Stop Singing and Start Swinging “When a kid gets so fed up and tired of being bullied they stand up and punch the bully in the mouth.”~Kumasi Sayers Two hundred plus years of abuse, oppression and being less than a human. African Americans wanted change. They looked to leaders such as Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks. Everyone wants change but people have different was to obtaining it. Martin thought it should be nonviolence, while Malcolm said we need a more direct approach. Although Martin Luther King makes a persuasive argument about nonviolence resistance, Malcolm X makes a more compelling argument by word choice to invoke emotion, showing what he stands for and showing why change needs to be taken by force and showing why others arguments are flawed. Malcolm X articulates his word to make it digestible, while stirring up aggression and passion deep in their belly. Malcolm X visited Mecca and his experience change his outlook on resistance. X gives reasons one why the African Americans have the right to be angry. To broadcast this …show more content…
injust and invoke hostility, Malcolm X stats that, “the white man can lynch and burn and bomb and beat Negroes,” but the Negroes are merely told to, “have patience” and believe that, “things are getting better”(“1965” para. 2). Putting those two things together show how unfair the situation. The reason he uses these words he is hoping to spark something in them that they might say, “We can't be patent! We want change now!!” The would be motivated to do whatever it takes to gain their rights By gaining this emotional reaction, Malcolm X creates a powerful argument for resistance. Many People think that Malcolm is just for violence. Malcolm makes the best argument by showing what he actually stands for and why it is justified. In “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” Malcolm makes it clear about what he stands for, he address what others say about him. Such as all he wants is violence. Malcolm says "That is a lie. I'm not for wanton violence, I'm for justice. I feel that if white people were attacked by Negroes -- if the forces of law prove unable, or inadequate, or reluctant to protect those whites from those Negroes then those white people should protect and defend themselves from those Negroes, using arms if necessary. And I feel that when the law fails to protect Negroes from whites' attack, then those Negroes should use arms, if necessary, to defend themselves"(1965 para. 1). Malcolm X justifies his answer by using logical reasoning why anyone should defend themselves. Malcolm is not for violence but for self defense. This makes is argument strong because before he was seen as just violent but now is seen as law abiding and reasonable Martin Luther King Jr.
makes a strong argument on about the impact on communities and the long lasting effects but fails to realize or acknowledge the pain the blacks are going through. In Martin’s Pilgrimage to Nonviolence speech, he tells his audience about why nonviolence is the best way to go. King talks about the aftermath of violence v. nonviolence. Here he compares, “Nonviolence which is the creation of beloved community” with, “aftermath of violence which is tragic bitterness”(“Pilgrimage to Nonviolence Para. 2.). MLK apperse to make a valid statement, he does not address the fact that African americans have been treated bad since they stepped on this new land. Martin fails to acknowledge that little boy who tired of giving his lunch money and just wants to go to school. He does not take into account that black people have the right to be angry. Since MLK does not address that, is argument is
flawed. In conclusion, While Martin Luther King makes a persuasive argument about nonviolence resistance, Malcolm X makes a more compelling argument. By establishing his identity as a person seek change and not seeking violence, which makes it easier for people to trust him. Moreover, through making it plan or no sugar coding, and showing why others are going the soft rout. The Africans living in America, as Malcolm X would say, obtain a new understanding and outlook on resistance. Just because two people have different ways about doing something does not mean one is wrong and the other is right. If the passion and drive is there you will see change and accomplish anything. “We are nonviolent with people who are nonviolent with us.” — Malcolm X.“ “If you’re not ready to die for it, put the word ‘freedom’ out of your vocabulary.” — Malcolm X.
Analysis of Malcolm X Shot and killed at the young age of thirty- nine. A man who was not quite finished with his literary learning. The author Malcolm X of Discovering the Power of Language. Is what Malcolm x uses to tell the world about his struggle for a larger intellect. As knowledge is gained so was the power of Malcolm's speeches. In Discovering the Power of Language Malcolm takes his audience through his own journey of how he once spoke in the past.
Malcolm X was often encountered by Muslims from other countries who wished to “enlighten” him with what they felt was true Islam. He was initially very skeptical towards these claims but eventually his curiosity got the better of him. To get to know the religion better, Malcolm was directed by his friends to an Egyptian professor in New York, Dr. Mahmoud Youssef
MLK once said "We have no alternative but to protest. For many years we have shown an amazing patience. We have sometimes given our white brothers the feeling that we liked the way we were being treated. But we come here tonight to be saved from that patience that makes us patient with anything less than freedom and justice."(The Biography.com website). MLK knew that if we used force it would be a disaster and they would never get freedom. While MLK was at Birmingham Jail he wrote about nonviolence for all people to read. He said"Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community, which has constantly refused to negotiate, is forced to confront the issue."(The Biography.com website) So many thought MLK would come and be this guy who would see violence as a tool to use, but when he didn’t people were very supprised that nonviolence was his choice of action. MLK has a family too and it was not only but his family too. They probably wondered all the time if their father would be home that night. Many suffered from these movement acts and wondered if they would be able to kiss their kids goodnight, or see their wifes. Would you be able to not see your dad for weeks or maybe even months? This is why many had patience. They knew what they were fighting for all of them had a purpose. MKL knew one day there would be freedom everywhere. He also knew it wasn’t going to come easily. He never gave up though and he always believed in
MLK Jr. Apostle of Militant Nonviolence. Everyone that has been through the American school system within the past 20 years knows exactly who Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is, and exactly what he did to help shape the United States to what it is today. In the beginning of the book, Martin Luther King Jr. Apostle of Militant Nonviolence, by James A. Colaiaco, he states that “this book is not a biography of King, [but] a study of King’s contribution to the black freedom struggle through an analysis and assessment of his nonviolent protest campaigns” (2). Colaiaco discusses the successful protests, rallies, and marches that King put together. .
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.
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.
This paper will discuss the different stages of thought processes the former Nation of Islam minister, Malcolm X went through during his lifetime in terms of how he viewed white people, but more specifically “the white man” in America. The reason the focus is on White Americans is because these were the people outside of the Nation of Islam that shaped his life good or bad and put him on the path where he eventually transformed from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X who was one of the most polarizing and controversial figures during his lifetime and even nearly 50 years after his death the name Malcolm X causes certain people to shudder. Malcolm X became a well-known figure during the 50’s and 60’s during the civil rights movement which involved figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. This was a pivotal era in American history because for the first time that there was major push towards full rights for African Americans. When Malcolm X came on the scene he put fear into White people because they weren’t used to hearing the truth about race relations in America and many of them felt that things were just fine because they themselves were living life high on the hog while at the same time exploiting Blacks. Because this type of talk from a black person was new to them they misinterpreted his views as “hate speech” and accused him of trying to incite violence when he was simply trying wake his people up to properly deal with what was happening to them.
Malcolm X’s forceful declamations attracted a lot of publicity as well as a large personal following. In his speeches he implored black people to separate from the whites and gain their freedom “by any means necessary.” This became his “motto.” Through many public political and religious protests Malcolm X became notorious with the white community. He became the most well known figure in the Islam Nation.
Malcolm Little, born in Omaha, NE on May 19, 1925 has been dealing with racism before he was even born. When Louise Little was pregnant with Malcolm they used to get many death threats and harsh treatment from racist groups such as the KKK. When Malcolm was around 6 years old his house was bombed while everyone was asleep luckily everyone managed to escape unharmed.
Malcolm X: His very name is a stab to the beliefs of the white supremacists of his time"X" symbolizing "the rejection of slave-names' and the absence of an inherited African name to take its place." Similarly, in his speech "The Ballot or the Bullet", Malcolm X denounces the actions of the white population, without any attempts to appeal to them; his approach to the civil rights issue is in complete opposition to the tactics of other civil rights leaders of his time, such as Martin Luther King, Jr. Rather than trying to integrate the black community into the white, he focuses on the complete separation of them: he doesn't want the blacks to integrate into the white hotels, he wants blacks to own the hotels. He believed that the black population had to break the psychological, cultural, economic, and political dependency on their oppressors. By using tactical phrasing of his sentences that connects to his audience emotionally, Malcolm X attacks the tendency of African-Americans to identify with White America, and insists they identify instead with Africans, their ancestors; thus, he promotes his purpose: to instill a feeling of self-respect and self-help in his fellow African-Americans, which in turn is the stepping stone to the liberation of the Black people.
“Message to the Grassroots” was a speech given by Malcolm X shortly after the march on Washington. Malcolm X was always called an extremist when it came to black rights, and he was fed up with the nonviolent message coming from other civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. The goal Malcolm X had in this speech was to convince the black masses to not be content with the pace of change or the way change is going about. In Message to the grassroots, Malcolm X comes off very strong using a barrage of metaphors and imagery to connect with his audience to prove his point of needing a violent path for revolution.
Mohandas Gandhi and Malcolm X were both strong believers in a God in their lives. Gandhi believed in Brahman and Malcolm X believed in Allah. They were both strong leaders and strong speakers. Mahatma Gandhi used non violence methods to stop the British from invading their land and to make India an independent country. Malcolm X had helped stop racism when it was a big deal back then.
also highlights the importance of action in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Just as Thoreau before, King is frustrated at this point with certain parts of the Civil Rights Movement. King stresses the importance of peaceful demonstration and he recognizes that after centuries of oppression, a race held back will yearn for freedom, and they will express that yearning in whichever way authorities choose - peaceful or violent. Speaking of African American demonstrators, King urges the public and authorities to "let him march; let him make prayer pilgrimages to the city hall; let him go on freedom rides -and try to understand why he must do so. If his repressed emotions are not released in nonviolent ways, they will seek expression through violence." King knows that with or without peaceful demonstration, change will come. The change could come with scars and pain or with love and understanding, as changes will take place when they are long yearned. The good impacts of civil disobedience come into play here, showing that without a peaceful outlet, violent demonstration will overcome with possibly devastating impact. King also explains what he considers a divide in his own race, stating that he has "tried to stand between these two forces, saying that we need emulate neither the "do nothingism" of the complacent nor the hatred and despair of the black nationalist." Echoing the thoughts of Thoreau before him, King too expresses his frustration with both complacent people who stand by and watch, feeling they have no duty, and true extremists who escalate situations and make them violent. Peaceful resistance is once again successful in the situation of Civil Rights; even though there were violent bursts from both sides, nonviolent demonstrations saved everyone from destructive
The Autobiography of Malcolm X written by Alex Haley in collaboration with Malcolm X discusses the oppression of black people and how Malcolm X comes to resisting that oppression. Malcolm X says” Through reading, readers notice vistas that lead to the path of discovery, the discovery of consciousness.” In other words, reading prompts one to discover. This discovery is not of self, but the position of self in the environment. Malcolm X adds, “My homemade education gave me with every additional book that I read, a little bit more sensitivity to the deafness, dumbness, and blindness that was afflicting the black race in America.”From this Malcolm X concludes that not only is reading epiphanic, but it also reawakens one's dispirited freedom. Their freedom has been subdued for so long that they have forgotten about the feeling of freedom-the experiencing of freedom. Reading is what sheds light into their benightedness,
In the book “Why We Can’t Wait,” King states,”…Negro’s cry for justice, nonviolent direct action proved that it could be victories without losing wars”(page 14). This demonstrates how he has seen nonviolent protests, and knows this is the way they should act upon the “war” of discrimination. One can only imagine what African Americans were going through at the time, but for King to ask others to react peacefully alongside him required a great deal of strength. For King to rally others together, who did not agree with him, he stated, “Nonviolent resistance paralyzed and confused the power structures…”(page 30). King’s approach - acting without violence - is what he dedicated his work to, in order to prove to officials that African Americans are not the violent ones in the scenario. This approach should be an example to those involved in situations where they choose to act