Even though Malcolm had the grades for it, the teacher told him to be realistic and consider carpentry instead. After this comment it is easy for Malcolm to move from Lansing to Boston after he finishes his 8th grade year.
Once arriving at Boston, Malcolm can easily notice a difference in the cultures of Lansing and Boston. At first he sticks out like a sore thumb but after being introduced into the flow by Shorty he is able to develop his sense of black pride. Not only did he see a difference in Boston and Lansing, he also saw a difference between the lifestyle of the middle-class blacks and the "ghetto" blacks. Ella, like majority of the middle class blacks, live in the neighborhood of Roxbury, while the "ghetto" blacks, who have less money, live further down the hill. Malcolm is drawn to the latter, objecting to the ways in which the "Hill Negroes" try to imitate white people and to glorify their menial jobs. It is unfortunate how Malcolm looked down at the "Hill Negroes" because he believed they were trying to imitate whites. This is an obvious racist comment and one reason Malcolm was disliked by majority of whites. I believe that when Shorty got him the job at the Roseland State Ballroom his life took a turn for the worse. At first Malcolm made his money by shining shoes but soon realized that the money came from selling alcohol and marijuana, and by working as an intermediary between black pimps and white customers. I do not understand why Malcolm would set whites up with blacks and vice versa. Malcolm hated his white blood so much that I did not think he would like to see this sort of relationship taking place but I guess the color green was all he saw. He obviously did not care about his principles. He is quickly immersed in the pleasures and vices of urban nightlife. Malcolm begins to shoot craps, to play cards and the numbers, to drink, to smoke, and to use drugs.