The Central idea is that Ella encouraged Malcolm to take his time in finding a job; she felt he should become acquainted with the city first. He spent much of his time roaming through the city but was increasingly drawn to the town section. The openness of life in the ghetto was a revelation to him — especially the number of interracial couples in public places. Also, the people in the ghetto did not seem as affected as Ella's friends.(42)
The strongest influence on Malcolm at this time was a person named Shorty, who was from Lansing, Michigan — Malcolm's "homeboy." Their common background formed an immediate bond between them. Shorty began tutoring Malcolm in ghetto ways and also found him a job shining shoes at the Roseland Ballroom.(46)