Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
When Malcolm gets out of jail, the first thing he does is purchase three things: eyeglasses, a watch, and a suitcase. Even though these may seem like three unimportant items, they have a ton of symbolic value.
Did you notice that these are the only worldly possessions that Malcolm talks about after his conversion to the Nation of Islam? Before that, he was always getting some new car or new suit or something like that. But now these are the only three things he keeps in his life. This alone should tell you that they're pretty important.
Eyeglasses
Malcolm gets his eyeglasses before he leaves prison, but since he buys new ones they still get to count. He tells us how he got them:
I had come to prison with 20/20 vision. But when I got sent back to Charlestown, I had read so much by the lights-out glow in my room at the Norfolk Prison Colony that I had astigmatism and the first pair of the eyeglasses that I have worn ever since. (11.115)
So for Malcolm his astigmatism is inseparable from the time that he spent in prison educating himself. Not only that, but just as he will always have astigmatism, Malcolm also we always have his new passion for learning.
Watch
Why do people need watches? Because they have some place to be and something to do. Before he reformed his life, Malcolm never had any reason to own a watch. He had no place to be, nothing to do, no grand aspirations for his life. But after prison, Malcolm has a passion for the Nation of Islam. Now that he has a purpose, he has to use his time efficiently. He says:
And you won't find anybody more time-conscious than I am. I live by my watch, keeping appointments. Even when I'm using my car, I drive by my watch, not my speedometer. Time is more important to me than distance. (12.6)
For a person who really wants to get something done, every second counts.
Suitcase
There aren't a lot of people in the world who need to have two suitcases packed at all times so that they can travel at a moment's notice. Malcolm X certainly didn't need to be ready to go at a moment's notice when he was growing up. But after he joins the Nation of Islam, life kicks into high gear. He says: “I travel so much now that my wife keeps alternate suitcases packed so that, when necessary, I can just grab one" (12.6). So the suitcase is kind of like the watch.
Malcolm has never needed a suitcase in his entire life until now. We know he literally needs to be ready to travel for the Nation of Islam, but what about symbolically? Symbolically, Malcolm is ready to do anything that the Nation needs at any time Elijah Muhammad might need it. We don't think it would even be a stretch to say that he is also ready to die and has packed his metaphorical life suitcase.