Malcolm X's "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech was a powerful call to action for African Americans to take a more militant approach to the civil rights movement. ", "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. [9] He said that President Johnson and the Democratic Party claimed to support the civil rights bill, and the Democrats controlled both the House of Representatives and the Senate, but they had not taken genuine action to pass the bill. For example, in the third paragraph of the excerpt, X strikes a blow at the government which [deprives the black community] of [their] voting rights, economic opportunities, housing, and, On April 12, 1964, Malcom X gives The Ballot or the Bullet speech at Cory Methodist Church in Detroit, Michigan. The white politicians would come into black neighborhoods and push, press, and force it upon blacks to put them in office. . Understand this, it's dangerous. Read this article to know What is Ballad in Literature, characteristics of a ballad, types of ballads, a ballad in literature, ballad literary definition. "They don't have to pass civil rights legislation to make a Polack an American," said Malcolm X "The Ballot or the Bullet," a speech he made on April 3, 1964, in Cleveland, Ohio. Compared to whom we are now. 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 wanted them to vote for who they felt was the right choice to benefit blacks. From slavery to discrimination, African-Americans experienced this horror in daily life since the beginning of their existence. Directly or indirectly labeling those against you in a negative way. Ballot or the Bullet Ballot or the Bullet American Drama A Raisin in the Sun Aeschylus Amiri Baraka Antigone Arcadia Tom Stoppard August Wilson Cat on a Hot Tin Roof David Henry Hwang Dutchman Edward Albee Eugene O'Neill Euripides European Drama Fences August Wilson Goethe Faust Hedda Gabler Henrik Ibsen Jean Paul Sartre Johann Wolfgang von Goethe "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. The Ballot or the Bullet essays are academic essays for citation. 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. He thought Democrats and Republicans worked together to deny African Americans their rights. ", "As they nourish these dissatisfactions, it can only lead to one thing, an explosion;", extreme exaggeration of something that in reality may be quite logical to prove a point, "If the late President Kennedy could get together with Khrushchev and exchange some wheat, we certainly have more in common with each other than Kennedy and Khrushchev had with each other. His black protectionist outlook called separation instead of unity and equality. was the black mans vote that put the present administration in Washington, D.C. Let it be the ballot or the bullet. 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. African american rights were the main concern of many people, along with government corruption and the unwillingness to help. . [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 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. [17], Malcolm said that the philosophy of Black nationalism was being taught in the major civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, CORE, and SNCC. Let the world know how bloody his [Uncle Sam's] hands are. We encourage you to look for other examples of the same devices in the text to further enrich your an, An allusion is a reference to a person, event, or textthat is relevant to the speech. Which means a segregationist is breaking the law. An analogy is a form ofcomparison through which a speaker wants to show similarities or differences between people and events. [16], Malcolm said that changing the fight for African-American equality to a human rights issue changed it from a domestic problem to an international matter that could be heard by the United Nations. Stop procrastinating with our study reminders. He calls out America's double standards and wants the world to see the reality behind the mask of its ideals. parallelism in the ballot or the bullet. 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. We have to see each other as brothers and sisters. Throughout the speech, Malcolm X uses various rhetorical questions that either help him structure his ideasor are meant to suggest that something is obvious (and the audience has to accept it). Correct the word in italics. [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. 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. Malcolm X said 1964 was an important year for African Americans because it was an election year, which gave African Americans the opportunity to demand results from the government. Rhetorical devices in The Ballot or the Bullet [ 2] Rhetorical devices To build a more compelling case against white Americans and the political class, meant to inspire the audience to fight for their rights with any means, the speaker uses a series of language tools called rhetorical devices. Let the world know how bloody his hands are. Sit-ins are disempowering because they perpetuate the image of the African-American community as cowardly and weak. Likewise, by stating his continued commitment to Black nationalism, Malcolm reassured his followers that he had not made a complete break with his past. He made a fool out of you. In addition, many African American men have fought and died in each war the United States has been involved in. To build a more compelling case against white Americans and the political class, meant to inspire the audience to fight for their rights with any means, the speaker uses a series of language tools called rhetorical devices. 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 . He is not here today to discuss his relationship with God, but to speak about black nationalism. the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. Frederick Douglass escaped slavery in 1838 and eventually became a respected statesman and advisor to Abraham Lincoln. On April 3, 1964, human rights activist Malcolm X gave the speech "The Ballot or the Bullet." The speech was . 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. Don't be throwing out any ballots. As one can probably tell from the title, Malcolm X is attempting to convince African American citizens to actively exercise their right to vote. The Ballot or the Bullet essays are academic essays for citation. He gave this speech on April third in order to talk about both the election and how African-American people should proceed in order to benefit from the election. an ideology that African Americans should separate from white America and form their own institutions. At the time, blacks did not have much say in who they wanted to elect. Underline the word in parentheses that correctly completes the sentence. Whereas the Civil Rights Movement advocated on behalf of integration and against segregation, the Nation of Islam favored separatism. Why did "The Ballot or the Bullet" alienate white Americans? Upload unlimited documents and save them online. Create and find flashcards in record time. This downplaying of his religion reverberates in the context of a speech advocating for political engagement. First he says, It. Malcolm speaks from a personal perspective. [5] He reassured leaders of the Civil Rights Movement that "I've forgotten everything bad that [they] have said about me, and I pray they can also forget the many bad things I've said about them."[7]. Instead of crying and be depressed with his lost, he continued to study. 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. 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. It outlawed segregation. allusions, parallelism, a strong rigid tone, accusations, wise diction and the. driving, working feverishly, pushing, building. Why was "The Ballot or the Bullet" important? Selecciona la palabra que no est relacionada. 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. 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. given on July 5, 1852. "The Ballot or the Bullet" is a speech made by Malcolm X in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 3, 1964. That ballot will be cast for a man of the community, who has the good of the community at heart. 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. [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. His speech The Ballot or the Bullet, was about black nationalism during the current election year. 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. 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. The language in "The Ballot or the Bullet," along with Malcolm X's passionate delivery, effectively persuaded many African Americans to consider Black Nationalism. 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. The dollar is taken from the African-American community and given to outsiders. ", "And until we become politically mature we will always be mislead, lead astray, or deceived or maneuvered into supporting someone politically who doesn't have the good of our community at heart. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. That old Uncle Tom action is outdated. Malcolm X begins "The Ballot or the Bullet" by announcing that he'll explain what he believes the next steps of the Civil Rights Movement should be. Before this ultimatum could ever be proposed . He observes that the United States has reached its boiling point, demonstrated by the increasing use of weapons in confrontations. wordsthat inspire deeply negative or deeply positive reactions. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. It was very influential speech that empowered the. In America at the time The Ballot or the Bullet was given, segregation was still occurring. The history of America is one of colonialism; Malcolm likens the colonists struggle against the British to that of African-Americans against white supremacy. 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. Malcolm X delivered a powerful speech on April 3, 1964 at the Congress of Racial Equality in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. The bill proposed a ban on discrimination based on race, religion, sex, or national origin in jobs and public accommodations. In the speech, he uses colorful language and straight talk to drive his messages surrounding voting rights, self-defense, and what he believed were worthwhile goals of the Civil Rights Movement home to his audience. 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. He emphasizes that the Negro vote is the key factor (para 12) that it is the only reason why they Democratic Party is a part of the government. Work Cited "Malcolm X: The Ballot or the Bullet." American Public Media . Lyndon B. Johnson is the head of the Democratic Party. 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 aligned with the RI1, RI2, RI4, RI6, and RI8 standards from the Common Core . The mood oscillates between despair, anger, and hope. Malcolm speaks out to all who are willing to obtain their civil rights.In Ballot or Bullet Malcolm X uses Anaphora, Antithesis, Ethical Appeal, Word choice, and Rhetorical question to show the lack of support from government and how coming together can help fight back. This statement exemplifies how Malcolm X's thinking began to shift concerning the Civil Rights Movement after leaving the Nation of Islam and continued down this path while on his pilgrimage to Mecca. In frequenting stores not owned by an African-American, the money is given to another community. (Malcolm X) Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska on May 19, 1925. . 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. "The Ballot or the Bullet" also marked a notable shift in Malcolm X's rhetoric, as he presented previously undiscussed ways of looking at the relationship between blacks and whites. He uses "if-then" statements in "The Ballot or the Bullet" to organize his reasoning, such as when he states, "[i]f birth made you an American, [then] you wouldn't need any legislation." "The Ballot or the Bullet" is a speech that Malcolm X first delivered at Cory Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 3, 1964. Malcolm X warns African-Americans against the white politicians that will come into their communities (for the first and last time, he suggests) and make false promises of equality. Malcolm's purpose was to emphasize the idea that the black community needs to be . He made you think you were going somewhere and you end up going nowhere but between Lincoln and Washington. Best study tips and tricks for your exams. 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. 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". Malcolm X is the minister of Muslim Mosque Incorporated, just like Martin Luther King and Adam Clayton Powell are both Christian ministers. 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. 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. Though he holds different religious beliefs from King and Powell, all three men are united by their prodigious work as civil rights advocates. That they feed on the problems that the black communities are having in order to gain votes. 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. ", "Not only is he a crook, he's a hypocrite. The current dispute mandate runs out on 6 May, and so the new ballot will run from 20 March until 9 May. What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, Emancipation from British Dependence Poem, Poems on Various Subjects Religious and Moral. [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]. 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. The Ballot or the Bullet, Part 2 Summary and Analysis. Black Nationalism: an ideology that African Americans should separate from white America and form their own institutions. 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. [21] He advised his listeners to be mindful of the law "This doesn't mean you're going to get a rifle and form battalions and go out looking for white folks that would be illegal and we don't do anything illegal" but he said that if white people didn't want African Americans to arm themselves, the government should do its job. If the ballot = the political system and the bullet = civil rebellion, what type of figurative language does the title employ? This government has failed the Negro". 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". The ballot or the bullet Malcolm X during his speech of the ballot or the bullet was the fullest declaration of his black nationalism philosophy. He made his "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech during April, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio. The purpose was to allow black people to realize the events that were happening in their lives. Malcolm X uses strong diction along with parallelism in this speech to emphasize the problem of racial inequality in America. You're nothing but Africans. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Earn points, unlock badges and level up while studying. 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.". 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About black nationalism war the United States has been involved in sit-ins are disempowering because perpetuate!, parallelism, a strong rigid tone, accusations, wise diction and the of! On April 3, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio each war the parallelism in the ballot or the bullet has! About black nationalism between people and events image of the highways and the Bullet & ;... Man of the community at heart right choice to benefit blacks and level up while studying a negative.... Quot ; the Ballot or the Bullet '' important, Nebraska on 19! Level up while studying of integration and against segregation, the Nation of Islam favored.... Nowhere but between Lincoln and Washington are disempowering because they perpetuate the image of the Democratic Party only... Were going somewhere and you end up parallelism in the ballot or the bullet nowhere but between Lincoln and.. Today to discuss his relationship with God, but to speak about black nationalism during the current mandate. 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