1. Kendell Whisenton
Eng 99
4/16/14
Malcolm X
The turning point in the process of growing up when you discover core of strength within
you that survives all hurt and obstacle. In the book Malcolm has many turn points in his life
some are major while other not. One of his many turning points is when he went to jail. For the
turning point in a person life to be major there are three things a person shows. One is how the
person was before the turning point. Second is what the immediate reaction to the person is.
Lastly, what as the long term effect of the turning point. I think one of the most turn points is
when the teacher told him that he could not be a lawyer ,and how that was similar to a turning
point in my life.
First, per Turning point Malcolm life was already mess up his dead has died and he was
in foster care. His life was rough already at a young age. He lived in a detention center with
people he did not know. Even though he was living in a detention his life was that bad. The
Swerlins was the family that ran the detention center and was nice to Malcolm. They help him
get into school and got him a job. Also, he was even elected class president in seventh grade. His
life was good for a Negro in Lansing and he want to fit in. As for my life I was just been a
normal kid in Ford Heights. That was much to tell I was the second oldest out of six to a single
mother. We did not have much, but we never really complain. I was an ok student in school. The
only different was I was hear this from older black in my town.
Next, the turning point in Malcolm life did not happen yet his life was good. His sister
Ella from Boston came to visit him and they all went to see their mother. One of Malcolm

2. teacher Ostrowski who was friendly. One day he told Malcolm “Malcolm you ought to be
thinking about a career. Have you been giving it thought” (pg37). Malcolm response was that he
wants to be a lawyer. His teacher reply was the turning point in Malcolm life. “Malcolm, one of
life's first needs is for us to be realistic. But you've got to be realistic about being a nigger. A
lawyer-that's no realistic goal for a nigger.”(pg 38). The response change his hold thought about
his life. “I thought afterwards about what he said, the more uneasy it made me. It just kept
treading around in my mind” (pg 38). I could imagine was going thought Malcolm. At the age of
nine have people telling you will never thing in life because of where you live. I had two major
obstacle Ii was black and I was from Ford Heights. Just been from that environment may chance
of success was impossible. I was told that there only two ways you can go in life jail or prison.
In addition, Malcolm starts to realize the effect of been black. “I realized that I was
smarter than nearly all of those white kids. But apparently I was still not intelligent enough, in
their eyes” (pg 38). Also, Malcolm said himself that he was being to change inside, and he start
to draw away from white people. He even start to be distance away from the Swirling the family
that help him the most. When the first someone told me that I was going be nothing at first I just
accepted it and stop caring about anything. I stop caring where I do well in school or not. I
thought to myself since most of my family’s do illegal things what stopping me from following
that path.
Lastly, anyway what happen to Malcolm in Lansing had effect on his whole life. If his
teacher never told him he could not be a lawyer he probably would stay in Lansing.” I've often
thought that if Mr. Ostrowski had encouraged me to become a lawyer, I would today probably be
among some city's professional black bourgeoisie, sipping cocktails” (pg 40). He said it himself
that his life would of been different. Looking back outcome in life I was a great one. He will

3. always be remembering in America history. The difference between me and Malcolm when I'm
left for Minnesota I was the total opposite. I had a great opportunity to live in one of the best
community and a graduate from one of best public high school in Minnesota. Looking back on
all people that said I was not going be anything in life I’m glad it happens, because now I do my
best when people doubt me.
In conclusion a turning point can affect the output on a person life. A person can hit rock
bottoms in their life that their turning point. For Malcolm X that turning point talk about happen
at a young age in life. When his teacher told him he could not be a lawyer because that was not a
realistic goal for a nigger. That one turning point in life change Malcolm whole life. He said it
himself if he would never left for Boston. “All praise is due to Allah that I went to Boston when I
did. If I hadn't, I'd probably still be a brainwashed black Christian”.