Could Malcolm X Read?

Along with not being able to write letters, Malcolm X couldn't read books without skipping over most of the words, thus motivating him to study an entire dictionary. With the use of said dictionary, he also improved his penmanship by writing down every word, definition, and punctuation he saw.

Was Malcolm X illiterate?

When he entered prison he was illiterate. He could neither read nor write. Later on, to help his reading comprehension, he would spend time in the prison library. Spending an hour every day in the library helped to increase his comprehension.

How did reading affect Malcolm X?

Reading was Malcolm X's first means by which he was able to empower himself, reasserting voice in a world that had silenced it. At the same time, reading was able to bring him closer to a notion of Islam that would guide his life.