Blog Post #6 - Malcolm X Chapter 4: Laura
Part 1: Record a thoughtful and concise response to the following prompt:
Bright, ambitious, and from the middle class, Laura represents the world that Malcolm has rejected in favor of the ghetto… while Sophia is a symbol of his success in the world of hipsters and hustlers. After running into Laura at some point later in his life, Laura has changed… tremendously. Do you agree with Malcolm that Laura’s change is his fault? Can you explain why he chose Sophia over Laura? Do you think it was the right choice? Use textual evidence from Chapter 4 to support your response.
Part 2: Read through the comments made by other students and choose two comments to REPLY to.
I personally do not agree that it was Malcolm's fault that Laura changed, but I do think it was a kick-off to begin her delinquent ways, I believe that Malcolm choose Sophia over Laura because being seen with a white woman was a symbol of power in the community and he was more for the hustler/ghetto life rather than being hated up on the hill with Laura, but I don't think it was the right choice since Laura was all about the school life and how you could succeed through education but Malcolm probably didn't see much use in being a janitor when he could make more money being a pimp and hustling. “The only excuse I can offer is that like so many of my black brothers today, I was deaf, dumb, and blind.” this tells us that he was admitting that getting with Sophia was a bad choice
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that getting with Sophia was a bad choice, but nobody would know how different Malcolm's life would have been if he stayed with Laura. I also totally agree with what you were saying when you were talking about getting with Sophia was a symbol of power to African American men back then. He wanted nothing to do with the people on the hill he only wanted to fit in /stand out to the people in the "ghetto".
DeleteI agree that at the time Malcolm was in the mind set that being a hustler would make him more money and having a white woman would make him a higher status in the ghetto. I think if he would have chose to stay with Laura and continue to see her, his life would have been improved because he would have probably chose to become more academically in tune and not slip more into the ghetto side.
DeleteI agree that it was a "kick-off" because once she experienced freedom from her grandmother she sort of got "addicted" to being able to roam free from rules and started to act out from her grandmothers rules. This turned into a habit she didn't get rid of and led her life downhill which she ended up into drugs, prostitution, etc.
DeleteI believe that Malcolm X had contributed to the change Laura’s life. Malcolm was most likely the first boy that Laura actually talked to in that way, but also another contribute could be Laura’s grandmother. I believe that people that grow up with overbearing parents they tend to lash out and stop listening and do whatever they want, “Laura had just one close friend, a girl who lived in Cambridge, whom she had gone to school with. They talked on the telephone everyday. Her grandmother scarcely ever let her go to the movies, let alone on date’(64). I feel like Malcolm didn’t make a right choice leaving Laura for Sophia, but ever choice he made impacted his life in a different way and helped lead him to the man he ended up being. I suppose he chose Sophia over Laura because even though Laura was good for him in every way, Sophia came with the credit. Every African American man wanted to be parading down the streets with a white woman and if Malcolm had the chance to get more credit around the “ghetto” he would take it.
ReplyDeleteThis is true; I'm not going to put all the blame on Malcolm, but Laura almost certainly did feel stifled by the expectations that came with having a strict grandma and being the archetype of a "model student". I mentioned it in my own comment, and I know I feel immense pressure to conform to parental and societal expectations imposed on me; I, for one, want to be done with school, get my own job, and move out from my parents, rather than stay in school straight through the 2023-2024 school year, but I can't exactly do that.
DeleteI do agree that Malcolm contributed to Laura's choices, but I don't think its really his fault. The main reason for his decision is popularity and immaturity. Malcolm is in a completely new setting and is pretty much doing whatever seems to be "hip". I completely agree with the idea that her grandmother contributed. After a mainly sheltered life, Laura finally lashed out and didn't know what to do with the new found freedom.
DeleteTyler, I like your comment specifically involving "[not knowing] what to do with the newfound freedom", and I hope I don't do anything really stupid with my newfound freedom in Mexico in 2024.
DeleteI agree the Malcolm changed Laura's life because when Malcolm first started talking to Laura, she would still be connected to her grandmother and never lie to her but as time went on, Laura began to lie more and more to her grandmother to go out with Malcolm which caused her to act different.
DeleteI agree that Malcolm chose Sophia or Laura because he looked at Sophia as more of a prize. Sophia gave him more street credit and people envied him more because he was with her even though he would probably be more happy with Laura.
DeleteI don’t feel as if Malcolm had as big of an impact on Laura’s decisions, only because her grandmother was so strict that when Malcolm chose Sophia over Laura, that she decided being the nice church girl wasn’t going to attract anyone, hence why she started doing drugs,drinking, and becoming a lesbian.
DeleteI agree that Malcolm had something to do with changing Laura but I do not think he should get all the blame, for Malcolm is not the one who made Laura lie to her grandmother when they first met. Malcolm simply asked Laura to a dance and she went out of her way to lie to her strict grandmother about her whereabouts, something was just ignited inside of her, but it is not completely Malcolm's fault.
DeleteI don’t agree with Malcolm that it is his fault that Laura changed because she made every choice herself, Malcolm never pressured her into anything. Even though Malcolm basically forgot about Laura because of Sophia and that may have struck Laura negatively, she could have handled the situation differently than going rebelistic and against who she was before if the whole Sophia thing was bothering her so much. Or her drastic change may have just been because of her strict grandmother. I think the reason why Malcolm chose Sophia over Laura is because it seemed like it was a higher status symbol for a black man to have a white woman rather than a black woman. “It was when I began to be seen around town with Sophia that I really began to mature into some real status in black downtown Roxbury. Up to then I had been just another among all of the conked and zooted youngsters” (71). I don’t think ditching Laura was the right choice since she was a well brought-up woman before she changed and could have been a good person for Malcolm to be around because at one point it made him think about how he was more academic than he is currently.
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DeleteI like what you said about Malcolm never pressuring Laura into acting a different way, and how Laura could have acted differently when Malcolm left. The biggest thing that I agreed with is the angle about Laura’s grandmother. When people grow up with overbearing parents/guardians they tend to lash out because they have been so sheltered their whole life. Laura’s grandmother could have been the biggest and only cause that Laura started acting out.
I agree with the rebellious thought, I feel like she would have still ended up being rebellious because of how controlling her grandmother was of her. With or without Malcolm being in the picture, I think she would have gotten sick of her grandma being controlling and would end up on the same path either way.
DeleteI agree that Laura just wanted to rebel, because her grandmother had hardly let her do anything, she wanted to live her life. With this being said, unfortunately this led her down the wrong path.
DeleteWhile Malcolm was a defining factor in why she started going down the “wrong path” as he introduced her to it, and he blames himself for it (“One of the shames I have carried for years is that I blame myself for all of this. To have treated her as I did for a white woman made the blow doubly heavy.” (72)), he is not the only one to blame, as her “wrong path” went in a different direction involving lesbianism, drug use, and prostitution. It is likely that she would have gone down this path anyway; she probably at least secretly found her life as a “model student” stifling and needed an escape. (I know I find myself stifled by expectations, and I’m decidedly not a model student.) Besides, all of Laura’s decisions were hers alone to make, and he is never shown to have pressured her into anything. While Malcolm initially liked her a lot, this changed when he first met Sophia, who was a really stunning white girl who quickly became Malcolm’s main girlfriend. He was certainly attracted to her physically, and he was at this point still conditioned to favor lighter-skinned people even within black society (another example of this would be having a conk, the unnaturally straight hair that many blacks had to emulate whites, and seeing nothing wrong with it), so he was attracted to the status that having a white girlfriend would get him. He and Sophia were good together, but dumping Laura like that was still a bit of a jerk move, so I don’t see getting with Sophia as the morally right choice, but at the same time, he isn’t the one who’s truly to blame for who Laura became.
ReplyDeleteI feel as though its very likely she would've ended up on the same path without ever being exposed to the ghetto by Malcolm. Due to her grandmothers strict rules, I think as soon as Laura graduated, the same situation would've followed. I still find it amazing how much Malcolm's morals are changing. Yes, Sophia may have been extremely attractive, but Malcolm once hated his own lighter skin tone. This sudden change is surprising and the reason I bring this up is because like you said, Malcolm is now so conditioned to the lighter skin tone, he is losing himself and his past beliefs.
DeleteI agree with you with the fact that Malcolm changed Laura's life because when he left her, she took a different path in life, she began to lie to her grandmother and experienced what lie was actually like outside of her grandmothers house. So I agree that Malcolm changed Laura's life.
DeleteI agree with that Malcolm was a part of why Laura changed, but yet he wasn't the main reason. Malcolm introduced her to a whole new world when he took her to the dance and later on Laura wanted to experience more of that so she quit being a good student and became more of a hipster.
DeleteI do not believe Laura's unfortunate change was Malcolm's fault. Although leaving her for Sophia may have been an influence, he is living his own life. Malcolm cannot control her decision to start “defying her grandmother”(Haley72). The main reason Malcolm chose Sophia over Laura was purely driven by status. This can be seen when Malcolm says “for the average black man, at least- a status symbol of the first order”(Haley70). We as readers tend to forget how young Malcolm really is, which plays a dramatic role in his decision making. Although I don’t think Malcolm leaving Laura was the right decision, it sounds a lot like a young kid trying to fit in and become popular. The way Malcolm described Laura early in the chapter is a complete 360 from what Laura has become, but It’s hard to accuse Malcolm for her demise due to his immaturity and experience with girls.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this. Ultimately, people have their own free will and have power over their decisions, and while I can see why Malcolm blames himself (especially considering he did leave Laura for a white girl, and he would come to despise even more thoroughly the white man's oppression and smug sense of self-superiority), Laura was the only one in charge of her decisions, and Malcolm was only about 16 at the time and quite inexperienced. Look at me right here: I'm 17 and have never had a girlfriend.
DeleteI agree with everything that is stated here, Laura couldn't just completely snap under the choice of Malcolm choosing a white girl over her, it had to be some other elements in the text such as more arguments with her grandma and all the stress that came with being black back then.
DeleteI agree with you that him choosing Sophia over her was a huge influence in this. However, in my opinion it wasn't fully his fault, Like you said He can not control any of her choices, Everything she had done was on her own. He is not the one to blame.
DeleteI don't think that the way Laura turned out was Malcolm X’s fault because everything she did to go down the wrong path was her choice. Although Malcolm isn't the reason she went down the wrong path I do believe he hurt her and then she might have felt like she had to be a different person to be wanted. Malcolm did not make the right choice because he chose the women that dragged him down over the women that encouraged him to follow every dream he had and be better. A quote that shows even Malcolm knows he chose the wrong person is when he says “The only excuse I can offer is that like so many of my black brothers today, I was deaf, dumb, and blind.”(72)
ReplyDeleteI agree, she made those decisions, Malcolm X did not force her to start drinking alcohol, smoking weed, or prostitution. He may have influenced her to do those things as he was but she chose that. I do not think he made the right choice either, she was a rule-follower and a good influence, but once she was chosen over, she had her downfall. If he would have chosen her, they might have kept each other in good places and not drinking or smoking.
DeleteI agree that it was her choice to allow herself to go down the wrong path, even though he hurt her, I think it was finally defying her grandmother that just made her go out of control. Although I disagree that Malcolm made the wrong choice, sure Laura was ideal but she could've never shaped him the way Sophia did and I see how Laura could have been better for him but I think that Malcolm was supposed to me with Sophia for a reason that is unknown, the time was just right but it is sad that Laura had to get caught up a little.
DeleteI agree that it wasn’t Malcolm’s complete fault that Laura had such a downfall, do you think her grandmother played a role at all? Why did Malcolm chose Sophia? What made her the better choice over Laura?
DeleteI disagree with Malcolm that the change of Laura was his fault and it wasn’t, she chose to change to become a new person and maybe to have a new life. I think why Malcolm chose to be with sophia was because he didn’t like the hill people, because it reminded him of the whites back at his home town. So therefore, Malcolm chose Sophia was because she must have been different than most girls that fell for him. I think it was but at the same time it was also the wrong choice because he could have had a good life with Laura instead of Sophia, but that didn’t happen he chose Sophia over Laura. “So I went gawking around the neighborhood- the Waumbeck and Humboldt Avenue Hill section of Roxbury, which is something like Harlem's Sugar Hill, where I'd later live… What I thought I was seeing there in Roxbury were high-class, educated, important Negroes, living well, working in big jobs and positions…. Under the pitiful misapprehension that it would make them “better,” these Hill Negroes were breaking their backs trying to imitate white people.”(42). I think this quote goes best with why he chose Sophia instead Laura.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you because his home in the hill wasn't exactly a welcoming happy enviroment for him. When he saw Sophia he was reminded of why he left the hill and he decided to move forword to find his happiness outside of all that. The fact that Laura fell upon hard times was not due to Malcolm, they were her choices and her mistakes and she had to deal with them.
DeleteI agree with you in that Laura's change was her own fault but I also have to take in all the stress from school, being black, and the break from Malcolm. All the build up must have stressed her out to the point of breaking and going in a downward spiraling.
DeleteI agree Malcolm can't control Laura's action, if he could I feel like he would see the smarter choice and tell her to make the right one. I don't think even if he was the reason he should blame himself.
DeleteI actually kind of agree with you with what you said about Laura herself deciding to change. You have a point with that but I feel like if Malcolm would've not left her, she probably would've not wanted to change. I feel like she wanted to change because when she found out about Malcolm and Sophia, she confronted him and told him if it was because Sophia was white and she wasn't. She probably decided to change because she ended up not liking herself anymore.
DeleteI agree Malcolm can't control Laura's actions, if he could I feel that he would talk to her and tell her to straighten up and do the right thing for herself instead of being a prostitute.
DeleteI personally think that it was Malcolm’s fault that Laura has changed tremendously since the last time he saw which one a while back. I think this because when Malcolm first laid eyes on Laura he instantly knew that they both liked each other which then they ended up dancing together. Ever since that happened, they would talk and go out until Sophia came along. Once she came into Malcolm’s life, Laura instantly knew she was going to lose Malcolm. “But now, with the best looking white woman who ever walked in those bars and clubs, and with giving me the money I spent, too, even big, important black hustlers and ‘smart buys’- the club managers, name gamblers, number bankers, and others- were clapping me on the back, setting us up for drinks at special tables, calling me ‘Red.’......They wanted to steal my fine white woman away from me.” (71) When Malcolm says this, he is basically explaining why he left Laura. He left her because mostly every African American in Boston have a white girl with them. Everyone there prefers them. Even when Laura confronted him about him leaving her for Sophia, she asks him if it’s because Sophia is white and she isn’t. This made Laura upset because she was falling in love with Malcolm but now that he left her, she thinks she isn’t good enough. Which is why she ended up being a drunk, a smoker, selling herself to men, and becoming a lesbian. If Malcolm had not left her, she would be in love and being the person she was with Malcolm and not the person she has become.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with you because Malcolm never tried to pressure Laura into being anything she wasn't. He showed her how to enjoy life, not ruin it by making the mistakes she made. Laura was prepared for the future and it wasn't Malcolm who destroyed that for her. I think that he truly cared for Laura but in the end he wanted to experience something new and be happy and that happiness just wasn't with Laura.
DeleteI agree that Laura thought she wasn’t good enough. When Laura saw the way Sophia and Malcolm were looking at each other that night they met she knew what was happening but couldn't stop it. She tried to hold onto their relationship but after Malcolm took her home she knew he was going back to the club to Sophia. She then started degrading herself and one thing lead to another.
DeleteIn my opinion I believe it wasn’t Malcolm's fault that Laura changed, I think it probably had a small influence but not fully, Malcolm can not control people's lives and their actions, everything Laura did to end up where she is now was on her. I think Malcolm chose Sophia over Laura because back than white people were seen as the “better race” so he saw more advantages, In the story Malcolm even says “It was when I began to be seen around town with Sophia that I really began to mature into some real status in black downtown Roxbury" (74) this proves that Malcolm was hanging out with her for the “status” In my opinion I don't think it was the right choice because even though this is helping Malcolm’s reputation Laura was better because she was all about succeeding in life the right way like education, However I feel like Malcolm didn’t care because he would rather be out there hustling.
ReplyDeleteI agree that he may have influenced her bur he did not force her, those were her decisions, not his. I also agree that Laura would have been a better choice before her downfall because she was always doing the right thing and following the rules until he chose Sophia over Laura; influencing her to drink, not making her.
DeleteI agree with your comments, it could be because of Malcolm not caring at the time that he wouldn't even realize what hes doing
DeleteI think that Laura started drinking, prostitution, and became a lesbian to gain a high reputation to match Malcolm's reputation because Malcolm has been with Sophia who is a white woman that made Malcolm rise up above most black men.
DeleteI agree with you that Malcolm doesn't fully have the fault in Laura changing. Malcolm cannot control her actions nor their lives. But he does have some part into this because he left her for Sophia. If he would've not have done that, I personally think that she would've been happy and still the same person as she was. Maybe she could've changed Malcolm too by changing him back to when he was interested in school just like she was.
DeleteI agree with the fact that Malcolm changed Laura’s life because before she met Malcolm she was following her grandmother’s rules and not being able to go out until she lied to her grandmother and went out with Malcolm and experienced what she could really do outside of following her grandmother’s rules. Malcolm chose Sophia over Laura because Laura kind of disconnected herself from her relationship with Malcolm and became a mess so he chose Sophia over Laura because she was more loyal to Malcolm. I think Malcolm made the right choice because if he would have stayed with Laura, he would have became a mess alongwith Laura. A quote I found for this is, “Laura never again came to the drugstore as long as I continued to work there. The next time I saw her, she was a wreck of a women, notorious around black roxbury, in and out to jail. She had finished high school, but by then she was already going the wrong way. Defying her grandmother, she had started going out late and drinking liquor. This led to dop, and that to selling herself to men” (Haley 72). This quote analysis what Laura looked like without Malcolm there to lead her in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteI agree and disagree with that, yes she did make bad decisions when she was with Malcolm and maybe that is what had started all of it but she still had to make all the decisions herself after she and Malcolm split up.
DeleteShe has free will and she has to make the decisions herself so if she chose to help her problems with substance abuse than that's what she chose. He had some part to play but it was all her idea's to do the things she did.
DeleteI agree with you on the fact that Malcolm did help Laura's life, but disagree that he was the reason why she became so vastly different when he saw her next. After she finished high school Laura could have ended up the same way because she told Malcolm that she was sick of her grandmother's strict rules and wanted to have some freedom. So if she did go to college like her grandmother wanted her to, she probably would've ended up the same way to some extent because she would have been exposed to all the new things that Malcolm introduced her to, just a little later on in her life.
DeleteI do not think that Malcolm X is responsible for Laura's downfall surrounded by drinking and smoking. Laura's smoking and drinking habits are nobody’s fault but her own, she picked up the bottle, she lit the joints. Malcolm X may have influenced her but he did not force her. The book says, “... she was already going the wrong way. Defying her grandmother, she had started going out late and drinking liquor. This lead to dope, and that to selling herself to men” … “One of the shames I have carried for years is that I blame myself for all this” (Pg. 72). So she was going out, Malcolm X did not make her, therefore he is not at fault here. I don't think he made the right choice by choosing Sophia but he cannot be blamed for Laura’s actions.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it was her actions that lead her down that path but, if Malcolm didn't indruduce those things to her that she would have started in the first place?
DeleteI agree that it was not Malcolm X’s fault because he didn't make her do anything. Even though Malcolm caused more stress in Laura's life she made all of those decisions on her own knowing the type of life she could be giving up.
DeleteI agree that it wasn't Malcolm's fault completely, but it makes you think, maybe it wasn't completely his fault but did he play a part in Laura's downfall? What do you think made Sophia more desirable than Laura?
DeleteI disagree that it is Malcolm’s fault that Laura’s life went downhill, you can’t control another person’s actions. “”One of the shames I have carried for years is that I blame myself for all of this.” (72). She chose to make bad decisions that lead her downwards and Malcolm shouldn’t feel guilty for something she chose to do. I feel he may have had a small impact on the rebellious decisions she made by being part of her lying to her grandmother to go dancing and sneaking out “She whispered that she’d never lied to her grandma before, but she told her she had to attend some school function that evening.” (65), but he shouldn’t be blamed for anything past sneaking out to dance.
ReplyDeleteI agree. She became the person she was because she chose to. Even sneaking out to the dance, she chose to lie to her grandma, Malcolm learned after she had done it. Only Laura herself can convince herself to get help, but she went down the wrong path.
DeleteI agree with you, it might not be someones fault but, Malcolm and Laura truly had a "thing" going on, so Malcolm thought he was hurting her feelings for leaving her behind, blaming himself that because of what they did together, Laura thought that meant nothing to him.
DeleteI would agree with Malcolm being in fault for changing Laura as before Malcolm would reflect as she was an “honor student” including she would dream about going to college and already thought of what degree “She said she wanted to go on to college. She was keen for algebra, and she planned to major in science.” Page 64. The reason why Malcolm may have chosen Sophia over Laura was due to an “status symbol” as Malcolm explained “To have a white woman who wasn’t a known, common whore was for the average black man at least a status symbol of the first order.” Page 70. I don’t think he should’ve picked Sophia but if he continued with Laura it would be assumed it would’ve ended worse for the both of them.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with you although you would be right that if he hadn't chosen Sophia over Laura it may have gone to the worst, I believe the best action Malcolm should've taken was to not be in a relationship at all. Since down the road I feel like Malcolm either way is going to break Sophia or do something to her.
DeleteI agree that Malcolm changed Laura because he gave her the feeling of being free and going out wherever she wanted to go, so she decides to lie to her grandma. Her grandma was quick to notice where she was going because of Malcolm's outfit, a fancy zoot with a feathered hat.
DeleteI disagree the future is unpredictable and who knows even if they were together maybe it might add fuel to the fire of their behavior. If Malcolm himself wasn't making the right decision then what makes you think she would stop him, people tend to do crazy things for love even if its acting differently. If Malcolm would have taken a different path then he might not have changed his ways.
DeleteI don’t think that Laura’s change was Malcolm’s fault. I think that he introduced Laura to fun, however; he broke her heart the same night, which is how I understand why some may think its his fault. I think he chose Sophia over Laura because In his eyes Sophia was this classy white woman who was like a symbol of something greater. A trophy of sorts. I think that Laura was a better choice because she was more organized and had a future planned for herself. Laura did what a lot of people do at some point and made a mistake, but she let one mistake lead to another one and next thing you know she is spiraling out of control. I honestly don’t see how Malcolm fits into her lifetime of mistakes. Everything she did was her choice, every mistake, every lie, it was her. It wasn’t Malcolm's fault, he didn’t pressure and tell her to act differently, “Defying her grandmother, she had started going out late and drinking liquor. This led to dope, and that to selling herself to men. Learning to hate the men who bought her, she also became a lesbian.”(72)
ReplyDeleteI agree that Malcolm changed Laura’s life by treating her out to dances during the night, so Laura started to lie to her grandma more often and she rarely lied to her grandma. Then one night Malcolm and Laura went to a dance and after the lindy-hopping dance they performed, Malcolm got sidetracked and saw a blonde hair, white woman. The white woman was named Sophia and she told Malcolm to take Laura home and come back afterwards. A piece from text to show this is, “and in the taxi, she started crying. She hated herself for lying before; she decided to tell the truth about where she was going, and there had been a screaming battle with grandma. Laura had told the old lady that she was going to start going out when and where she wanted to, or she would quit school and get a job and move out on her own-- and her grandma had pitched a fit. Laura just walked out” (Malcolm X 69). Malcolm blamed himself because Laura has changed so dramatically after he has been hanging out with Sophia, taking Sophia out to nightclubs instead of Laura.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. Malcolm had no impact on Laura's life. She chose to lie to her grandma, and to start doing the drugs and prostitution. Malcolm found Sophia and became happy, Laura did not bring the same energy as she did.
DeleteI agree with Connor because Malcolm didn't control her life to make her that way, she did have to make most of the choices she made on her own.
DeleteI would have to disagree yet also agree with Connor and Charlie. Because although it was Laura choice to lie to her grandmother and it was her choice to do drugs and prostitution that was mainly to give her the feeling of joy as Laura lost someone who she thought would love her back, as for "Laura did not bring the same energy as she did." it is quoted that Malcolm reflected how great of a dancer Laura "The greatest lindy-dancing partner I had, everything considered, was a girl named Laura" Page 62. He used Sophia as a status symbol.
DeleteI have to disagree because Yes, he had a dramatic influence on her life however, I don't think he is the one to blame. He never pressured her to change and do things differently, He never told her to change. What she did was on her own and not on Malcolm. I think she did everything on her own and shouldn't blame anyone else on her own actions in this.
DeleteI agree with Connor and Vinnie because I think if Malcolm would have told her a better path she could take I thing she would have listened instead of making her own choices
DeleteLaura’s drastic change is not Malcolm's fault. One event many not impact someone as much as years and years of change. Laura had a choice to make and she can only take responsibility if anything happens to her. For someone to get help they need to want it. Malcolm chose Sophia because he was living in a place he thought he could be himself, comfortable, and safe. Malcolm said strongly, “It was when I began to be seen around with Sophia that I really began to mature into some real status in black downtown Roxbury,” (Haley 71). Personally I think Malcolm should have been allowed to chase his dream to be with whoever he wanted.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with you only because i believe one chooses if they let others choices affect them or they learn from them and do it different.
DeleteI 100% agree with you, it's definitely arguable that Laura could have been the better choice but that's only because she had the innocence that Ella wanted for him but if they had stayed together it probably wouldn't of worked out for the both of them because Malcolm is such a different person. I see Sophia was the best for him overall because she shaped him and he kind of found himself with her and he most likely would've been "lost" with Laura.
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ReplyDeleteI personally think that Malcolm may have helped make Laura into the person she is because of what he did but I also believe that not all of it is his fault. I don't think that Malcolm made the right choice by choosing Sophia over Laura because Laura was like by everyone that Malcolm is close with and then he meets a random white girl and cut Laura off. The only way I can explain why he chose Sophia over Laura is that Sophia was white and in the book it says “Man, I had to comb the burrs out of my homeboy’s head, and now he’s got a Beacon Hill chick.” (Malcolm X pg. 71)The quote helps me prove my point because even Shorty who sells woman is amazed that someone he used to have to “take care of” had an amazing white girl.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you siad that you also believe that its not all of his fault because I also feel that it could be or that it is kind of his falut that he changed her.
DeleteI agree with Malclom that he did change Laura’s life because if he would have stayed with her his life and hers would be different. Laura was a good student that paid attention to the rules too much she wanted some freedom so she went to the club with Malocm to have some fun. I think Laura got too attached because of the new experiences she had with Malcolm and how it made her feel to be not a goody good. When boys would cheat on me or obviously pick a girl over me, it would make me feel less and I would want to compare myself to that girl he picked instead even if I knew I was better. In this time the african american girls were already comparing themselves to the white women because racism was so bad. Out of all the girls I think if Malcolm would have at least picked an african american than Laura wouldn't have changed so much. Malcolm was even missing school when watching Laura do her work at the drugstore: “Watching her made me reflect that I hadn't read even a newspaper since leaving Mason” (Haley 63). If Malcolm would have stayed with Laura, I think she would have pushed him to get back in school so he can have better in life. His age would come out eventually but with that white women it will too. I wish Malcolm would have let her down easy because how he broke up with her wasn't a good way. If he would have ignored that white women for just a couple days than told Laura it wasn't a good fit than Laura would think it wasn't because of some other lady. Than just maybe Laura could have had a good life with no drugs and jail.
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DeleteI agree with you, Laura had so much ahead of her. With Malcolm, she could have changed him for the better and he would have been a lawyer with Laura’s help
DeleteI agree with you, Malcolm did play a small role in Laura's downfall but he wasn't the main source of her problems. I also agree that if Laura would have stayed with Malcolm they would have been better off because Malcolm would have gave her the freedom she wanted and she would have provided him with the stability he needs.
DeleteI agree that when Laura saw how Malcolm moved on to Sophia she compared herself to her. She was a goody goody black girl and Sophia was this beautiful, seductive white girl. Malcolm was more attracted to Sophia’s appearance and because of that he left Laura. As a result of this Laura spiraled down a dark path. I also agree with the fact that you think this is because she was too attached to Malcolm. The book talked about how Laura was from the Hill, but was different from the other snooty men and women. She was quiet and kept to herself. When she started talking to Malcolm he was like her only friend, and to have your only friend leave you for someone else is devastating.
DeleteI agree that Laura got very attached to Malcolm because of the first time experiences she had shared with him, and that it may have been part of the reason she went into a spiral of bad decisions. The way he left her as well, may have effected how deeply Sophia was hurt by the breakup. Ultimately, though, it was Laura's own decision to make drugs, alcohol, and prostitution her coping mechanisms which is why I personally believe it was not Malcolm's fault.
DeleteI believe it was and wasn't Malcolm fault Laura went down a bad path in life. The reason I believe its was his fault was because if he truly didn't feel like she was the one then why mess with her feeling and bring her hopes up. An example of this is when she says shes never lied to her grandmother yet when she meet Malcolm she lied to go to the club with him which is shown in page 65 when Malcolm says "she whispered that she'd never lied to her grandma". Another example that shoes how Malcolm ruined Laura life was in page 72 when Malcolm gave a brief and fast explanation of Laura down fall in life. "The next time I saw her, she was a wreck of a woman, notorious around black roxbury, in and out of jail. she had finished high school but by then she was already going the wrong way. defying her grandmother she had started going out late and drinking liquor.this led to dope and that to selling herself to men." meaning Malcolm encounter with Sophia hurt here so much it messed with her head. The reason why I believe its not Malcolm fault she had a down fall in life is because if she was such a intelligent student because she "really liked school ... she wanted to go to collage. she was keen for algebra and she planned to major for science" (Haley 64) she should known what homeboys like Malcolm don't love if not hurt. I also believe your are your own person meaning you choose if you let others discussions effect you or you learn from them. The reason Malcolm choose Sophia over Laura was not because of what she like nor her interest are if not who she was. meaning she was like a grand price in the club every negro and white man wanted to be with her sense shes beautiful and NEVER BEEN USED. I personally believe it was not the right choice because after reading this it seems like Malcolm had a better connection with Laura especially with the same interest toward learning instead of Sophia were it was mostly more looks and what Sophia was represented as "the golden price"
ReplyDeleteI agree that Laura would have been the right choice because she was on the right path and she could have made Malcolm a better person too.
DeleteIn Malcolms X’ autobiography a girl that he meets “Laura” who was an A plus innocent student goes on to drugs and become a lesbian prostitute. Malcolm feels that this is his fault because of the way he treated her. I think it might be partially Malcolms fault, I think for him introducing those things to her it could have influenced her actions but I do not think Malcom can take full responsibility. I think that Malcolm chose Sophia over Laura because he talks about how bad his mother and sisters were treated by white men, so Malcolm having a white woman with him would be a staple of success. “Now at that time, in Roxbury, in any black ghetto in America, to have a white woman who wasn’t a known, common whore… was a status symbol.”
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Tyler when you said that it could be partially Malcolm's falut because of how he treated her but it also couldn't be, because we never know if she wanted to change or not.
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ReplyDeleteI don’t think it was Malcolm’s fault that Laura was changed, but I think he blames himself because of how he just ignored Laura for Sophie. “To have treated her as I did for a white woman made the blow doubly heavy” (4-72-1). He treated Laura like she wasn’t good enough to match the white woman so, to coap, she became a delinquent. I don’t know why Malcolm choose Sophie over Laura, maybe because of Shorty but, I am not entirely sure. I don’t think it was the right choice because of how much he liked Laura.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that it was not his fault because she runs her own life she makes her own choices. But I am not saying that he did not play a big part in that part of her life it is just that she makes her own choices after the situation no matter how hard. You can chose the right path and get over it or you can snowball into a world of substance abuse and crime. Which is obviously the easier choice.
DeleteI like how you thought out of the box with this and took it to the race aspect/differences of the situation. I didn't think that because of Sophia being white, that she was better then Laura. I looked at it more in the perspective of what one was lacking. Thanks for the new viewpoint on the situation.
DeleteI feel like Malcolm played a big part in her change but it was not completely his fault. The only reason for that is, that is just who she is. People become who they are by themselves, they might get pushed by people but it is their reaction to that event that makes them who they are. “Defying her grandmother, she had started going out late and drinking liquor.” (Halsey 72) She did not have to do those things that she did but she chose to do them of her own free will. No one made her do the things she did, but that does not mean that people pushed her into different directions. But like I said it is your reaction to those situations that shapes you as a person and when you are in a bad spot you tend to go the easy route. That is usually drugs and alcohol, substance abuse makes you “feel good” because of what they do to you and your body. He chose Sophia for “status” in the negro community because having a white woman as your “girlfriend” is one of the hardest things at that time for a negro man to achieve besides getting a good "slave" without hustling.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I have even had some times where I have thought about using a juul thinking it would release some stress. And I did not need people to show me that stuff to want to do it. But i have chosen the smart move to not do any of that. So it was all Lauren's choice to do all the stuff even after seeing it all. She had a choice and made the bad one.
DeleteI don't believe that Malcolm contributed to Laura's downfall, that is her own doing because she chose to be affected by life around her by first, defying her grandmother. I think Malcolm chose Sophia because although Laura was a good girl and she would've been good for him, Sophia was something he had been looking for and didn't even know it, someone who knew the hustle life, she caught his eye right away and they hit it off and she gave him a name that Laura couldn't from the start. "It was when I began to be seen around town with Sophia that I really began to mature into some real status in black downtown Roxbury," (71). In all it looks as through Laura would've been the one to give Malcolm a good life if he didn't meet Sophia that night and if she hadn't gone downhill but I think that Sophia and him were meant to be and she was the better choice for his life at that moment.
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DeleteI disagree with you, Sophia is not good for Malcolm because she knows the street life. Sophia will only drag him down in the end. Also Malcolm did play into Laura's downfall because he was the one to take her to her to the club and brought drinking, drugs, and prostitution into her life. Although Malcolm wasn't the main cause of her downfall he still played apart in it.
DeleteI think that Malcolm was a reason that Laura's life changed, but I do not think that he was the only reason that she changed so drastically. Laura's grandmother had very strict rules for her to follow so she never knew anything but school and studying, "she'd heard so much about it, she'd imagined what it was like, she'd just give anything-but her grandma would have a fit." (Haley 65). Laura also told Malcolm that her grandma wanted her to go to college somewhere after high school, so it's very probable that she would've been exposed to the same things in college and turn out the same. Malcolm chose Sophia over Laura because Laura was a sophisticated hill girl who Malcolm's friends would understand and Sophia was a pretty white girl and at that time Malcolm was trying to be as white as possible. I think that Malcolm was trying to fit in more with the hipsters when he chose Sophia over Laura, his conk is another example, so he was just trying to be accepted by Shorty and his other friends.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of those. He adored the lifestyles of the hipsters and dealers and all of the "ghetto" side of town. He wanted to be like them so much.
DeleteI believe that Laura’s change was Malcolm’s fault. She was different from the other black girls. She was from the Hill. The snooty side of town where black men and women pretended to be successful and acted like they were better than others. When she met Malcolm and he introduced her to the “ghetto” side of town she fell in love with the environment, dances and the people. Just after being introduced to this new life Malcolm met Sophia. Sophia was a beautiful white girl who caught the attention of others. Soon enough Malcolm left Laura and started hanging out with Sophia. To Laura this probably was devastating. She was just beginning to feel like she was a part of something and as a result of this she started acting out. For example Malcolm states, “Defying her grandmother, she had started going out late and drinking liquor. This lead to dope, and that to selling herself to men. Learning to hate men who bought her, she also became a lesbian.” (72). This quote shows how meeting Malcolm influenced her negatively. She had a strong future envisioned for her and if she had never met him she still would have been on her path to success.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that it was Malcolm's fault because like you said she was different and that difference I believe would have helped Malcolm if they stayed together.
DeleteAt the time being with Sophia is symbolic power. “It was when I began to be seen around town with Sophia that I really began to mature into some real status in black downtown Roxbury.” Malcolm self point of view was that he was no better than another black person, even though he himself likes to be held to a higher standard. he also never understood why Negros who had the title of a lawyer thought they were better then their own race; even if it was their neighbor. This would explain why Malcolm moved onto Sophia. Eventually Laura still ended up going down the wrong path. “Defying her grandmother, she had started going out late and drinking liquor.This led to dope, and that to selling herself to men”. Malcolm had no say in her decisions but without him being there to care for her and her acts of rebellion towards her grandma, she would ultimately end up being selfless. Laura wasn’t the only one to go down the wrong path “The only excuse I can offer is that like so many of my black brothers today, I was deaf, dumb, and blind.” Malcolm himself admitted to doing wrong. He’s simply explaining he didn’t see the truth as to the bad things he was doing. Along with the Decisions he made that were miss leading. Whatever happened to Laura wasn’t Malcolm's fault they both made bad decisions they both were forced to be adhered too.
ReplyDeleteMalcolm should blame himself about what happened to Laura to an extent, because it wasn’t all his fault he did not make her do anything. She made the choices herself. Although Malcolm did bring her to the dances and introduced her to drugs, drinking and prostitution he only played a small part as to what she ended up doing to herself. Her grandma had a bigger part because she wouldn’t let her have any freedom; “she had been raised by her grandmother...who was very strict and old-fashioned and religious… Her grandmother scarcely ever let her go to the movies, let alone on dates.”(pg 64). This led Laura to want to start doing bad things because she was never aloud to live her life. By Malcolm taking her out to dances and her finally getting a taste of freedom and then only to have that taken away because he chose an easy white girl over her made her spiral. She started to rebel against her grandma because she knew that it was her grandma's fault for being so strict and Malcolm knew that he would have to tip-toe around her grandmother. Therefore Malcolm picked Sophia not just because she was a “prize” for a black man to be dating a white girl but also because she was so beautiful. Also because a white girl wanted him. Another reason he chose sophia over Laura was that he could hangout with her when he wanted and they would be able to do whatever they wanted and go wherever they wanted. This in the end was not a good choice for Malcolm because if he would have stayed with Laura he might have been able to get him back into school and put him back on a good path.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Malcolm shouldn’t blame himself for the ways that Laura changed. Yes she was an honor student, but just because Malcolm choose Sophia over Laura to have that symbol of power, doesn’t mean that he has to blame himself for Laura making the choices to become a lesbian and drink, and do drugs. “ she had been raised by her grandmother... who was very strict and old fashioned and religious, her grandmother scarcely ever let her go to movies let alone on dates.”(page 64) This quote just shows how little Laura was actually allowed to experience. Which in my opinion is the main reason why she spiraled and did all of those things.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Malcolm is not to blame for the person Laura became after their breakup! I think another good example of Laura being tired of her grandmother controlling her is when Malcolm showed up to Laura's house to go out again, and walked into the aftermath of a battle-zone: "Laura had told the old lady that she was going to start going out when and where she wanted to, or she would quit school and get a job and move out on her own" (69). She had this argument with her grandma without Malcolm even knowing about it until he got there, so clearly Laura was fed up with how much of a good girl she had been all this time, and Malcolm did not persuade her to go down this path to start defying granny. I think your reasoning is spot on, with there being so much evidence of Laura not wanting to live such a strict life anymore.
DeleteI feel like I agree with this. If he would have never taken her to the club and got involved in her she wouldn't have ever had that lifestyle. Malcolm can't blame himself for getting involved with someone else when she wanted to get involved in him.
DeleteAlthough Malcolm definitely led Laura on, was the person she first broke the rules with, then hurt her feelings pretty badly by leaving her for someone else, I do not believe that it is his fault she became a prostitute who drank liquor, smoked dope, and was in and out of jail. Malcolm never pressured Laura into disobeying her grandma and making bad decisions in the first place: “she’d just give anything--but her grandma would have a fit. So I said maybe some other time” (65). The reason he left Laura was for Sophia. Laura was an African American honor student, very authentic to herself and friendly. Malcolm really liked this about her, and could have turned down a better path as Laura was a good girl that followed the rules. Despite the fact that Laura would have been the better choice because of this, he chose Sophia simply to impress his friends with a “fine white woman”: “It was when I began to be seen around town with Sophia that I really began to mature into some real status in black downtown Roxbury” (71).
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement of Malcolm not pressuring Laura. Just because he broke her heart, doesn't mean it was his fault that she became a prostitute. Malcolm even knew how her grandma was by saying "...her grandmother, and old lady on pension, who was very strict and old fashioned and religous." (Page 64). He definietly wouldn't lead her into that. Good job!
DeleteThe downfall of Laura's life was not Malcolm's fault. Although it may seem it is and it may seem Malcolm broke her heart, Malcolm has various situations and thoughts why he chose Sophia over Laura. Malcolm met Laura at his new job Ella set up for him, and after awhile, he was able to notice that it seemed like a set up. The reader is able to see this when Malcolm refelects on it saying "Every time I saw Ella, even brushing her teeth in the morning, she turned on the third degree. When was I seeing Laura again? Was I going to brin her by again? "What a nice girl she is!" Ella had picked her out for me." (Page 68). This may have impacted his feelings, making him feel as if the feelings weren't real and she just faked it to make him comfortable with the less ghetto people. Also taking into his decision, Laura was a very religous person because of being raised by her grandma. Sophia on the other hand wasn't. In the club, Sophia came to Malcolm and he could sense the "lust" she had, something he hasn't experienced with Laura. He repeatedly describes her physical features such as her eyes. They became intimate later on. Sure Laura was a nice girl, but it was her choice to go into negativity, such as being a prostitute, herself.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with you that it wasn't Malcolm's fault for Laura's change because I felt as though they could have and a great relationship.
DeleteI agree that Ella subliminally picked Laura out for Malcolm. He probably would've never ended up being with Laura.
DeleteI believe it was partially Malcolm’s fault but another part was not. As we have seen in the movie, he got Laura home early and tried to make the excuse that he had to go to bed because he had to work in the morning. But she wasn’t believing him and figured he was going back to the Roseland Hotel to see Sophia. So she changed to be more like Sophia to make Malcolm like her more and be with only her. But I believe she also changed from all the stress of following her grandmother’s rules. She was so sick of it she gave up and started to not follow them. I believe he chose Sophia over Laura because of public status in the “ghetto” part of town. He would get praised and status points.
ReplyDeleteI agree because yes maybe Malcolm could have been nicer in the break up but Laura could have also been okay instead of blaming him for it and then going down the shame spiral she did just because she wasn't loved.
DeleteI do not believe that Malcolm had anything to do with laura change, he was just doing what he thought was right for him. She had the choice to do what she did she could have not decided not to drink or smoke. I think he chose Sophia over laura because Sophia was a white girl and she acted like an African American and got him into new things. I think he did make the right choice because he was just doing what he thought was right and I agree with his choice. “Defying her grandmother, she had started going out late and drinking liquor.” she did not need to go out and drink and I'm glad that Malcome chose Sophia.
ReplyDeleteNo, I feel Laura's change is not Malcolm's fault because even though they broke up, she chose to go down the path of smoking and drinking and all of the other stuff and Malcolm made it very clear he didn't want her he wanted Sophia. As to the fact of wanting Sophia, Malcolm started sleeping with her and that lead to Laura's change however Malcolm couldn't have known she would go down that road. "...Anyway, she seemed entranced with me (Sophia)...Laura never again came to the drugstore as long as I continued to work there...Defying her grandmother, she had started going out late and drinking liquor. This lead to dope, and that to selling herself to men. Learning to hate the men who bought her, she also became a lesbian."
ReplyDeleteI disagree with you on how its his fault because she could have taken things better and not blamed Malcolm like a normal break up but i agree with you that if they didn't break up, Malcolm would have been better at getting what he wanted for so long.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Malcolm when it comes to the fact that he single handedly showed Laura the ropes of how not to be a church girl but also disagree in the point of, if Laura had a desire to rebel against her grandmother and go to clubs and such, she would do it anyway. I think Malcolm chose Sophia over Laura because he wanted to be with a girl that could drive him places, do adult things with him and not worry about being Malcolm when he was with her because he wasn't acting like any kids his age, he was clubbing and dancing with women like you could never imagine. I'm not sure if this was the right choice for Malcolm, he seemed to have picked quantity over quality. Proving this when he said, “Laura was home and I was back at the Roseland in an hour flat.” (70). Instead of having one loyal, kind, smart, ambitious and responsible church girl, he wanted and chose the wild, daredevil, adult and enticing women.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that Malcolm should take little if any blame for the downward spiral of Laura. I believe that Laura would have ended up the way she did even if she hadn’t met Malcolm, she was looking for a way to defy her controlling grandmother and Malcolm was an easy reason for her to do that. Malcolm never asked or made Laura lie to her grandmother, she did that on her own. I think the reason that Malcolm ended up choosing Sophia over Laura is because Sophia was more accustomed to his way of living and she excited him. I feel like Malcolm does a lot of reflecting about his choice, from the quote, "Every time I saw Ella, even brushing her teeth in the morning, she turned on the third degree. When was I seeing Laura again? Was I going to brin her by again? "What a nice girl she is!" Ella had picked her out for me." (Page 68). When in my opinion I don’t believe that he was even mature enough to have a girlfriend to begin with.
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ReplyDeleteI think Malcolm made the right choice when he chose Sophia over Laura because he would be able to get more apparitions with her and he could get more out of her. He chose Sophia because she was white and back then they couldn't be together on page 70 we can see that he chose Sophia over Laura for explain “ Sophia would pick me up downtown and I’d take her to dance”. I agree that it was Malcolm fault that Laura changed because he made her think that they were going somewhere and he made her feel like she was the only one but she knew he was trying to talk to Sophia that made her change the way she did.
Personally I feel like it was his fault but on the other hand, I do not think it was his fault. I think it's his fault because he did treat her bad and left her for someone else, I don’t think Malcolm wanted to hurt her and make her do the things she did. In the book it told us that after he left her she became a prostitute and started to do drugs, she ended up becoming a lesbian. He chose Sophia over Laura because of her race and you did not see many African Americans with a white woman. I do not think it was a right choice because Sophia ended up getting married without telling him and they did not have that connection that he had with Laura. On page 72 in the third paragraph talks about how Sophia took half of his apartment.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Laura and Malcolm could have changed each other in a good way. Yes she should have taken it better but you cant expect someone to take it easy when you just left them for someone else and basically cheated on her. I agree that they did have a good bond before Sophia came in the picture.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Malcolm had something to do with changing Laura but i do not think he should get all the blame, for Malcolm is not the one who made Laura lie to her grandmother when they first met. This sudden change surprising and the reason I bring this up because like you said, Malcolm is now so conditioned to the lighter skin tone, he is losing himself and his and his past beliefs.Sophia as the morally right choice, but at the same time,he isn't the one who's truly to blame for who Laura became.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Malcolm influenced Laura in some ways, he's not at fault for her actions. It is evident that sooner or later Laura was bound to disobey her grandmother. Laura spent most of her life in a "goody goody" box and it could only hold her for so long. "Her grandmother scarcely ever let her go to the movies, let alone on date’(64)." "her grandma would have a fit. So I said maybe some other time” (65). Laura's grandmother "bottled up" all of her freedom, that which, caused her to explode into "too much freedom" after Malcolm left her.
ReplyDeleteI disagree Eli that she was very limited in where she could and could not go. It was something where she was very overprotective towards her grandmother and would want to make sure what she was doing. It would be a kind of controlling figure that she seemed to try to put off.
DeleteLaura’s big change is not Malcolm’s fault. One event may not impact someone as much as years and years of change. Laura had a choice to make and she can only be responsible if anything happens to herself. For someone to get help then they need to want the help for themselves. Malcolm chose Sophia because he was living in a place he thought he could be who he wanted to be all the time and comfortable and safe. Malcolm said strongly,”It was when I began to be seen around with Sophia that I began to mature into some real status in black downtown Roxbury,” (Haley 71). I think Malcolm should have been able to chase his dream of wanting to be a lawyer and nun of the bad thing wouldn't have happened.
ReplyDeleteAfter being dumped by Malcolm, Laura got into drugs and sold herself to men, and then became a lesbian, which Malcolm X blames himself for. I agree that it was his fault, in a way. I believe this because of the fact that if he never dumped Laura for Sophia, he and Laura may have been in a better spot. From the book it states, “To have treated her as I did for a white women it made the glow doubly heavy” (72). This means that it was someone he would leave for someone else he would care for.
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