Malcolm X first par

In the essay " My First Conk" by Malcolm X, hair seems to be not a trivial matter, but a concern that is important.  When Malcolm X had his hair straightened in a local barbershop he initially was pleased, but later on realized how degrading that hairstyle was later on.

 When Malcolm X was older, he reflected on the process of the conk. According to X, the conk was, "A degrading incident..." (2). So this wasn't  just a hairstyle, but it had an influence on his tortured psyche.

The conk, according to X, was perverting negro society--it  certainly wasn't a trivial concern.