"How ridiculous I was! Stupid enough to stand there simply lost in admiration of my hair now looking 'white,' reflected in the mirror in Shorty's room. This was my first really big self toward self-degradation: when I endured all of that pain, literally burning my flesh to have it look like a white man's hair" (Haley 56). 

Malcolm desperately wanted to look whiter and more attractive, and thus decided to allow his friend, Shorty, to perm his hair to take out its kink. This signifies Malcolm's desperation to be accepted in society and to look less black. What was more interesting, though, was that Malcolm admitted to indulging in self degradation, as he somehow let society and his "less desirable" appearance defeat him. By stripping his hair of its kinky consistency, he also, in a sense, stripped himself of his dignity and security as a black man. It is interesting that, in spite of his knowledge of doing that, Malcolm proceeds to make himself appear more white and more appealing to white girls. I am curious to see how Malcolm continues to grow and transform throughout the book. My initial understanding of the legendary Malcolm X was that he was a man of tremendous black pride and a leader of several "fights for equal rights" movements. Thus far in the book, all that has yet to be told. Instead, I have only seen Malcolm accept and be defeated by the racial inequality. I hope that my initial understanding of Malcolm turns out to be true, and that he rises to a position wherein he voices his beliefs to better the black community (and the white, too,) as a whole.