Chapter 10 Summary

At the age of twenty-one, Malcolm was sentenced to eight to ten years in prison, of which he served seven. During his first few weeks, he earned the nickname "Satan" for his constant cursing of God. Alone in his cell, he would shout out curses against God, religion, and the officials.

The Charleston State prison was an ugly place. Each prisoner had his own cell, but there was only a bucket for a toilet, and the stench along the row of cells was horrible.

Before long, Malcolm learned how to work the guards through bribes for cigarettes and reefers. He learned that cigarettes were the equivalent of money in prison. He also met a fellow inmate, Bimbi, a well-read, well-spoken prisoner who greatly impressed Malcolm. Bimbi was able to command the respect of all those around him through his words, not force. Even...