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X Versus Rose Even though Mike Rose and Malcolm X came from two different worlds, they seem to share many similar experiences. But before being able to compare each author’s experiences illustrated in their essays, some background information can shed light on why each are both similar and different. Mike Rose received a Catholic school’s education while conversely, Malcolm X began to educate himself to occupy his time while he was in prison. He had only gone to school up until the eighth grade. Rose is a teacher and a writer. Malcolm X was the Minister of the Nation of Islam until March 1964, when he left this group and formed the Muslim Mosque, Inc. and the Organization of Afro-American Unity. Both of their essays are autobiographical and contain significant epiphanies which took place in a seemingly short span of time. Mike Rose begins his essay much the same as Malcolm X begins his; unenlightened to the power, wonder, and freedom that knowledge can give. Rose was in the vocational track, for the “dense” students at his private school. Forced to interact and learn, or rather not learn, with others who were much further below his intelligence level. X, however, claims that, “there was a sizeable number