Malcolm X was a trailblazer and an influential leader in the African-American civil rights movement. His journey from prison to becoming one of the most prominent figures of his time is one that has been widely studied by scholars (Miles, 2015). However, what often goes overlooked is why he decided to drop out of school at such a young age – something that undoubtedly had an impact on his life trajectory.

Growing up in segregated Detroit during the 1930s, Malcolm experienced first-hand how racism negatively impacted academic opportunities available to black students at this time. In particular, his school did not have access to the same quality of resources as its white counterparts; books were scarce and there was little support or guidance for those who wanted to excel academically (Rabaka,2009). As a result, Malcolm found himself disengaged from learning and unable to connect with any of his teachers – which likely contributed towards him leaving after eighth grade.

At home too Malcolm faced difficulties – his father’s death when he was six years old left him feeling isolated and alone. Furthermore his mother’s relocation away from Detroit further exacerbated these feelings as Malcolm felt disconnected from both family and community (Haley & Baldwin 1998). It is therefore understandable why he made the decision that he did: in order to survive emotionally and psychologically during such turbulent times, it ultimately became necessary for him to leave school behind.