Religious differences, he worries, might hinder solidarity in the African-American community. In "The Ballot or the Bullet," Malcolm X clarifies that African Americans have no inherent bias toward the white man; they are "anti-exploitation . Instead of promoting peace to solve problems, Malcolm X used violence when necessary to get his points across to his audience. Work Cited "Malcolm X: The Ballot or the Bullet." American Public Media . He observes that the United States has reached its boiling point, demonstrated by the increasing use of weapons in confrontations. Everything that came out of Europe, every blue-eyed thing, is already an American. On April 3, 1964 Malcolm X delivered one of the most empowering speeches in American history. "The Ballot or the Bullet" is the title of a public speech by human rights activist Malcolm X.In the speech, which was delivered on two occasions the first being April 3, 1964, at the Cory Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio and the second being on April 12th 1964 at the King Solomon Baptist Church, in Detroit, Michigan. It's time now for you and me to become more politically mature and realize what the ballot is for; what we're supposed to get when we cast a ballot; and that if we don't cast a ballot, it's going to end up in a situation where we're going to have to cast a bullet. Thesis: In The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm X in his telling of his life to Alex Haley uncovers the theme of positive and negative environments unearthed by the interaction of African Americans and White Americans in his life and what those kinds of environments inherently produce. They're all in cahoots together". Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Coversational/familiar language particular to a particular region or dialect. Inherent: an adjective describing something of a central and permanent nature. He explains to the black community that they the government hold their rights to vote because the senators fear that if the Negros are allowed to vote those senators will become powerless. Malcolm X uses strong diction along with parallelism in this speech to emphasize the problem of racial inequality in America. The most significant modification of Malcolm X's rhetoric that can be observed in "The Ballot or the Bullet" is the broadening of his audience, as he "emphasizes individualized judgement rather than group cohesion"[29] and allows for more analytical "flexibility restrained by a purposive focus on particular goals. Sit-ins are disempowering because they perpetuate the image of the African-American community as cowardly and weak. It can be argued that groups such as The Black Panthers, who adopted many of the beliefs in "The Ballot or the Bullet," were formed due to this speech. The mood oscillates between despair, anger, and hope. Malcolm X uses rhetorical techniques to persuade his audience to push for equality between races. Malcolm X, a Muslim, credits Elijah Muhammed, the leader of the Nation of Islam, with making him into the man he is today. "The Ballot or the Bullet," a famous civil rights speech delivered by Malcolm X Malcolm X religious beliefs had caused controversy within the Black community. [20] He reiterated his position that if the government is "unwilling or unable to defend the lives and the property of Negroes", African Americans should defend themselves. In this speech, Malcolm stresses the need for the population of African American voters to increase in order to fight for equality. Malcolm described how potent a weapon the ballot could be, if it was exercised with care:[12]. It was the third bombing in 11 days after Birmingham received a federal order to integrate its schools. If gaming the political system doesnt work, he recommends African-Americans turn to outright revolution. Analyzes how malcolm used parallelism to establish credibility amongst his predominately christian audience by . Malcolm X fills his speech with imagery (mental images) that has a strong emotional impact, created with the help of metaphors and similes. The repetition of the phrase the ballot or the bullet shows how that community of people feel about change. anti-degradation . He said that Black nationalists believe that African Americans should control the politics and the economy in their communities and that they need to remove the vices, such as alcoholism and drug addiction, that afflict their communities. He constantly used repetition of the words "the ballot or the bullet" in order to keep the thought present in the head of the audience, and after completing every thought, he found a way to connect it back to the issue of the ballot or the bullet. "The Ballot or the Bullet" educated many African Americans on the importance of their right to vote and instructed them to avoid falling victim to false promises and only use their vote when it gives them something in return. Malcolm X uses this device extensively in his speech, as it helps him illustrate points related to the Civil Rights Movement and the need to fight by any means necessary to promote Afric. [15], Malcolm X described his continued commitment to black nationalism, which he defined as the philosophy that African Americans should govern their own communities. In The Ballot or the Bullet, Malcolm X advocates for racial, economic, and social justice through the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, more black voting control, and more black local control through any means possible, including violence and the threat of it. Their eyes are coming open. In these opening paragraphs, Malcolm X calls for increased political participation and awareness in the black community. A ballot is like a bullet. His black protectionist outlook called separation instead of unity and equality. . The current dispute mandate runs out on 6 May, and so the new ballot will run from 20 March until 9 May. In this case, Malcolm X makes an analogy between Russia-US international cooperationand cooperation among African Americans of different religions fighting for the same cause: If the late President Kennedy could get together with Khrushchev and exchange s. If he's for civil rights, let him go into the Senate next week and denounce the Southern branch of his party. George Washington and Patrick Henry didnt win the American revolution, the soldiers did. Rhetorical Analysis Of 'The Ballot Or The Bullet', Civil Rights Activist, Malcolm X, in his speech The Ballot or The Bullet addressed the issue that the black community needs to take action about how the government treats them unfairly. (Malcolm X) Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska on May 19, 1925. . In doing so, the African-American community loses money and becomes poorer while the community the dollar was given to gains money and becomes richer. Lyndon B. Johnson is the head of the Democratic Party. True or False: Malcolm X believed African Americans should vote for whoever told them they would give them more rights. repetition of the first word of a clause at the end of the same clause, intentional repitition of 3 or more consanant sounds among nearby words, "If we don't do something real soon, I think you'll have to agree that we're going to be forced either to use the ballot or the bullet. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Well, you and I been sitting long enough, he claims, and its time for us today to start doing some standing and some fighting to back that up.. Being a black nationalist, Malcolm X says, does not require you to give up any of your personal organizational affiliations. By contrast, Martin Luther King Jr. advocates for an engagement of Civil Disobedience by calling for nonviolent direct action which allows for African Americans to be heard by forcing their, How Does Malcolm X Use Ethos In The Ballot Or The Bullet, The Ballot or the Bullet is a speech delivered by Malcolm X in 1964. Also, his teachings were able to connect to a wide audience and allow them to even set aside their differences to focus on the information Malcolm talks about. Malcolm X was no banal man he was a extravagant civil rights speaker, he showed the truth on how coming together can put the end to African American indifference. [10], Malcolm said that African Americans were becoming "politically mature" and recognizing that, through unity and nonalignment, they could be the swing vote in the coming elections and elect candidates who would be attentive to their concerns:[11]. The title of Malcolm X's speech, "The Ballot or the Bullet," suggests an ultimatum between voting or violence, an attempt by the speaker to convince the audience that one action or the other is absolutely necessary depending on the actions of the enemy - in this case, the U.S. government. in "the Ballot or the Bullet" with Malcom X. what made the speaker qualified to give this speech. We've got to change our own minds about each other. Have all your study materials in one place. The young generation don't want to hear anything about the odds are against us. The economic philosophy of black nationalism promotes African-American control of the economy of the African-American community. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. What do we care about odds? Malcolm X was a civil rights leader and part of The Nation of Islam. And this was pointed out by the Supreme Court decision. For example, the speaker uses the metaphor of a boat to suggest that all African Americans (regardless of religion) are victims of discrimination and oppression: We're. With the help of properly chosen stylistic means, Malcolm X was able to create a powerful speech and become a famous figure in American history. He explains that he does not subscribe to either the Democratic or the Republican party, because he considers himself a victim of Americas so-called democracy. For African-Americans, there is no American dream, only an American nightmare. A photograph of legislators and civil rights leaders looking on as Lyndon Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act on July 2, 1964, pixabay. Note that these are only some examples and not a full list of all the devices the speaker uses. Well, in this situation, it teaches me that even a legend person like Malcolm X are once easily distorted by the words of the people around him. ", "Patrick Henry was a patriot, and George Washington. He used ethos, pathos, and logos to gain the audience's trust and appeal to them both emotionally and logically, in order to inspire them to fight back. Why did Malcolm X deliver "The Ballot or the Bullet"? Words: 732 - Pages: 3 Premium Essay Malcolm X's The Ballot Or The Bullet . Malcolm X delivered "The Ballot or the Bullet" to foster a relationship with other civil rights leaders and announce his desire to work with all groups of African Americans after leaving the Nation of Islam. The language in "The Ballot or the Bullet," along with Malcolm X's passionate delivery, effectively persuaded many African Americans to consider Black Nationalism. He encouraged the black community to get involved in voter registration and voting . Southern Democrats had promised to oppose the bill. Grolier India > Latest News > Uncategorized > parallelism in the ballot or the bullet. Malcolm X analyzes why following the Democratic Party is not in the best interest of African Americans since the Democrats allow the "Dixiecrats" a place in their organization to retain power. He likens his status as a Muslim to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s as a Christian, knowing that in the past, his own religious affiliation has been a point of contention; he and Dr. King may have different ways of worshipping, but they are both known as civil rights leaders. Did Malcolm X believe the Democrats wanted to help African Americans achieve equal rights? The. As such, African-Americans must endeavor to educate themselves on which politicians will best serve the aims of the civil rights movement. Malcolm wants the audiences to understand they have the power to change America or still continue to allow the government to control. Originally obtained from. Tell him, don't wait until election time. A Summary View of the Rights of British America, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, Non Sum Qualis Eram Bonae Sub Regno Cynarae. given on July 5, 1852. "When you take your case to Washington, D.C., you're taking it to the criminal who's responsible; it's like running from the wolf to the fox. Due to the lack of government the dichotomy between african americans and the white men was still a major problem ; as African americans needed to put and end to the separation and earn civil rights. What does this mean? Only members can read the full content. . "The Ballot or the Bullet" opens by addressing the differences in religious beliefs that divide the African-American community. This guide is based on the latter version of this speech. He made you think you were going somewhere and you end up going nowhere but between Lincoln and Washington. "The Ballot or the Bullet" discusses the power of the African American vote and charges the United States government with conspiring against allowing African Americans to achieve their due rights. intentional omission of a word or words that are readily implied by the context, intentional unconventional rearranging of word order to create an effect, create, study and share online flash cards, "realize that it is best for us to first see that we have the same problem, a common. The speech was strong and inspiring, and because it was combined with his confident and sturdy speaking, he came off as a respectable and intelligent leader who knows what he wants, Malcolm X evokes emotion with the use of objectification, by specifying particular instances of exploitation, degradation, and oppression that the black community has faced. They don't attack me because I'm a Muslim; they attack me 'CAUSE I'M BLACK. Malcolm X was a civil rights leader before he was assassinated at the age of 40. Malcolm X states that, since 1964 was an election year, it was the year for African Americans to stand up and show the United States government they would no longer wait for the rights they deserve. Malcolm X's speech "The Ballot or the Bullet" is intended to encourage African Americans to take the Civil Rights Movement forward and become even more determined in actively fighting for their rights. At the same time, the speech indicated that Malcolm still supported Black nationalism and self-defense and thus had not made a complete break with his past. We ourselves have to lift the level of our community to a higher level, make our own society beautiful so that we will be satisfied in our own circles and won't be running around here try to knock our way into a social circle where we're not wanted. Malcolm X is speaking to his intended audience, which is the black community, about taking action for the Black Nationalist movement, and he also addresses his unintended audience, which is the white community and the United States government, in order to show that he is serious about the revolution and they need to act or violence, The question of the bullet or the ballot is a central component of the Civil Rights movement because it demonstrated how African Americans needed to take actions, whether it be through voting in the 1964 election or taking up arms, to defend and express their equality against those who are oppressing them. wordsthat inspire deeply negative or deeply positive reactions. Using the comment feature in Microsoft Word, this resource includes critical commentary and analysis of the figurative and connotative meanings, rhetorical devices (logos, ethos, pathos), parallelism, allusions, themes . ", "They've become dissatisfied, and all of this has built up frustrations in the black community that makes the black community throughout America today more explosive than all of the atomic bombs the Russians can ever invent", "Whenever you got a racial powder keg sitting in your lap, you're in more trouble than if you had an atomic powder keg sitting in your lap. [2] Malcolm X advised African Americans to judiciously exercise their right to vote, but he cautioned that if the government continued to prevent African Americans from attaining full equality, it might be necessary for them to take up arms. Littles speech has a significant lack of logic; although, it is a clever move to predominantly use emotional appeal due to his motive - to incite anger in America and to showcase the government's faults. And where you and I are concerned, not only do we lose it when we spend it out of the community, but the white man has got all our stores in the community tied up; so that though we spend it in the community, at sundown the man who runs the store takes it over across town somewhere. . Malcolm X then orders President Johnson to push through the civil rights legislation that had been floundering in Congress to avoid the dire consequences that would occur if African Americans continued to be denied them. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. It outlawed segregation. (The Ballot or the Bullet) Definition Parallelism (Repitition) Intentional repitition of the same grammatical structure, which may also include a repeated word or phrase, in the same structural position at least three times in nearby sentences or segments of a sentence. Malcolm X wa the leading black figure in the American Civil Rights movement advocating for a stronger even violent response to White American apathy of black rights. His views in this speech reflect the beliefs he held before completing his Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. The main aim of the speech is to urge African Americans to vote, and if they do not attain equality through voting, they can use violence to fight for their rights. An analogy is a form ofcomparison through which a speaker wants to show similarities or differences between people and events. I'm not a Democrat. He contrasted civil rights, which he described as "asking Uncle Sam to treat you right", to human rights, which he called "your God-given rights" and "the rights that are recognized by all nations of this earth". After you go (threw, through) that intersection, take the next left tum. The Black Panther Party was organized in 1966 in California to combat police brutality, and it eventually spread to many other parts of the country. ", "They don't hang you because you're a Baptist; they hang you 'CAUSE YOU'RE BLACK. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. "The Ballot or The Bullet" was a speech by Malcolm X mostly about black nationalism delivered April 12, 1964 in Detroit, Michigan. Despite their religious, differences, they came together. [21], Malcolm X referred to "the type of Black man on the scene in America today [who] doesn't intend to turn the other cheek any longer",[9] and warned that if politicians failed to keep their promises to African Americans, they made violence inevitable:[22]. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Ballot or the Bullet by Malcolm X. Speech to emphasize the problem of racial inequality in America discuss thenovel a full list of all devices... 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