Rhetorical Analysis Of Learning To Read By Malcolm X

In the essay Learning to Read, author Malcolm X recalls his profound discovery of literature and reading he experienced while being imprisoned. He explains how this discovery has allowed him to further explore many passages in his life, one prominent passage being his religion and the teachings of his idol, Elijah Muhammad. Through this recollection, Malcolm X uses rhetorical strategies such as allusion, diction, and syntax to express how he finds Muhammad’s teachings to be highly appealing. Malcolm X alludes to the literature of many renowned authors and their writings to support his claims. These allusions refer to the culture and history of black people, and Malcolm X is fascinated with the information he is able to consume through these

pieces of literature. He uses his ability to read to support the teachings of Mr. Muhammad, who believes that “...history had been "whitened" - when white men had written history books, the black man simply had been left out” (Little 3, paragraph 19). Malcolm believes this statement is truthful and applies it to his own life, where he feels that he cannot fully connect with the history of his race. By gathering knowledge through various types of books and writings, Malcolm X is able to express how the statements made by Elijah Muhammad are extensively appealing.