Due to the fear of severe punishment, blacks were scared to fight for equality; however, on April 3, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio, one brave soul finally did. An old woman can sit. "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. Sit-ins are disempowering because they perpetuate the image of the African-American community as cowardly and weak. "Malcolm X, "The Ballot or the Bullet," April 12, 1964", "Top 100 American speeches of the 20th century", Annotated entire speech by Malcolm-X, The Ballot or the Bullet, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Ballot_or_the_Bullet&oldid=1116556108, This page was last edited on 17 October 2022, at 04:47. Malcolm X emphasizes Black Nationalism as a way to help African Americans gain political, economic, and social control over their communities. 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. driving, working feverishly, pushing, building. In this first section of the speech, Malcolm relies on appealing to the pride of the African-American community, particularly through language centering on the emasculation of black peoples and the necessity of relying on brute force over peaceful protest. The African-American community has enormous political power, Malcolm X claims, if they vote as one. Let it be the ballot or the bullet. And anyone who puts forth any effort to deprive you of that which is yours, is breaking the law, is a criminal. Meanwhile, the American dream of equal opportunity is not one that applies to African-Americans. 11. Coversational/familiar language particular to a particular region or dialect. 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. What parts of African American society did Malcolm X want them to control? Freedom or civil rebellion [6], Malcolm also chose not to discuss the religious differences that divide Muslims and Christians, a common theme of his speeches when he was the spokesman for the Nation of Islam. 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). The Ballot or the Bullet essays are academic essays for citation. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. His speech The Ballot or the Bullet, was about black nationalism during the current election year. Religious differences, he worries, might hinder solidarity in the African-American community. It was the third bombing in 11 days after Birmingham received a federal order to integrate its schools. "The Ballot or the Bullet" is delivered in an urgent and angry tone. Rhetorical Analysis Of 'The Ballot Or The Bullet'. 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. ", "Not only is he a crook, he's a hypocrite. Irony and sarcasm are often used in the speech to conveycriticism and making the audience realize they are victims of a biased system. Tell him, don't wait until election time. 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). 1964, against a backdrop of segregation and social unrest. They reflect the rising racial tension in the United States as African Americans and the white man clashed in increasingly violent ways over giving African Americans the rights that should have been their birthright as United States citizens. 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. Create and find flashcards in record time. Inherent: an adjective describing something of a central and permanent nature. The Ballot or the Bullet, Part 2 Summary and Analysis. "The Ballot or the Bullet" is a speech that Malcolm X first delivered at Cory Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 3, 1964. wordsthat inspire deeply negative or deeply positive reactions. 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. Acknowledge and refute opponent's argument. Nie wieder prokastinieren mit unseren Lernerinnerungen. Because election time is a time where the black community is taken advantage of; Malcolm X addresses the issue about the legislation civil rights with defines the right to guarantee the voting rights to the Negros within the states. The white supremacist system is the antagonist. "The Ballot or the Bullet" further indicates a shift in Malcolm X's rhetoric, as his separation from the Nation of Islam and new, unfettered public activism prompted a change in the ways he addressed his audience. 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. It means that 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 and who's going to be in the dog house. I'm not here to try and change your religion. intentional repetition of 3 or more vowel sounds among nearby words. Publicly, his criticisms of the system fell on mostly deaf ears. . He points out that if the government can't bring whoever killed "four little girls while they were praying" to justice, then it is either unwilling to help them or entirely incapable. The history of America is one of colonialism; Malcolm likens the colonists struggle against the British to that of African-Americans against white supremacy. Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, and Carol Denise McNair were killed when a bomb detonated in Birmingham, Alabama, in the 16th Street Baptist Church on September 15, 1963. Frederick Douglass escaped slavery in 1838 and eventually became a respected statesman and advisor to Abraham Lincoln. Which means a segregationist is breaking the law. The major conflict is between African-Americans and white supremacy, concretized in the twin issues of the upcoming election and the ongoing filibuster against the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The Ballot or the Bullet Analysis Jasmine Grant Jackson State University By Any Means Necessary! Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Despite their religious, differences, they came together. "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech was delivered by Malcolm X on March 3, 1964 at Cory Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio. It was ranked 7th in the top 100 speeches of the 20th century. ", "They don't hang you because you're a Baptist; they hang you 'CAUSE YOU'RE BLACK. 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". The Question and Answer section for The Ballot or the Bullet is a great Therefore if these are successful, we could see 150,000 members plus in dispute by the time of the . Malcolms purpose was to emphasize the idea that the black community needs to be informed about the political community. Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring! The climax of the speech centers around the issue of the ballot (effective voting practices) and the bullet (racial revolution). The white community is divided by its party affiliations, and as such, elections are often so close that there is cause for a recount. 1483 Words6 Pages. 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. 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. "(I Have a Dream Speech). That is they have been politically informed then they will recognize that each election will end with the same outcome. Identify your study strength and weaknesses. 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. It was very influential speech that . It was ranked 7th in the top 100 American speeches of the 20th century by 137 leading scholars of American public address. Earn points, unlock badges and level up while studying. [and] anti-oppression" and that, if white Americans take issue with being considered a problem, all they have to do is stop treating African Americans in those ways. "The Ballot or The Bullet" was a speech by Malcolm X mostly about black nationalism delivered April 12, 1964 in Detroit, Michigan. "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. 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. Dixicrats: a southern segregationist faction of the Democratic Party. Note that these are only some examples and not a full list of all the devices the speaker uses. Although he advocated exercising the ballot, Malcolm X expressed skepticism that voting would bring about full equality for African Americans. 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. Some of them were Christians. In the speech, which was delivered on two occasions the first being April 3, 1964, at the Cory Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio[1] and the second being on April 12th 1964 at the King Solomon Baptist Church, in Detroit, Michigan. Second-class citizenship, such as is held by the African-American community, is tantamount to 20th-century slavery, says Malcolm. At his press conference, Malcolm X said that "in areas where our people are the constant victims of brutality, and the government seems unable or unwilling to protect them, we should form rifle clubs that can be used to defend our lives and our property in times of emergency". The text shown above is just an extract. 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. Let the world know how bloody his [Uncle Sam's] hands are. A march led by the Black Panthers, Wikimedia Commons. But, as a human being, he is also easily influenced by what others said about him. Everything you need for your studies in one place. GradeSaver, Read the Study Guide for The Ballot or the Bullet, Malcolm X: His Voice in Poetry and Politics, A Question of Appeal: Rhetorical Analysis of Malcolm X and MLK, View Wikipedia Entries for The Ballot or the Bullet. His name was Malcolm Little (known as Malcolm X), a widely acknowledged human rights activist. They attack all of us for the SAME reason; all of us catch hell from the SAME enemy. But, he said, the police department and local government often sided with segregationists against the Civil Rights Movement. Set individual study goals and earn points reaching them. Some were communists; some, Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity a, Thats camouflage, thats trickery, thats, Click here to study/print these flashcards. Let it be the ballot or the bullet. Directly or indirectly labeling those against you in a negative way. The Ballot or the bullet Malcolm X Cory Methodist Church Cleveland, Ohio April 3, 1964 Garret Feucht COM 250 - Prof. Heins 10/29/15 Garret Feucht COM 250 - Prof. Heins 10/29/15 (Daniels, 2014) The Ballot or the Bullet is the title of one of the many speeches given by human rights activist Malcolm X. Best study tips and tricks for your exams. Post navigation . in "the Ballot or the Bullet" with Malcom X. what made the speaker qualified to give this speech. ", "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. [23], But, Malcolm said, there was still time to prevent this situation from developing:[23]. The tone is provocative and righteous. In one of many clever turns of phrase, Malcolm employs both humor and repetition to rename the situation facing African-Americans as an American nightmare.. After Kennedy's assassination in November 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson threw his support behind the civil rights bill. Malcolm X uses "if-then" statements and examples designed to evoke emotion to appeal to his audience. 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 american rights were the main concern of many people, along with government corruption and the unwillingness to help. A chump can sit. For example, the speaker uses sarcasm to suggest that European immigrants are better treated than African Americans: Everything that came out of Europe, every blue-eyed thing, is already an American., Repetition is one of Malcolm Xs favorite rhetorical devices. Earlier in the year, Malcolm X, once an outspoken follower of Elijah Muhammed, declared his separation from the Nation of Islam and realigned himself with the civil rights movement. Southern Democrats had promised to oppose the bill. He accused the Democrats of playing a "political con game", with African Americans as its victims. . Malcolm X narrates the speech from a first-person point of view. Both speakers use pattern of three to make their speeches effective, memorable and persuading. Everything that came out of Europe, every blue-eyed thing, is already an American. 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.". Also easily influenced by what others said about him first-person point of view enemy... 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