that a college education is more

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Brent Staples 'Why Colleges Shower Their Students With A's'

    1035 Words  | 3 Pages

    In his essay, "Why Colleges Shower Their Students With A’s,” Staples claims that student grades are increasing for the wrong reasons, causing college degrees to become meaningless. Staples provides evidence that average grades have increased significantly over the last several decades, but claims that it is not because students are working harder. The real explanation for grade inflation, he argues, is the effect of grades on both students and their professors. Teachers give more A’s to receive better evaluations and increase job security. Students give more importance to their grades as a result of the rapidly increasing cost of a college education. Staples argues that modern

    Read More

  • Mike Rose and Malcolm X: The Importance of Books

    812 Words  | 2 Pages

    While many people in America learn through the standard schooling system there are some that come into an education on their own, in their own way. Here I am going to compare the similarities and differences between the ways that Mike Rose, an award winning writer and professor in the School of Education at UCLA and Malcolm X, an African American activist who was a renowned speaker and ideologist, were motivated to start taking their education seriously, and how they went about getting that education.

    Read More

  • An Analysis Of Owen And Sawhill's Essay: Should Everyone Go To College

    896 Words  | 2 Pages

    (Owen and Sawhill 208) After all, if our country’s leader is preaching about college being a good thing, it should reflect the views of a majority of people in this country. They then continue to try to make connections with the audience by emphasizing that this is a “we” problem and by recognizing that the decision to go off to college is not an easy one for everybody. These first words in the essay demonstrate a call to the ethos of President Obama and clear cut pathos to bring the authors down to the same level as their audience; However, the rest of the essay is absolutely dominated by

    Read More

  • Charles Murray's Are Too Many People Going to College?

    665 Words  | 2 Pages

    The author Charles Murray says there are too many people going to college without really saying it. The essay is written in a way that his audience will understand by the time they finish reading that he has many valid points. He Persuades his readers with facts and counters arguments to false stereotypes involving college and success. By questioning whether college is for everyone makes "you" the reader want to rethink if your time spent in college was really worth it in the end.

    Read More

  • Three Reasons College Still Matters By Andrew Delbanco

    821 Words  | 2 Pages

    In recent years, many have debated whether or not a college education is a necessary requirement to succeed in the field of a persons’ choice and become an outstanding person in society. On one hand, some say college is very important because one must contribute to society. The essay Three Reasons College Still Matters by Andrew Delbanco shows three main reasons that students should receive their bachelor’s degree. On the other hand, many question the point of wasting millions of dollars on four years or maybe more to fight for highly competitive jobs that one might not get. Louis Menand wrote an article based on education titled Re-Imagining Liberal Education. This article challenges the main thought many americans have after receiving a secondary education. Louis Menand better illustrates the reasons why a student should rethink receiving a post secondary education better than Andrew Delbanco’s three reasons to continue a person’s education.

    Read More

  • The Autobiography Of Malcolm X, By Alex Harley

    856 Words  | 2 Pages

    The sequence of words above are those things that comes from Malcolm X that more or less have changed many people perspectives toward their future. Same as others, I have choose to read ‘The Autobiography of Malcolm X’ by Alex Harley for my book review assignment of EDC 3362. The main reason why I choose this book is because the main theme of ‘The Autobiography of Malcolm X’ is dealing with our contemporary moral issue which is about the challenged that faced by African-American because of the oppression from white people. Some of us may think that this is a simple issue but after I read this book, I can see that oppression and inequality can cause a huge impact in the life of one who being oppressed.

    Read More

  • Malcolm X Summary

    2002 Words  | 5 Pages

    Malcolm put together a piece of art, in regards to the difficulties of an Afro-American, all-the-while explaining his own thoughts, beliefs, and reasoning. This is a well-put together book and will keep the reader wanting more. Malcolm’s autobiography opens the reader to a new world that many have never even had to dream of, in regards to racism and discrimination. It helps clarify Malcolm’s beliefs and shows that he has always meant well, whose objective is to gain equality for the Afro-American. Malcolm tells the blunt truth of racism in America and should be read by all to fully grasp what has happened in our country and what continues to happen on a daily basis to this day. I feel this is a must read for every American citizen, regardless of race or religion. Malcolm’s autobiography shows the reader the hardships endured by Afro-Americans on a daily basis and gives reasoning on Malcolm’s actions and deliberations and how he has impacted millions everywhere in the

    Read More

  • Malcom X's Impacts on History

    772 Words  | 2 Pages

    “I don’t even call it violence when it’s in self defense; I call it intelligence.” were once words spoken from a man greatly known in the African American community. This man was Malcolm X. An expressive public speaker, with a charismatic personality, and an untiring organizer, Malcolm X expressed the pent up anger, frustration, and bitterness of African Americans during the major phase of the civil rights movement from 1955 to 1965. Malcolm X spoke of a violent revolution, which would bring about radical change for the black race, while a man with the name of Martin Luther King Jr. spoke out to all people. Martin Luther King Jr. promoted non-violence, civil rights, and the end to racial segregation, while Malcolm X dreamed of a separate nation for African Americans. Malcolm’s keen intellect, sharp wit, and passionate radicalism are clear in The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley. However Things such as his personality, his career and the impact that he’s had on history may have changed if certain key events in his life had been different.

    Read More

  • Personal Essay: The Autobiography Of Malcolm X

    2067 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Autobiography of Malcolm X is a personal account of one man’s search for truth in a racially charged world. Born Malcolm Little, in Omaha, Nebraska, his life is marred by injustice and violence at a very young age. His father, a tall and extremely black man, with little education, is mysteriously murdered, forcing his mother into a mental hospital. Malcolm, along with his siblings, were placed in foster homes. His beginnings had always included racism; the family firmly believed, though never proven, his father was murdered by a KKK splinter group, after years of harassment. A turning point came when a teacher asked him what he would like to be when he grew up. As he answered he wanted to become a lawyer, his teacher told him, “you’ve got

    Read More

  • Malcolm X: The Civil Rights Movement

    735 Words  | 2 Pages

    Education is the passport to the future for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today is one of the most notable quotes by Minister Malcolm X. Malcolm X was a born Malcolm Little and was the son of a Baptist preacher who followed the teachings of Marcus Garvey. Malcolm X was sentenced to twenty-one years in prison and this is where he started to study and follow the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Lost-Found Nation of Islam, popularly known as the Black Muslims. Muhammad’s teachings that the white man is the devil with whom blacks cannot live had a solid impression on Malcolm. Turning to an abstinent way of life and reading widely, he began to overcome the deprivation he had known. The argument that only blacks can cure

    Read More

  • m

    768 Words  | 2 Pages

    Malcolm x was one of the great civil rights leaders during the 1960’s. He spoke for self-sufficiency and rights for all and believed; “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it's for or against.” (Malcolm X). Malcolm X was at a great disadvantage all through his life. He was treated badly by the white population in Lansing, Michigan; his family was the only African Americans to attend the local schools. Malcolm X was rejected and often left out from pursing any opportunities throughout his whole life. This made him vulnerable, as a youngster to logical ideologies. From the time he was little he never settled for status quo, it was his hopes and ambitions that kept him searching for the truth.

    Read More

  • The Civil Rights Movement In The 1960s

    1173 Words  | 3 Pages

    African Americans faced an absence of justice on a daily basis. White supremacy has caused an unfairness towards the black lives, having no control or say over their own destiny. Malcolm X can stand by and relate to this life style having grown up and faced it all his life. Malcolm X (1963) states that the “position of wealth, power, and authority that these white Americans now hold…”(p. 2) is causing injustice between the two worlds. These white Americans have so much power and say over the blacks, because they have received all the help they need, which only led the blacks to become even more impoverished with no help. The white world had better education, the backing of the federal government, free of racial discrimination, and had more rights. The injustice of education caused blacks to lose their own right of receiving a good education. Once segregation was passed, they still faced the injustice of the school’s white students. The African Americans would either be harassed, tortured, ignored, or be sympathized by few white students. Going to school should not be this challenging and fearful for any student. Injustices need to be diminished from both worlds so that everyone has a fair chance to achieve the life they

    Read More

  • Summary Of Are Too Many People Going To College

    972 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Charles Murray’s essay entitled “Are Too Many People Going to College?”, he discusses the influx of Americans getting a college education. He addresses the topic of Liberal Arts education, and explains that not many people are ready for the rigorous challenges a liberal-arts degree offers. In addition, Murray explains that instead of a traditional degree more people should apply to technical schools. He believes that college should not be wide spread, and that it is only for those who can handle it. These viewpoints harshly contrast with Sanford J. Ungar’s views. Ungar believes college education should be widespread, because a liberal-arts degree is, in his opinion, a necessity. He argues that a liberal-arts college is the only place that

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Malcolm X Learning To Read

    823 Words  | 2 Pages

    Malcolm X’s “Learning to Read,” is a powerful piece about his time in prison when he taught himself how to read. Through his reading, he discovered the awful things that happened in history and became a civil rights activist. Malcolm X changed his feeling and position throughout his piece, “Learning to Read.” His emotions are clear in his writing, but the change in his writing is clear to be caused by a change in his own thoughts because of the things he learned. The essay shows his lack of reading skills when he was young, but also how interested he became in it, and how much he uses it. He says that reading is important to readers' lives just as it was to his, helping one to form their own thoughts and views. Without the ability to read and understand the world, it becomes difficult to build your own ethical views.

    Read More

More about In Defense of Liberty and Education for All

Open Document