Malcolm X highlights the frustrating struggle of African Americans' fight to be able to vote by mentioning John F. Kennedy's desire to force Cuba to have democratic elections. The dollar is taken from the African-American community and given to outsiders. If he's for civil rights, let him go into the Senate next week and denounce the Southern branch of his party. Lerne mit deinen Freunden und bleibe auf dem richtigen Kurs mit deinen persnlichen Lernstatistiken. The white community is divided by its party affiliations, and as such, elections are often so close that there is cause for a recount. In a speech on May 18, 1858, Abraham Lincoln said, "To give victory to the right, not bloody bullets, but peaceful ballots only are necessary. StudySmarter is commited to creating, free, high quality explainations, opening education to all. Rhetorical Analysis Of The Ballot Or The Bullet. Deliberate use of many conjunctions for special emphasis. Zip. As a member of PrimeStudyGuides.com, you get access to all of the content. What parts of African American society did Malcolm X want them to control? The Ballot or the Bullet essays are academic essays for citation. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. [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. Create and find flashcards in record time. Malcolm X juxtaposes black nationalism with the non-violent philosophy of advocates like Martin Luther King Jr., who favor peaceful protest, which Malcolm denounces as passive. A coward can sit. [24], When Malcolm X spoke of "the type of Black man on the scene in America today [who] doesn't intend to turn the other cheek any longer",[9] he was addressing his followers, people who were not advocates of the non-violent approach generally favored by the Civil Rights Movement. At the start of "The Ballot or the Bullet," Malcolm X dispenses with the divisive issue of religion in favor of the common cause of civil rights. African Americans should be "re-educated into the science of politics" in order to understand the importance and effect of the vote they cast:[12]. Malcolm X narrates the speech from a first-person point of view. Over 10 million students from across the world are already learning smarter. Narrator and Point of View Malcolm X narrates the speech from a first-person point of view. The bill proposed a ban on discrimination based on race, religion, sex, or national origin in jobs and public accommodations. ", "They don't hang you because you're a Baptist; they hang you 'CAUSE YOU'RE BLACK. We have to come together with warmth so we can develop unity and harmony that's necessary to get this problem solved ourselves. April 8, 2021; energy difference between n=1 and n=2 in joules. Freedom or civil rebellion Our faith is sure, our resolve is firm, and our union is strong. Stop procrastinating with our study reminders. "The Ballot or the Bullet" is listed as one of the most important speeches Malcolm X ever gave because: One of them makes believe he's for you, and he's got it fixed where the other one is so tight against you, he never has to keep his promise. He was also muslim. In addition, many African American men have fought and died in each war the United States has been involved in. Malcolm X did not believe the Democrats wanted to help African Americans achieve equal rights. . And anyone who puts forth any effort to deprive you of that which is yours, is breaking the law, is a criminal. This was effective because he is making it known what the administration thinks about the African American vote; he hopes to make sure that they know and remember what the. . Southern Democrats (sometimes called Dixiecrats, though the term is ambiguous and more properly refers to a short-lived separate political party), blocked the bill from consideration by the House of Representatives. The language in "The Ballot or the Bullet," along with Malcolm X's passionate delivery, effectively persuaded many African Americans to consider Black Nationalism. After you go (threw, through) that intersection, take the next left tum. Work Cited "Malcolm X: The Ballot or the Bullet." American Public Media . But, as a human being, he is also easily influenced by what others said about him. Let him go in there right now and take a moral stand right now, not later. 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]. intentional repetition of 3 or more vowel sounds among nearby words. Malcolms main purpose of the speech is to persuade African Americans to fight for their right to vote and to warn the U.S. government that if they restrict minorities from equality, violence will in turn take effect (Montoya 211). He declares that religion is a personal matter, not a political one. "I'm not here tonight to discuss my religion. Some of them were Christians. "The Ballot or the Bullet" is a speech that Malcolm X first delivered at Cory Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 3, 1964. Douglass received an invitation to speak at a Fourth of July celebration in his hometown, and the speech he gave called out the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom as a country while millions of its residents are enslaved. 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. ambitions so big they seemed Texas-boastful. If gaming the political system doesnt work, he recommends African-Americans turn to outright revolution. He made his "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech during April, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio. These tools make The Ballot or the Bullet more memorable and help the speaker maintain his audiences attention. "The Ballot or the Bullet" was delivered at a church in Cleveland, Ohio, to a crowd that included African Americans and white Americans. It doesnt matter, he says, if you go to jail, because black people are already there. First he says, It. Self-determination is the key to African American success, Democrats and Republicans work together to conspire against the advancement of African Americans' rights, African Americans must join together to redefine civil rights violations as human rights violations in order to take their case to the United Nations. California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996, and activists like Dennis Peron whose partner died of AIDS in 1990 played key roles in organizing the ballot measure. Compared to whom we are now. Insulting his listener is meant to stoke the listeners sense of anger and injustice, and therefore to provoke him into more direct action against white supremacy than the peaceful protests advocated for by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are able to do. Like the colonists, Malcolm X is ready to fight tooth and nail for the liberation of his community, whether that means using his vote advantageously or participating in outright revolution. Tone and Mood The tone is provocative and righteous. Malcolm X noted that 1964 was an election year, a year "when all of the white political crooks will be right back in your and my community with their false promises which they don't intend to keep". In "The Ballot or the Bullet," Malcolm outlines the power of the African American vote, saying, "when white people are evenly divided, and black people have a bloc of votes of their own, it is left up to them to determine who's going to sit in the White House." By registering you get free access to our website and app (available on desktop AND mobile) which will help you to super-charge your learning process. "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. Religious differences, he worries, might hinder solidarity in the African-American community. . Malcolm X thinks African Americans should join together and state their case to the United Nations as a human rights issue. GradeSaver "The Ballot or the Bullet Literary Elements". In April 1964, in the midst of a 54 day Senate filibuster of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, Malcolm X gave his famous speech, The Ballot or the Bullet. Malcolm . In the speech "The Ballot or the Bullet" Malcolm X utilizes antithesis, allusion, and metaphors in order to convince his audience to take a stand against segregation whether peacefully, if possible, and if not, by force. "The Ballot or the Bullet" is delivered in an urgent and angry tone. [12], Black nationalism was characterized by its political, social, and economic philosophies. symbolism What is the central message behind the title? The title "The Ballot or the Bullet" has an underlining meaning. Did Malcolm X believe the Democrats wanted to help African Americans achieve equal rights? I'm not a Democrat. 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. This resource includes the annotated text of Malcolm X's famous "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech. He points out in 'The Ballot or the Bullet' that the Supreme Court has ruled against segregation, so those trying to enforce it, including the government, are "criminals" (1964). If the word is correct, write C./ [6], When he left the Nation of Islam, Malcolm declared his willingness to cooperate with the Civil Rights Movement. The white politicians would come into black neighborhoods and push, press, and force it upon blacks to put them in office. The. Malcolm X: ( 06:52) The economic philosophy of Black Nationalism only means that we should own, and operate, and control the economy of our community. Words: 732 - Pages: 3 Premium Essay Malcolm X's The Ballot Or The Bullet . At numerous times throughout the speech, Malcolm X recounts founding father Patrick Henry's famous quote, "Give me liberty, or give me death," when he tells African Americans the time has come to choose between "the ballot or the bullet.". 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. 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. The Ballot or the Bullet is a speech delivered by Malcolm X in 1964. In "The Ballot or the Bullet," Malcolm X clarifies that African Americans have no inherent bias toward the white man; they are "anti-exploitation . Black people in America came together to receive motivation to fight for equality.In this speech Malcolm X inspires black people to take a stance and fight for their civil rights. Why did Malcolm X deliver "The Ballot or the Bullet"? He states that African Americans continue to struggle because the Democrats and Republicans work together to deny African Americans their rights. Separate to the "big" ballot, we are running ballots in the Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and other areas. In response to Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, Malcolm X delivered a speech entitled "The Ballot or the Bullet". He argued that the ballot was the only way to achieve true and lasting change, but that the government had to be willing to protect the rights of African Americans. Malcolm X began his speech by acknowledging that he was still a Muslim, but he quickly added that he didn't intend to discuss religion or any other issues that divide African Americans. [3][4], On March 8, 1964, Malcolm X announced his separation from the Nation of Islam, a black nationalist religious organization for which he had been the spokesman for nearly a decade. Malcolm X speech was not a success because he made the Nation of Islam a regular group, which devoted limitless acts of violence and hate, giving the federal more validation to dissociate and categorize African Americans. 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. More books than SparkNotes. Whereas the Civil Rights Movement advocated on behalf of integration and against segregation, the Nation of Islam favored separatism. An old man can sit. On the other hand, "The Ballot or the Bullet" alienated white Americans. Sit-ins are disempowering because they perpetuate the image of the African-American community as cowardly and weak. For instance he describes the African population in America as "Africans who are in America." . 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. Malcolm X uses a combination of logic and emotion to appeal to his audience. The first 45 seconds of "The Ballot or the Bullet" as given April 12, 1964 in Detroit. 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. True. 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. 11. He wanted them to vote for who they felt was the right choice to benefit blacks. Through his triumph and survival of the murder of his father in 1931 when he was six years old, but also educating himself in prison which he was in for seven years from the ages 21-28 (Draper 7).With this story, it inspired people in the various ethnic communities, and neighborhoods. Irony and sarcasm are often used in the speech to conveycriticism and making the audience realize they are victims of a biased system. Human rights activist Malcolm X in his speech, "The Ballot or the Bullet" reiterates the injustice in America towards people of color and inspires the black community to use their power in numbers in the election (ballot) or if necessary by force (bullet). The mood oscillates between despair, anger, and hope. 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. They're all in cahoots together". Although their outspoken beliefs in self-defense and gun ownership branded them a militant group, they created much-needed social programs for their communities, such as health clinics and free breakfast programs. given on July 5, 1852. Malcolm predicted that if the civil rights bill wasn't passed, there would be a march on Washington in 1964. Because he think too much on what had been said by his teacher, he drop out the school and started to do some dirty business. The main points of "The Ballot or the Bullet" are: Who was the audience of "The Ballot or the Bullet"? 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. He says non-violence is foolish when an opponent approaches with violence. In his, "The Ballot or the Bullet" was a public acknowledgment of. Malcolm X frequently uses provocative language to incite anger in his audience, as is evident in his accusation that the white man has made a fool out of you. Here, he is utilizing the rhetorical device of pathos, or appealing to the audiences emotions, to his advantage. Its 100% free. I think the title suggests an ultimatum between voting or violence, and one action or the other is to be done depending on how the government will handle the case. The Ballot or the Bullet by Malcolm X: Rhetorical Analysis If you don't take this stand now your kids will grow up and think "shame" Rhetorical Strategies Malcolm X uses a lot of strong dialect . A chump can sit. He also references Abraham Lincoln's statement, "To give victory to the right, not bloody bullets, but peaceful ballots only, are necessary," from his speech on May 18, 1858. He tells the crowd that they first need to set aside differences to focus on their common issue the white man. The uses emotional appeals are featured in paragraphs 11-14. Sign up to highlight and take notes. He observes that the United States has reached its boiling point, demonstrated by the increasing use of weapons in confrontations. It was ranked 7th in the top 100 American speeches of the 20th century by 137 leading scholars of American public address. 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. You don't throw your ballots until you see a target, and if that target is not within your reach, keep your ballot in your pocket. The tone is provocative and righteous. Likewise, by stating his continued commitment to Black nationalism, Malcolm reassured his followers that he had not made a complete break with his past. "[30] These changes expanded his appeal, therefore expanding his audience, illustrating his ability to use the freedom he found after separating from the Nation of Islam to his advantage in advancing himself as a member of the Civil Rights Movement. Besides, in Malcolm X biography, I learnt that, an extraordinary person has an extraordinary characteristics. Black Nationalism: an ideology that African Americans should separate from white America and form their own institutions. It outlawed segregation. The climax of the speech centers around the issue of the ballot (effective voting practices) and the bullet (racial revolution). I'm nonviolent with those who are nonviolent with me. In what follows, we will look at some of the most important rhetorical devices used by the speaker and how they work with the speech. 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. 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 closes by defining his goal as a Black Nationalist who wants African Americans to gain political, economic, and social control over their communities. ", "Not only is he a crook, he's a hypocrite. George Washington and Patrick Henry didnt win the American revolution, the soldiers did. [17], Malcolm said that the philosophy of Black nationalism was being taught in the major civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, CORE, and SNCC. 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