Webster's dictionary defines environment as "the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors (as climate, soil, and living things) that act upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determine its form and survival." In the two readings "Learning to Read" by Malcolm X, and "Achievement of Desire" by Richard Rodriguez, environment plays a role in the journey of knowledge. Malcolm educates himself in prison and becomes a better person from all the knowledge that he acquires. Rodriguez feeds on the encouragement and rewards of his teachers to determine his success in education. Both these men have a common goal, to become more knowledgeable. In my personal experience, I can relate to both of the circumstances that these two have undergone. However, I am still in my college years of continuing my education, and I feel that my mentality is different from both of them. After reading these two texts, I do believe that environment does affect one's motivation and study habits.
Malcolm X is both controversial and inspiring in his essay "Learning to Read." He is jailed in 1946 for robbery and spends seven years in prison. He first begins reading books because of his envy towards a prison mate who is more knowledgeable than he, and seems to always have the last word in every conversation. From there, he starts with a dictionary and moves on to short stories, novels, poetry, and history. He becomes a follower of Elijah Muhammad because of his teachings about Islam and how the whites leave blacks out of the history books. All these changes occur while he is in prison, yet this change is what is inspiring. It shows that one can change his life for better. However, Malcolm states that it is because of prison that he is able to be educated. He even says that college is too distracting.
In fact, prison enabled me to study far more intensively than I would have if my life had gone differently, and I had attended college.
