Analysis Of The Ballot Or The Bullet

1802 Words4 Pages

On April 12, 1964, Malcolm X stepped in front of a crowd of two thousand in Detroit’s King Solomon Baptist Church. Ministers initially attempted to prevent Malcolm X from using the church to deliver the speech at the last minute, as they had already estimated the potential for controversy (“Say It Plain, Say It Loud”). Many historians deem the speech, titled “The Ballot or the Bullet,” Malcolm X’s greatest performance. Only a month after departing from the Nation of Islam and joining the mainstream Civil Rights Movement, Malcolm X already recognized the vital flaw in the movement: the African American expectation of help from the white population. “The Ballot or the Bullet” aimed to point out that flaw and unite all African Americans through …show more content…

While in the Middle East, he would learn that diverse people could live in harmony and his rhetoric would become unifying, although one could argue that shift began in his delivery of “The Ballot or the Bullet.” Just months after the speech, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, outlawing discrimination. Most of the credit for the breakthrough goes to Martin Luther King Jr. and his associates for orchestrating the March on Washington. 315 days after delivering “The Ballot or the Bullet” in Detroit, Malcolm X was assassinated by three Nation Of Islam members. The reeducation of African Americans, and all minorities for that matter, remains a work in progress. “The Ballot or the Bullet” serves as a rallying cry to all struggling populations, reminding them of their personal responsibility to improve the state of their existence rather than waiting for assistance. In June, 1964, Malcolm X delivered his first speech as the leader of the Organization of Afro-American Unity. In the same room where his life ended, Malcolm X was quoted as saying “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs only to the people who prepare for it today” (“Malcolm X 's Speech at the Founding Rally of the Organization of Afro-American

Show More
Related

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of The Ballot Or The Bullet

    1182 Words  | 3 Pages

    “It’ll be the ballot or it’ll be the bullet. It’ll be liberty or it’ll be death.” These are the famous words of Malcolm X in his speech The Ballot or the Bullet. In April, 1964 Malcolm X stood in front of a large crowd in Cleveland, Ohio and explained what the ballot or bullet meant. He was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement and fought to make all African-Americans equal. Malcolm X explained to his audience using a great appeal to ethos, pathos and logos that African-Americans should fight for racial economic and social justice without different religion views standing in the way. He told his audience instead of fighting, meaning the bullet, they could vote for their own leaders or better leaders to represent them, meaning the ballot.

    Read More

  • Comparative Rhetorical Analysis: Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X

    1122 Words  | 3 Pages

    Speeches are a method of persuading people to do something. For Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, their speeches were to bring equality for the people of color. However, their approaches are different. Consequently, the effects may be different. An example of their contrasting differences is a speech from each, King’s “I Have a Dream” and X’s “The Black Revolution”. Their speeches used pathos, a central metaphor, and a warning, but was presented differently.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis of Artifact: The Ballot or the Bullet

    2556 Words  | 6 Pages

    in the history of the United States of America and for that reason. its leaders and their words are widely studied, remembered and praised. frequently, revered by the people. One such case of this remembrance is that of Malcolm X's speech "The Ballot or the Bullet" Generally viewed as one of the top ten most. significant speeches in American history, one must wonder at what.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis of Ballot or the Bullet Sppech by Malcolm X

    1357 Words  | 3 Pages

    As one of the most proficient civil rights activist of the 1960's, Malcolm X and his speeches were very influential but particularly one speech was highly esteemed, that being the Ballot or the Bullet speech. A speech that was given after the "I have A Dream speech by Dr. Martin Luther King. Despite, Dr. Martin Luther King being a pacifist and also a civil rights activist as well; Malcolm X was more tyrannical and advocated the use of violence. During this era, the democrats were in control of the House of Representatives and the Senate, therefore both the Senate and the House of Representatives were leaning towards providing more civil rights to African-Americans. The purpose of Malcolm X’s speech was to convince African Americans to become more politically aware and to vote members of their own race into office. The year 1964 is known for civil rights activists, racist groups, and political strife. In order to achieve this goal and increase the speeches effectiveness, X utilizes a variety of rhetorical strategies within his speech.

    Read More

  • John F. Kennedy and the Civil Rights Movement

    2936 Words  | 6 Pages

    In 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected president of the United States. During his campaign he had promised to lead the country down the right path with the civil rights movement. This campaign promise had brought hope to many African-Americans throughout the nation. Ever since Lincoln, African-Americans have tended to side with the democrats and this election was no different. The Kennedy administration had noticed that the key to the presidency was partially the civil rights issue. While many citizens were on Kennedy’s side, he had his share of opposition. Malcolm X differed on the view of the President and observed that the civil rights movement wasn’t happening at the speed Kennedy had pledged. Malcolm X possessed other reasons for his dislike of John F. Kennedy and his brothers, especially Robert. The Kennedy government stood for racial liberalism and Malcolm X argued their true intentions for the civil rights movement weren’t in the best interest of the black population. This tension streamed both ways. John Kennedy and the Federal Bureau of Investigation felt that Malcolm X had become a threat to national security. James Baldwin has written essays that have included the repeated attacks on the white liberal and supports Malcolm in many of his theories and actions.

    Read More

  • Separate and Unequal

    966 Words  | 2 Pages

    Until the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his life’s work was dedicated to the nonviolent actions of blacks to gain the freedoms they were promised in the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 by Abraham Lincoln. He believed that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (King, 1963). These injustices had become so burdensome to blacks that they were “plunged into an abyss of despair” (King, 1963). The nonviolent actions of the sit-ins, boycotts, and marches were so the “individual could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths…to help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism” and ultimately lead to “inevitably opening the door to negotiation” (King, 1963). Not only was King’s approach effective with the older black generation, it was also successful with white people. They did not feel threatened when approached by King. White people gained a sense of empathy towards the plight of black freedom as King’s promise of nonviolence did not threaten their livelihood. Malcolm X viewed the world similarly to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., however; his beliefs to changing the status quo were slightly different from his political counterpart. Malcolm X realized that “anger could blind human vision” (X, 1965). In realizing this, X knew that in order to achieve racial freedom blacks had to “forget hypocritical politics and propaganda” (X, 1965). While Malcolm X was more so an advocate for violent forces against white people than King, X merely used force when it became necessary for defense. According to X, “I don’t go for non-violence if it also means a delayed solution. I am for violence if non-violence means we continue postponing a solution to American black man’s problem” (X, 1965). However, this le...

    Read More

  • Malcom X's The Ballot of the Bullet

    1670 Words  | 4 Pages

    In 1964, Malcolm X gave a speech entitled “The Ballot or the Bullet” which described how African Americans should fight for civil-rights in America. Malcolm X emphasizes the importance of voting as a solution to ending discrimination against African Americans. He addresses both the poor voting decisions and also the denial of legitimate voting rights to African Americans. Because elections had been so narrowly decided in recent elections, the Black vote is the deciding factor in elections. Whites also have prevented African Americans in the electoral process. Malcolm X says that either "the ballot or the bullet" will come next in the civil rights struggle. This meant that government must allow African Americans to legitimately vote or else violence will be their means to influence government. A second solution to the civil rights struggle was to change the discrimination of African Americans from a civil rights issue to a human rights issue. I feel that in this speech Malcolm X advocates liberal ideas. Because the government is a contract with the people and the purpose of government is to secure everyone’s individual rights, people have the right to rebel if the government violates the contract. Since African Americans were denied their civil liberties, either the ballot or the bullet should be next. Blacks will either get their rights or they will rebel against government.

    Read More

  • We Shall Overcome Ethos Pathos Logos

    1515 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the 1960’s America was divided over the voting rights of African Americans. It was a time of racial and political unrest as president Lyndon B. Johnson encouraged Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act. On March 16, 1965 “We Shall Overcome” was delivered to congress. Lyndon B. Johnson was elected vice president of the United States in 1960 and became the 36th president in 1963. Throughout his speech Johnson uses a variety of strategies to persuade the nation that African Americans have the right to vote. Some of these strategies include ethos, logos, and pathos.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Malcolm X's 'Message To Grassroots'

    737 Words  | 2 Pages

    On November 10, 1963 Malcolm X gave a speech to the congregation of the King Solomon Baptist Church in Detroit. The speech titled “Message to Grassroots” was very powerful and gave a new meaning to word revolution for all the people in attendance. The word grassroots meaning ordinary or common people, and that’s who the speech was targeted for. The main message and goal of the speech was to get people to start fighting for their right, even if it meant there would be some bloodshed.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Ballot Or The Bullet

    1017 Words  | 3 Pages

    When giving his speech “The Ballot or the Bullet” Malcolm X spoke in a content and tone that made this speech very impactful to his audience and listeners which is still relevant today. Malcolm X was convinced that voting was the way to change racial prejudice in America. The Ballot or the Bullet is directed at African Americans and encourages them to stand up for their rights at all cost. He spoke with such knowledge, attitude and passion that put emphasis on the importance of African Americans being educated and educating themselves on politics. Malcolm X was a prominent spokesman of the civil rights era, his words when spoken were very potent and influential especially in the black community. Because Malcolm X was very direct in his speech, the audience responded positively and respectfully. “It 's time for

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of The Ballot Or The Bullet

    384 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Ballot or the Bullet, was delivered by Malcolm on April 3rd 1964. This speech was delivered and sponsored by the Congress of Racial Equality of Cleveland. In this speech, Malcolm urges the black community to rise over their differences and to unite as a front against the oppression of the white man. Malcolm uses rhetoric to highlight the ideas that, firstly, the white man was an exploiter of the black community, and secondly that the Black community should unite as one brotherhood.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Martin Luther King Jr And Malcolm X

    1225 Words  | 3 Pages

    Whereas Martin Luther King, Jr. used Christianity as his speech accelerant, Malcolm X believed that religion was his personal and private business, at least during the time of his "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech. He made it very clear that bringing religion into the mix just causes too many differences, and that the arguments that would sprout would cause them to never gather together. (CITATION) In 1964, when Malcolm X gave his "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech, his main philosophy was Back Nationalism. Malcolm X was very adamant about getting black Americans to take control of the political, social, and economic structure of their own community. He believed that if "you are going to live in a black community, you must understand the politics the community is supposed to produce" (CITATION). If not, they can be easily misled by a white politician who does not have it in for their best interest. Malcolm X preached of self-help and self-perseverance when it came to his philosophies, meaning that the black community had to turn to themselves to make a change "by any means necessary", which was often Malcolm's slogan when talking about how to carry out a civil rights movement. (CITATION) His brash personality and his "by any means necessary" policy opened the floodgates to violent protests. Unlike King, Malcolm believed that you could not have a civil rights protest without violence because "if you want a revolution, there's never been a non-violent revolution (CITATION). Like the title of his speech, Malcolm stated it is "the ballot or the bullet; liberty or death." (CITATION) It is either one or the other when it comes to fighting for their rights. Malcolm X was extremely successful in giving hope to the fighting cause, his views on race appealing greatly to the struggling black community. However, the shortcomings of his radical

    Read More

  • The Ballot Or The Bullet Rhetorical Devices

    660 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Civil Rights Movement has fought against the racial discrimination of African Americans. This movement created many African American leaders, one of them named Malcolm X. In Malcolm X’s speech “The Ballot or the Bullet” he encourages his fellow African American people to adopt the philosophy of Black Nationalism. To convey his message X incorporates allusions to American icons and historical events, repetition, and tone shifts.

    Read More

  • A Comparison Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Vs. And Malcolm X

    1654 Words  | 4 Pages

    Robert Kennedy once said, “Few will have the greatness to bend history, but each of us can walk to change a small portion of the...acts [which] will be written in the history of our generation.”  Small steps usually lead to the goal one tries to achieve, and this is what happened to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.  Both amazing leaders had the same goal, to win racial equality; but, their approaches were very different from one another.  In Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message, “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington in 1963, was one of the most inspirational speeches during this harsh and cruel time towards the African Americans.  This gave every African American hope hearing his dream, which was to achieve racial equality

    Read More

  • Essay On African American Voting Rights

    660 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although the 15th amendment granted African Americans the right to vote, it took almost 100 years for them to be able to exercise the right. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended unequal exercise of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, jobs and other facilities that were open to the general public. Many great leaders were involved in this movement. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. were two of the leaders who fought for justice and equal rights in the movement. “The 1960’s protest expanded and mobilized blacks facing them with direct confrontation of the people and places that discriminated

    Read More

More about Analysis Of The Ballot Or The Bullet

Open Document