Chapter 4 Summary: Laura
Dance turns into Malcolm's primary obsession, prompting him to leave his shoe-shining position and take up work as a soda fountain attendant, allowing him to dance in the evenings. At his new job, he encounters Laura, a protected African-American girl residing with her grandmother. The duo dazzles as a dance pair when Malcolm brings Laura to Roseland.
Malcolm ceases to date Laura when he meets a beautiful, affluent white woman he calls Sophia. At the same time, Laura's life takes a dark turn. Rebelling against her grandmother, she starts consuming alcohol and using drugs; eventually, she resorts to prostitution to finance her addiction. Growing to despise her male clients, Laura ultimately identifies as a lesbian and ends up in jail frequently.
With Sophia's financial support, Malcolm moves in with Shorty and starts working as a busboy at the Parker House in Boston. Chapter 4 concludes with the news of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor reaching Malcolm.
Expert Q&A
Analyze chapters 1-4 of "The Autobiography of Malcolm X".
In chapters 1-4, Malcolm X's early life is explored, starting with his childhood and his father's murder. His junior high experiences at a predominantly white school and visits to his half-sister Ella in Boston reveal a vibrant Black community. Malcolm becomes disillusioned with his home life and moves to Boston, where he is drawn into crime and drugs. He meets Laura, a talented dancer, but leaves her for Sophia, a wealthy white woman, as World War II begins with Pearl Harbor's bombing.
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