Chapter 5 Summary

After Malcolm was fired from the soda fountain, his sister Ella helped him get a job on a railroad route selling beverages and snacks to customers, despite her disapproval of Sophia. This allowed him to travel to New York City for free, where he discovered Harlem, the all-black community of the city. During his visits to Harlem, Malcolm's co-workers introduced him to all the hot spots, to which Malcolm was immediately attracted. He knew that he would move to Harlem, where he took on a job as a waiter at one of his favorite bars, Small's Paradise, after being fired from the railroad job due to his rude behavior toward the white patrons. In Harlem, Malcolm was introduced to many other sides of city life, and he began heavy use of alcohol and marijuana.

During this time, Malcolm used a railroad pass to...