Excluding the generational difference between the two styles of writing you could find a lot of similarities between the two autobiographies. The style of writing was the only major difference I found between the two stories. Benjamin Franklin and Malcolm X have an oddly similar path of gaining more education through reading and writing. Despite being separated by not only two centuries and different sets of social classes their journey was more related to each other and it was great uncovering it through both their works.
They had a very personal history with the language in which they talked about how they went through very extreme measures to hone their skills. They both talked in a way that literature almost found them. Malcolm X found it while enduring a prison sentence. Taking every chance to read and go to prison debates to sharpen his intellect. Benjamin Franklin would pursue it by sneaking off in the corners of his residence and mind to dive into his favorite works. They both would meticulously print out their work in order to expose themselves to newer words that they can use. Not a detail left out as they recreated their new gained literature on paper to further developed their talents.
Benjamin Franklin would use it as a way to follow his dreams in a time where his future looked uncertain. It was through reading and print making that was able to center his life around and find his love for reading and debating. Malcolm X used it as a way to turn his life around. With growing up in his present social class and being illiterate his opportunities were limited. Though getting incarcerated was a blessing in disguise. It's what led him down his path of redemption.
After reading I want to try to instill their adept work ethic in my narrative. Keep rewriting and editing to make sure my paper is as good as it can be!
Good points about the similarities--most focus more on the differences. Great idea about the work ethic for your own ed. narrative!
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