On November 10th, 1963 Malcolm X, later known as el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz, delivered his “Message to the Grass Roots” speech to the Northern Negro Grass Roots Leadership Conference held at the King Solomon Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan. 1963 was a year of change, and a year of turmoil for African-Americans and the nation was in the midst of the (African-American) civil rights movement. Malcolm X’s speech would be one of his last speeches as part of the Nation of Islam, a group that was found 33 years prior.
This particular speech appealed to me most because it is discusses a topic that I’m interested in but a text that I am not too familiar with. I wanted to choose a topic that would open up my mind to a perhaps a different way of thinking than I have been previously exposed to. Malcolm X is often looked at a militant, anti-White, member of the Nation of Islam. In middle and high school, when black history was taught and discusses there was little to no focus on Malcolm X nor the Nation of Islam.
While to a high degree that analysis is the truth, and this speech certainly solidified that view. I however, wanted to see what positive or insightful points I can get from Malcom X’s speech. Although I did not agree with much of what Malcolm X said, I understood where he was coming from and respected many of ideas he was trying to get across.
In 1946 Malcolm X was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in jail for larceny. While incarcerated Malcolm spent a lot of years in the prison library educated himself to make up for the years of school he missed. He was often visited by his siblings, who were the first to introduce him to the Nation of Islam. The National of Islam was a small group of black Muslims who, at the time, called fo...
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...lam, but many remember his speech and willingness to go to great lengths to secure freedom. "Power in defense of freedom is greater than power in behalf of tyranny and oppression," he stated. "Because power, real power, comes from our conviction which produces action, uncompromising action." (Malcolm X Biography, 2014)
“Message to the Grassroots” was written as a plea of sorts, a plea to get blacks to understand that if there is to be change that unity has to occur. An overwhelming desire to do anything possible to get freedom has to occur. If blacks don’t position themselves as a powerful , uncompromising force willing to do anything to face white oppression that blacks will allow themselves to go right back to the days when white masters pitted house slaves against fields slaves. Without that there wouldn’t be a revolution of any kind, there will be a regression.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told by Alex Haley is about a man who changed the history of America. Malcolm (Little) X preached what he believed about racism, discrimination, and segregation. He went through many changes in his fight for equality. The three transformations that really changed the way Malcolm thought and preached where his transformation in prison, his transformation into the Islamic religion (following Elijah Muhammad), and the biggest transformation of all, his pilgrimage to Mecca. In all of Malcolm actions, teachings and transformations we learn different points of view and we get a good look at different aspects of events. The life of Malcolm (Little) X as told in his autobiography should be read by all.
The Nation of Islam, which Malcolm X was an important member of, is not a religious organization as the name suggests but rather an organization whose goal was to make the lives of African Americans better instead of actually teaching the proper ethics of Islam. One of the main objectives of this organization was Black Nationalism, through which Black leaders can control the areas where there is a majority of African Americans. This cause was greatl...
...artin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X approach the same problem differently. They both use pathos, a central metaphor, and give a warning. However, Martin Luther King Jr. uses pathos to create a welcoming and patriotic feeling whereas Malcolm X uses fear. Martin Luther King Jr. uses a check, used on a daily basis, as the object of his central metaphor; Malcolm X uses a powder keg, a very damaging and dangerous object, as the object of his central metaphor. Lastly, Martin Luther King Jr. warns his audience that the people of color will revolt passively. On the other hand, Malcolm X warns his audience that the people of color will revolt violently with bloodshed. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X both achieve their goal. After reading both speeches, Malcolm X seems, in my opinion, to have made a greater impact on the white community because fear is stronger than joy.
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.
Assuredly, the purpose of this speech was to enlighten the minds of many Black Americans and engaged them in the fight for the civil rights. They now understand the situation at hand based on the vivid details expressed by X in his speech. As a result of X speaking up for the nation of blacks, he instilled the idea that African Americans should vote and become more politically active, by this motivation, he has established a new philosophy in the minds of the Black Americans, that being to seek equality.
Malcolm X should be everyone’s hero, someone people like myself should look up to as a human being. Anyone who thinks otherwise is either a racist or is extremely ignorant. Malcolm X wore his heart on his sleeve and whether right or wrong he was never afraid to say what was on his mind to anyone who cared to listen. I personally believe Malcolm X’s beliefs give me strength to do what's right and carry myself with dignity. I remember, as a kid, my parents had tons of books about Black History books. The first book I read was a Malcolm X biography. I realized Malcolm X was truly a powerful, significant, and essential work for all time.
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
Malcolm X’s speech “The Bullet or the Ballot” relates to me because I am young African American male and in the 2008 election there is a African American male candidate who to me has a lot of good values and standards I believe he has what it takes to become the next president of the Unite States. I value you the fact that I can vote I feel that now that I ...
Over thousands of people attended the funeral and there were thousands in the streets wanting to attend. Even though a few of Malcolm's beliefs were misunderstood throughout the years, some of his beliefs are still followed today. In these beliefs, it can be found that he was not driven by hate but by love. He spoke of "violence only in name of peace." He was a gentle and loving father. He wanted to free his people and all oppressed people everywhere. He did this by giving them the courage to stand up and fight for what was theirs. Malcolm X's voice may have been silenced by his death but his ideas, beliefs and teachings live on.
1. Review your main points; Malcolm X was a direct speaking, believe in violent to free his people from American.
Because Malcolm X was very direct in his speech, the audience responded positively and respectfully. “It's time for us to submerge our differences and realize that it is best for us to first see that we have the same problem, a common problem; a problem that will make you catch hell whether you're a Baptist, or a Methodist, or a Muslim, or a nationalist. Malcolm X wanted to properly educate his people with the wisdom and knowledge that wasn’t being taught to African Americans, as they have been misguided all these years. He stressed the importance of unity in the black community and coming together as one because in all actuality they are all fighting the same war.
...d the Muslim name el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz. He then renounced the separatist principles of the Nation of Islam. In 1965, he created the Organization for Afro-American Unity as a political medium to internationalize the plight of black Americans, to make shared cause with Third World nations, and to shift from civil rights to human rights. On 21 February 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated
Propaganda is characterized as data which is false or which underscores only one piece of a circumstance, utilized by an administration or political gathering to make individuals concur with them as. Although Malcolm X was saying the right thing, he only used the one side evidence to push his claims such as the violence aspect. For example, “If George Washington didn’t get independence for this country nonviolently, and if Patrick Henry didn’t come up with a nonviolent statement, and you taught me to look upon them as patriots and heroes, then it’s time for you to realize that I have studied your books well.” He made his audience aware that freedom is not given freely but through violence one can obtain freedom. Throughout his speech, he uses name calling to push his claims. Malcolm X then was referring to some of the blacks who did not support his movement with names such as “Uncle Tom” to provoke his audiences, which were some blacks who supported, agreed with him for
Overall the speech was well done, and certainly one of the best speeches I’ve read in my lifetime. What little Malcolm X may have lacked in his approach, he more than made up for it in his oration and presentation of his ideas. I doubt there was not one person who left that conference without a different way to think about the Civil Rights Movement. I am also certain, that this speech also helped to draw some followers to the Nation of Islam.
Malcolm X's choice of words so that the reader can easily understand, the way he planned out his ideas. and his change of mind throughout the piece show how Malcom X’s experience was diverse and powerful. Two things remain the same throughout all of his writing, and they are his passion and power. These are what impose the importance and significance of the essay into the reader's mind.