The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Study Guide
Our Prison Neighbors

Why we all should read this book.

Malcolm X began his transforming education at Charles Street Prison in Boston,
Massachusetts and continued at MCI - Concord and MCI-Norfolk. He did it by himself
with little help from the Department of Corrections.
Malcolm X’s development into a stronger, more powerful and caring man clearly
shows stages we can all learn from.
For African Americans, Malcolm’s journey to strength is particularly relevant.
For European Americans, Malcolm’s deeply explored growth is an important
opportunity to see clearly what it means to be Black in America.

Levels and opportunities for study and learning in this book:

History - this is a deep look at an important man, movement and era of our
history.
Racial awareness and empathy - this book has much to say about the importance
of understanding racial and cultural identity for all of us. When we are deeply rooted in
our own identity, we can recognize injustice and be allies to other groups.
Personal awareness - through journal writing we can explore our own lives and
reflect on comparisons to Malcolm’s. The journals are confidential and for your own use.
If you want to share some writing, the group should respect your confidentiality and
efforts.
We will look at four models of human development; Erikson’s Psycho-social
Stages, Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development, John Fowler’s Stages of Religious
Development and Helm’s and Cross’s Stages of Racial Identity Formation. We can trace
these stages in Malcolm’s life, reflect on them in our own and grow more appreciative of
the process of maturing in those around us.
A number of other books will be available which illustrate these forms of
development in many differing cultures and times. A goal is to read a book, or books,
from our own culture, from a different culture and from a woman’s perspective.
As we grow in appreciation of the strength in all cultures, we will discuss ways to
be allies to each other.
Study skills - note taking, vocabulary, outlining, essay writing, memoir writing...

Sessions

I. Introduction of the book and brainstorm what we know about Malcolm X, the period of
his life, and the Civil Rights Movement. Why this is an important book for all people.

Introduce and discuss the Four Frameworks of Development in Childhood. It is

important to stress that these are theories and that it is believed that we can go back and
make peace with difficult stages in our own lives. Leading an examined life helps us
grow to our fullest potential. It is to be expected that the more stressful a life has been
the harder it is to successfully develop. In terms of the moral development levels, we can
each find examples of all of them in our own adult lives. The level of our functioning
varies depending on the amount of stress in our lives. Just because we don’t act on all
our worst impulses doesn’t mean that we don’t have them.
Introduce the idea that we have the opportunity for books to be both mirrors of
our own lives and windows into other’s experiences, thoughts and feelings. Encourage
participants to reflect on which parts of Malcolm’s life mirror elements of their own and
which accounts are a window into a different time, culture, or race.
Pass out composition book journals. Brainstorm ideas for writing about the stages
in their own lives and insights into Malcolm’s life.

Ask volunteers to read aloud from the Forward.

Assign the Forward, Introduction and first two chapters for the next session.

Discussion
In each session open discussion with an invitation to remark on an interesting
aspect of the reading. Some will have read the entire book but try to limit discussion to
the agreed on assignment.
Discussion questions for each session can include:
What information provided in these chapters is relevant to Malcolm’s Psyco-social,
Moral, Spiritual and Racial Identity development?
What information was a mirror of your own experience?
What information was a window for you?
How was this different from your life?

II. Forward, Introduction, Chapters 1-2 Look for examples of Erickson’s stages and
stages of racial identity development
Forward, Introduction

Four Boxes Exercise

In the Four Boxes exercise we construct a 2X2 matrix. The top values are Racist
and Anti-racist. The side values are Active and Passive. Beginning at the top left we can
brainstorm the names of Active Racists; David Duke of the KKK, George Wallace, many
of our patents or grandparents... Then try to identify Passive Racists. These would be
people who live in segregated neighborhoods, attend schools, and clubs with little or no
diversity and agree about their innate right to their privilege. The top left box is for
Active Anti-racists such as Morris Dees the founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Participants are often surprised that they have a very hard time thinking of any who are
White. The final box is for Passive Anti-racists. Many of us think of ourselves as being
in this category. In fact, it is impossible to tell a Passive Anti-racist from a Passive
Racist. We know racism is wrong but we are still enjoying our privilege and not
changing the system!
The following metaphor might be useful; the moving walkway image compares
our lives to the type of moving walkway they have in airports. The racism in our society
just carries us along. If we want to change anything we have to intentionally get off the
walkway and move in the other direction.
The concept of White Ally appears in the chapter Mascot. A White Ally is
someone who appropriately supports a person of color. Without minimizing the truth of
race, a white ally doesn’t rescue but empowers. Mr. Maynard Allen is the first White
Ally Malcolm meets. The Swerlins and Mr.Ostrowski are no, even though they really
like Malcolm.
The concept of institutionalized racism should be introduced with the statement
of Mr. Swerliln that “I just can’t see how those niggers can be so happy and be so poor.”
Institutionalized racism is all the things in the life of people of color that make it more
difficult to advance: poor schools, job, housing and wage discrimination, poor access to
health care…
Discuss any information from the Forward and Introduction that the participants
found interesting.
Forward:
Introduction: What parts of the Black community were attracted to Malcolm and what
parts were not? Why?

1. Nightmare – Malcolm’s birth, family background, death of his father, removal

from the family
Do you think Malcolm’s father really loved him best? Because he was light-
skinned? What would this be like for other children in a family?
2. Mascot – Boxing, Gohannas, Swerlins, invisibilities
Mr. Maynard Allen is the first White Ally Malcolm meets. What does he do and
not do?
Why can’t Malcolm tell anyone about Mr. Ostrowski’s comment?
Assign Chapters 3-7 Hand out and go over the Four Frameworks of Development in
Adolescence

III. Chapters 3-7 – Discuss as above. Go over the developmental frameworks if you
didn’t have time previously.
Introduce the concept of Classism. What is specific to race and what is a question
of class? Is the ‘Street’ culture today substantially different for different groups?
3. “Homeboy” – Boston, Ella, Shorty, Roseland Dance Hall, Jazz musicians,
dancing, conks
4. Laura – Learning to dance, Laura, white women
5. Harlemite – Ella wants him to join the service, sandwich man, Smalls, visits
Michigan, waiter, and Harlem history
6. Detroit Red – numbers, organized crime, pimps, attitudes towards women,
speak easy, Sammy’s girls, draft
7. Hustler – procuring sex, Reginald
Assign Chapters 8-10

IV. Chapters 8-10. Continue noticing developmental stages. Begin to bring up examples
from other books. Encourage students to bring up episodes from earlier stages of their
own development.
8. Trapped - has to leave Harlem
 9. Caught – burglary in Boston
10. Satan – drug, Bimbi, Nation of Islam, Masons, the white race
Assign Chapters 11-14 Hand out and go over the Four Frameworks of Development in
Adulthood

V. Chapters 11-14 Discuss as above. Go over the developmental frameworks if you

didn’t have time previously.
11. Saved – education, pride
12. Savior – Stages of faith development, stages of Racial Identity development
13. Minister Malcolm X – Boston, Phily, New York, marriage
14. Black Muslims - publicity
Assign Chapters 15-17

VI. Chapters 15-17

15. Icarus - Muslim’s drug program. Read aloud – What do you think about the
idea that someone who has been through it is the best leader? How could you use your
life experiences to help others?
Malcom X’s take on the March on the “Farce on Washington”. How does this radical
view fit with what we know about the event that contained Martin Luther King’s I Have
A Dream speech?
16. Out – jealousy grows, Malcolm learns of Elijah Muhammad’s adultery,
reactions, issues of power – contains Malcom’s assessment of the “Sickness of the Black
Man”. Read aloud and discuss how to cure the mental, spiritual, economic and political
sickness.
17. Mecca - Unity of believers, the largest circle
Assign Chapters 18 & 19, Epilogue, Ossie Davis on Malcolm X

VII. Chapters 18 - 19 Epilogue and Ossie Davis

18. El-Hajj Malik – Travels in Africa, return home
El-Shabazz
19. 1965 – growth in understanding starts his own organization – Contains
Malcolm’s mature description of a white ally
Alex Haley: Epilogue
Ossie Davis: On Malcolm X
Assign journal writing on this whole group:
How did this book affect you?
How did the consideration of developmental stages affect you?
How did the group discussion affect you?
Pass out Evaluation form and request that it be brought to the last class.

VIII. It is wonderful to see the movie with Danzell Washington. This usually takes two
classes with some time for discussion in the middle. Closing discussion, reports on other
books read during the course, evaluation. Certificates
(E-mail Nancy@OurPrisonNeighbors for a certificate that can be printed out. We’d love
to hear about your class).
 Book Discussion Evaluation
1. The book discussed was _________________________________________________

2. For me, the book was ___________________________________________________

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3. Group discussion was ___________________________________________________

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4. Personal reflection on the book and related material was _______________________

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5. I would like ___________________________________________________________

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6. We would appreciate your personal thoughts about being in the book discussion group:

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 Wikipedia Articles to Support Learning About Malcolm X

Marcus Garvey Seventh Day Adventists

Jazz The Great Depression
Harlem Apollo Theater
Savoy Ballroom Cotton club
Duke Ellington Dutch Shultz
Adam Clayton Powell Elijah Mohammad
Nation of Islam Black Muslims
Islam

Websites of interest:
Child Development Institute article on Erickson’s Stages of Psycho-Social Development
http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/development/erickson.shtml

Chapter of a psychology text on Kohlberg and his Theory of Moral Development -

http://faculty.plts.edu/gpence/html/kohlberg.htm

From Joann Wolski Conn (ed.), Women’s Spirituality: Resources for Christian Development. (Paulist,
1986), pp. 226-232. http://faculty.plts.edu/gpence/html/fowler.htm

Article on Racial Identity Development from Pierce College:

http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/tlink/development/theme_identity_and_cohort/race_stages.htm
l

Article about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:

http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/hierarchyneeds.htm

An Article about Defence Mechanisms especially interesting is Vaillant’s leels.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_mechanism

Books Mentioned by Malcolm

This list is dated but many are still available.

Wonders of the World Series

Will Durant’s Story of Civilization
H. G. Wells – Outline of History
W. E. B. Du Bois – Souls of Black People
Carter Woodson – Negro History
J. A. Rogers - Sex and Race (three volumes)
Findings in Genetics – Gregor Mendel
Uncle Tom’s Cabin – Harriet Beecher Stow
Will Durant’s story of Oriental civilization
Mahatma Gandhi’s writing
Black Like Me – John Howard Griffin

Books Recommended for Further Study

People’s History of the United States – Howard Zinn
Down These Mean Streets – by Piri Thomas
Manchild in the Promised Land – Claude Brown
Malcolm X: A Force for Change - Nikki Grimes
Color of Water - McBride, a biracial man remembers his white mother
Black Ice - Lorene Cary, African-American woman
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters First 100 Years - Sarah & Elizabeth Delany
Angela Davis: With My Mind on Freedom - Angela Davis - African- American woman
1960’s
If They Come in the Morning - Angela Davis and others in the 60’s
I Am the Darker Brother: An Anthology of Modern Poems by Black Americans
Drylongso: A Self-Portrait of Black America - John Langston Gwaltney
The Fire Next Time - James Baldwin, African American in the 60’s
Going to Meet the Man - James Baldwin, short stories
No Name in the Street - James Baldwin
Just Above My Head - James Baldwin, novel
Nobody Knows My Name - James Baldwin, autobiographical essays
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou
Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now - Maya Angelou, African American
woman
Coming of Age in Mississippi: An Autobiography - Anne Moody
You Can’t Keep a Good Woman Down: Stories by Alice Walker
A Different Mirror: A Multicultural History of the United States – by Robert Takaki
Finding Freedom – by Jarvis Jay Masters
The Soul Knows No Bars – by Drew Leder
There Comes a Time – The Struggle for Civil Rights – by Milton Meltzer
Black Like Me – by John Howard Griffin
White Like Me – Tim Wise
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? - Dr. Beverly D. Tatum
Uprooting Racism - Paul Kivel