CHAPTER 2 ~ Page 36
Mr. Ostrowski's quote:
"Malcolm, one of life's first needs is for us to be realistic. Don't misunderstand me, now. We all here like you, you know that. But you've got to be realistic about being a nigger. A lawyer--that's no realistic goal for a nigger. You need to think about something you can be. You're good with your hands--making things. Everybody admires your carpentry shop work. Why don't you plan on carpentry? People like you as a person--you'd get all kinds of work."
This made me sad. :(
This was what Mr. Ostrowski, a teacher of Malcolm's--one of his favourties, said to him upon hearing of Malcolm's 'plans' on becoming a lawyer. The fact that such an occupation is uncommon for the Negroes is saddening, yet the segregation allows this to happen. As segregated schools were a staple of
the era
Blogger didn't let me finish; I hate that I can't edit when it glitches out on me! >:(
ReplyDelete"As segregated schools were a staple of the era, it's safe to assume more qualified teachers were reserved for the white schools. Thus, blacks weren't given quite the chance of gaining, or succeeding in medical or professions of the law.
On a positive note, it pleases me that Malcolm overcomes this (albeit while incarcerated) by disciplining himself into a well-spoken orator whose intelligence sparked a number of important ideas and changed many lives."
It is a shame that Mr. Ostrowski didn't push Malcolm to try to become a lawyer, but he could also have been trying to be "realistic". You know - some parents think it unrealistic for their kids to become artists and therefore their should find jobs that will earn them money.
ReplyDelete