Malcolm X Rhetorical Analysis Essay

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In The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm X, a civil rights activist, African American, and Muslim leader, shares his journey from a life of crime to a leader in the fight for black liberation. He speaks with inspiration and passion to an audience of African Americans, white Americans, and oppressed people worldwide. Written during the civil rights era, its purpose is to inspire self-empowerment. With a confrontational tone, Malcolm X critiques white supremacy, urges self-education, and challenges stereotypes. He argues true freedom and empowerment for oppressed individuals can only be achieved through education and critical engagement with history. Utilizing belligerent word choice, Malcolm X confronts the horrors of imperialism. For instance, he points to the …show more content…

The description of colonial activity through “Faustian machination” suggests the morally wrong and deceptive methods disguised as Christianity that colonists used to dominate people of color, evoking a sense of outrage amongst listeners. He critiques the lasting impact of European aggression asserting, “and Europe's chancelleries for the next century paved a game of naked exploitation and power from Cape Horn to Cairo” (32). He notes the treatment of indigenous populations through forced labor in South America and British occupation in Egypt, urging engagers to acknowledge these evil forces. Malcolm X compares his initial passive approach to reading and education to his eventual deep connection by using juxtaposition. For example, he expresses, “So I had come to the Norfolk prison colony, still going through only book-reading motions. Pretty soon, I would have quit even those motions unless I had received the motivation I did.”

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