My alma mater was books…

This quote comes from Malcolm X. No matter your opinion of him, Ossie Davis summarizes it the best “ I never doubted that Malcolm X, even when he was wrong, was always that rarest thing in the world among us Negroes: a true man.” I encourage everyone to read The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

The words from this specific quote stuck with me because of a different remark I remember hearing as a kid. “If you want to keep something from a black man, just put it in a book.” That never sat well with me.

Reading Malcolm X’s story, learning about his life, and eventually reading those words validated how significant reading can be for a black man to me. Coincidently I gained clarity on why some would oppose us reading too.

Quote #6 | My alma mater was books, a good library…I could spend the rest of my life, just satisfying my curiosity.

It’s commonly known that knowledge is power, and the only way to avoid history repeating itself is to learn history. Suppose that isn’t enough to intrigue you. Consider this; in America, the most effective tool for social mobility is education.

If you are wondering like I was, social mobility refers to a change in a person’s socio-economic situation, either in relation to their parents (inter-generational mobility) or throughout their lifetime (intra-generational mobility). Another way to think about it is anyone who says their looking to break generational curses or get rich is describing the act of social mobility.

Most of us hear the word education and think about what is learned in a classroom or institution. We only think about formal education. This quote is unique because it describes informal education, which is sometimes disregarded, but it’s education nonetheless.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” — Ben Franklin

Historical figures like Malcolm X, Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, and Benjamin Franklin are products of informal education. Finishing school wasn’t in the cards for these individuals, so they ended up self-educating. Reading books virtuously changed the trajectory of their lives.

Pursuing higher formal education is commonly known to improve one’s life too. No matter the path of becoming educated, the yield has always proven to exceed expectations.

To my nephew,

Ask questions, stay curious and never stop learning!