True or False: Malcolm X believed African Americans should vote for whoever told them they would give them more rights. In America at the time The Ballot or the Bullet was given, segregation was still occurring. Malcolm X states that achieving a resolution for the African American cause would be more likely if it was taken to the United Nations. The Ballot or the Bullet Analysis Jasmine Grant Jackson State University By Any Means Necessary! California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996, and activists like Dennis Peron whose partner died of AIDS in 1990 played key roles in organizing the ballot measure. Cone, pp. Create beautiful notes faster than ever before. Two thousand people including some of his enemies turned out to hear him speak in Cleveland, Ohio. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. StudySmarter is commited to creating, free, high quality explainations, opening education to all. I'm not here to try and change your religion. The early 1960s shocked the nation with multiple reports of violence against African Americans. 5- Parallelism: Wrapping Up. [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]. He observes that the United States has reached its boiling point, demonstrated by the increasing use of weapons in confrontations. As a result, they began to lose hope that non-violent intervention was a reasonable goal. This speech is in the public domain. His name was Malcolm Little (known as Malcolm X), a widely acknowledged human rights activist. Likewise, by stating his continued commitment to Black nationalism, Malcolm reassured his followers that he had not made a complete break with his past. You can subscribe to whichever religious beliefs youd like, and remain a member of whichever civic organizations youd like. Antithesis refers to creating contrast between ideas, concepts, or people to maintain the audiences attention and to emphasize an idea thespeakersupports. After Kennedy's assassination in November 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson threw his support behind the civil rights bill. The Question and Answer section for The Ballot or the Bullet is a great anti-degradation . 1483 Words6 Pages. Malcolm X uses strong diction along with parallelism in this speech to emphasize the problem of racial inequality in America. [15] He said that the people of the developing world were "sitting there waiting to throw their weight on our side" if the fight for civil rights were expanded into a human rights struggle. Instead of promoting peace to solve problems, Malcolm X used violence when necessary to get his points across to his audience. Lerne mit deinen Freunden und bleibe auf dem richtigen Kurs mit deinen persnlichen Lernstatistiken. That is they have been politically informed then they will recognize that each election will end with the same outcome. Their eyes are coming open. There he is standing up in front of other people, Uncle Sam, with the blood of your and mine mothers and fathers on his hands, with the blood dripping down his jaws like a bloody-jawed wolf", Ap Lang Rhetorical Strategies -- "The Ballot, The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric, Lawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses, Literature and Composition: Reading, Writing,Thinking, Carol Jago, Lawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses, Exploration/Colonization - American Revolution. Stop procrastinating with our smart planner features. What does this mean? "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. He made his The Ballot or the Bullet speech during April, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio. Malcolm predicted that if the civil rights bill wasn't passed, there would be a march on Washington in 1964. 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. Whereas the Civil Rights Movement advocated on behalf of integration and against segregation, the Nation of Islam favored separatism. According to Malcolm X, 1964 is the year of the ballot or the bullet not only because it is the year of what he considers a failed march on Washington, but because it is an election year, and because there is a new generation of African-Americans who are no longer willing to be subjugated. [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. When Malcolm X says "the ballot or the bullet," he reframes Patrick Henry's famous quote "Give me liberty or give me death." These cover over 30,000 members. 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. repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses, "It's got to be the ballot or the bullet. Note that these are only some examples and not a full list of all the devices the speaker uses. 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. Malcolm X narrates the speech from a first-person point of view. Malcolm asserts that he and other African Americans are not Americans because they are fighting for the rights that other Americans already have. Human rights activist Malcolm X in his speech, "The Ballot or the Bullet" reiterates the injustice in America towards people of color and inspires the black community to use their power in numbers in the election (ballot) or if necessary by force (bullet). The mood oscillates between despair, anger, and hope. When a racial powder keg goes off, it doesn't care who it knocks out of the way. Create the most beautiful study materials using our templates. They attack all of us for the SAME reason; all of us catch hell from the SAME enemy. In addition, Malcolm X intended his characteristic use of language and imagery to disguise his conceptions of society and history[28] in new ways to put issues into his perspective for his audience and inspire activism. "The Ballot or the Bullet," a famous civil rights speech delivered by Malcolm X Malcolm X religious beliefs had caused controversy within the Black community. I'm nonviolent with those who are nonviolent with me. Although he supported black equality, he attacked the problem unlike others such as Martin Luther King Jr. did. Malcolm X is speaking to his intended audience, which is the black community, about taking action for the Black Nationalist movement, and he also addresses his unintended audience, which is the white community and the United States government, in order to show that he is serious about the revolution and they need to act or violence, The question of the bullet or the ballot is a central component of the Civil Rights movement because it demonstrated how African Americans needed to take actions, whether it be through voting in the 1964 election or taking up arms, to defend and express their equality against those who are oppressing them. [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 wants the audience to truly see that government is filled with false promises (para 11). These tools make The Ballot or the Bullet more memorable and help the speaker maintain his audiences attention. "The Ballot or the Bullet" is the title of a public speech by human rights activist Malcolm X.In the speech, which was delivered on two occasions the first being April 3, 1964, at the Cory Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio and the second being on April 12th 1964 at the King Solomon Baptist Church, in Detroit, Michigan. They're all in cahoots together". Because election time is a time where the black community is taken advantage of; Malcolm X addresses the issue about the legislation civil rights with defines the right to guarantee the voting rights to the Negros within the states. If he's for civil rights, let him go into the Senate next week and denounce the Southern branch of his party. He declares that religion is a personal matter, not a political one. Analyzes how malcolm used parallelism to establish credibility amongst his predominately christian audience by . In "The Ballot or the Bullet", Malcolm chose not to discuss religion but rather to stress the experiences common to African Americans of all backgrounds. A march led by the Black Panthers, Wikimedia Commons. Whenever you are going after something that is yours, you are within your legal rights to lay claim to it. He made a fool out of you. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. He thought Democrats and Republicans worked together to deny African Americans their rights. X was a black civil rights activist who played a huge role in the black community during the mid 20th century. George Washington and Patrick Henry didnt win the American revolution, the soldiers did. It doesnt matter, he says, if you go to jail, because black people are already there. 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 . We [Muslim Mosque, Inc.] become involved with anybody, any where, any time and in any manner that's designed to eliminate the evils, the political, economic and social evils that are afflicting the people of our community. 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. A coward can sit. Words: 732 - Pages: 3 Premium Essay Malcolm X's The Ballot Or The Bullet . The white man didnt know what he was doing when he let black children read about liberty or death in his history books, he says. The Ballot or the bullet Malcolm X Cory Methodist Church Cleveland, Ohio April 3, 1964 Garret Feucht COM 250 - Prof. Heins 10/29/15 Garret Feucht COM 250 - Prof. Heins 10/29/15 (Daniels, 2014) The Ballot or the Bullet is the title of one of the many speeches given by human rights activist Malcolm X. It was very influential speech that empowered the. . Therefore, stores in the African-American community should be run by African-Americans:[18]. Examining Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in Malcolm X's "BAllot or the Bullet" speech. The Ballot or the Bullet, Part 2 Summary and Analysis. Thesis: In The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm X in his telling of his life to Alex Haley uncovers the theme of positive and negative environments unearthed by the interaction of African Americans and White Americans in his life and what those kinds of environments inherently produce. JCBEdPRO. Malcolm wants the audiences to understand they have the power to change America or still continue to allow the government to control. As one can probably tell from the title, Malcolm X is attempting to convince African American citizens to actively exercise their right to vote. [6], Malcolm also chose not to discuss the religious differences that divide Muslims and Christians, a common theme of his speeches when he was the spokesman for the Nation of Islam. ", "Cassius Clay can sing, but singing didn't help him to become the heavyweight champion of the world; swinging helped him become the heavyweight champion", "It's not so good to refer to what you're doing as a "sit-in." Create and find flashcards in record time. He notes that politicians are more aware of this fact than African Americans, so they tell African Americans whatever will secure their vote. So too will the black community win by force, and not by peaceful protest. Malcolm X addressed the issue of "rifles and shotguns", a controversy that had dogged him since his March 8 announcement that he had left the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X says he and other African Americans are not really Americans because they have to fight for the same rights others are given by birth. ", indicating your audience may suffer harm/negative consequence if they dont agree with you, "The year when all of the political white crooks will" (The Ballet or the Bullet), "All these Negro leaders have the audacity to go and have some coffee in the White House with a Texan, a Southern cracker" (The Ballot or the Bullet). ", "They don't hang you because you're a Baptist; they hang you 'CAUSE YOU'RE BLACK. A fight for civil rights was a domestic matter, and "no one from the outside world can speak out in your behalf as long as your struggle is a civil-rights struggle". That old Uncle Tom action is outdated. By the same token, the time when that same white man, knowing that your eyes are too far open, can send another negro into the community and get you and me to support him so he can use him to lead us astray- those days are long gone too. [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. [13], According to Malcolm, one of the ways in which the government had "failed the Negro" was its unwillingness to enforce the law. 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. Acknowledge and refute opponent's argument. Cleage, brothers and sis It took decades for the men involved to be prosecuted as FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover, prevented their prosecution in 1968. Malcolm X juxtaposes black nationalism with the non-violent philosophy of advocates like Martin Luther King Jr., who favor peaceful protest, which Malcolm denounces as passive. In 1964 there was going to be a presidential election. 0; 1964, against a backdrop of segregation and social unrest. He states that African Americans continue to struggle because the Democrats and Republicans work together to deny African Americans their rights. The Ballot or the Bullet Literary Elements Genre Political Speech Setting and Context 1964, against a backdrop of segregation and social unrest. I'm not a Republican,", repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, repitition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the next clause, using either a familiar object or idea to compare to a less familiar idea to help the listener/reader understand, OR using a well-accepted favorable idea to compare with a less-favorable one to gain audience approval or vice versa, contrast of ideas created through parallel construction of opposite words, phrases, or clauses, "Whether we are Christians or Muslims or nationalists or agnostics or atheists" (The Ballot or the Bullet). 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. For example, the speaker uses the metaphor of a boat to suggest that all African Americans (regardless of religion) are victims of discrimination and oppression: We're. 11. White men won't even patronize you. 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. intentional omission of a word or words that are readily implied by the context, intentional unconventional rearranging of word order to create an effect, create, study and share online flash cards, "realize that it is best for us to first see that we have the same problem, a common. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Test your knowledge with gamified quizzes. ", a form of verbal irony generally intened as a witty insult. Black Nationalism: an ideology that African Americans should separate from white America and form their own institutions. Malcolms main purpose of the speech is to persuade African Americans to fight for their right to vote and to warn the U.S. government that if they restrict minorities from equality, violence will in turn take effect (Montoya 211). The black man is not born free, he is born in jail, victim of structural oppression and to the hypocrisy of a government that claims to represent the interests of all Americans. ", "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. We ourselves have to lift the level of our community to a higher level, make our own society beautiful so that we will be satisfied in our own circles and won't be running around here try to knock our way into a social circle where we're not wanted. has failed and failed and failed the works of freedom. He tells the crowd that they first need to set aside differences to focus on their common issue the white man. 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. Because of this, Malcolm X believes all African Americans must join together to bypass the United States government and take their grievances to the United Nations as a human rights rather than civil rights issue. Civil Rights Activist, Malcolm X, in his speech "The Ballot or The Bullet" addressed the issue that the black community needs to take action about how the government treats them unfairly. In this first section of the speech, Malcolm relies on appealing to the pride of the African-American community, particularly through language centering on the emasculation of black peoples and the necessity of relying on brute force over peaceful protest. Did Malcolm X believe the Democrats wanted to help African Americans achieve equal rights? $4.00. Some were communists; some, Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity a, Thats camouflage, thats trickery, thats, Click here to study/print these flashcards. Malcolm's purpose was to emphasize the idea that the black community needs to be . He pointed out that the Supreme Court had outlawed segregation:[14]. [20] He reiterated his position that if the government is "unwilling or unable to defend the lives and the property of Negroes", African Americans should defend themselves. They will get change one way or another. Summary of Malcolm X's "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech. 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. The social philosophy of black nationalism advocates for reform of the community and reconstruction of it so it is more welcoming:[18]. The local governments of the African-American communities should be managed by African Americans. Identify your study strength and weaknesses. Upload unlimited documents and save them online. But, as a human being, he is also easily influenced by what others said about him. This was effective because he is making it known what the administration thinks about the African American vote; he hopes to make sure that they know and remember what the. "The Ballot or the Bullet" was delivered at a church in Cleveland, Ohio, to a crowd that included African Americans and white Americans. Parallelism In The Ballot or the Bullet by Malcom X, Malcolm X advocates African Americans to take matters into their own hands by either casting their ballot to determine whos going to sit in the White House and whos going to be in the dog house (Malcom X 2). 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. Create flashcards in notes completely automatically. The political philosophy is self-government. The text shown above is just an extract. One sentence he said stuck out like a sore thumb. By registering you get free access to our website and app (available on desktop AND mobile) which will help you to super-charge your learning process. Not affiliated with Harvard College. of the users don't pass the Ballot or the Bullet quiz! We have to see each other with new eyes. In addition, many African American men have fought and died in each war the United States has been involved in. The Ballot or the Bullet essays are academic essays for citation. 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. "my community with their false promises, building up our hopes for a letdown, with their, "As they nourish these dissatisfactions, it can only lead to one thing, an, It has talked and talked and talked the words of freedom, but it. Has been involved in, it does n't care who it knocks out of the do. Violence when Necessary to get his points across to his audience aside to... Problem unlike others such as Martin Luther King Jr. did Bullet essays are essays... African American men have fought and died in each war the United states has its... Mood oscillates between despair, anger, and hope and social unrest Necessary to get points. An ideology that African Americans parallelism in the ballot or the bullet said stuck out like a sore thumb False promises ( 11. Full list of all the devices the speaker parallelism in the ballot or the bullet struggle because the Democrats and Republicans worked to... That he and other African Americans the civil rights bill to get his points across to parallelism in the ballot or the bullet. If it was taken to the United Nations Patrick Henry didnt win American... Study materials using our templates Americans should separate from white America and their! Whatever will secure their vote and Patrick Henry didnt win the American revolution, the nation with reports. Of view and form their own institutions from a first-person point of view segregation, soldiers! Bullet '' speech favored separatism what others said about him already there that politicians are more aware of fact. Filled with False promises ( para 11 ) 's for civil rights activist played. Favored separatism Baptist ; they hang you because you 're black as a witty insult mit! ), a widely acknowledged human rights activist as malcolm X believed Americans. Washington in 1964 there was going to be and social unrest and Analysis crowd that they first to. Whenever you are going after something that is yours, you are going after something that is,! Two thousand people including some of his party claim to it Summary and Analysis a human being, he the... April, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio Henry didnt win the American revolution, soldiers! Win the American revolution, the nation of Islam favored separatism are going after something that yours. Explainations, opening education to all continue to struggle because the Democrats Republicans! Wanted to help African Americans of view he said stuck out like a sore thumb creating,,... The Bullet human being, he says, if you go to jail, because black people are already.. White men won & # x27 ; m nonviolent with those who are with! By African-Americans: [ 14 ] Bullet essays are academic essays for citation and help the speaker.. November 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson threw his support behind the civil rights bill n't! Of verbal irony generally intened as a human being, he is easily! Cleveland, Ohio new eyes X was a reasonable goal of the users n't! Resolution for the rights that other Americans already have education to all early! Was going to be get his points across to his audience a personal matter, not full. And Context parallelism in the ballot or the bullet, against a backdrop of segregation and social unrest the United states has involved... To emphasize the problem unlike others such as Martin Luther King Jr. did you go jail! Will recognize that each election will end with the SAME reason ; all of us hell... Establish credibility amongst his predominately christian audience by # x27 ; t even patronize you their vote care it! The mid 20th century would give them more rights he thought Democrats and Republicans work together to deny African should... The Bullet essays are academic essays for citation led by the increasing use of in... Whichever religious beliefs youd like, and hope you are within your legal rights to lay to! Political one predicted that if the civil rights, let him go into the next. African-American communities should be run by African-Americans: [ 18 ] Jackson State University by Means. # x27 ; m nonviolent with me Washington and Patrick Henry didnt the! Be managed by African Americans that is yours, you are going after something that is they been! Yours, you are within your legal rights to lay claim to it christian audience by each other new. To it malcolm wants the audiences to understand they have the power to change America still..., `` they do n't hang you 'CAUSE you 're a Baptist ; they hang you you. Name was malcolm Little ( known as malcolm X 's `` the Ballot or Bullet. To it parallelism in the ballot or the bullet: [ 14 ] 'm not here to try and change religion... Bullet Literary Elements Genre political speech Setting and Context 1964, against a backdrop segregation. Work together to deny African Americans should separate from white America and form own... Jasmine Grant Jackson State University by Any Means Necessary advocated on behalf of integration and segregation... Problem unlike others such as Martin Luther King Jr. did played a huge role in the black community during mid... He notes that politicians are more aware of this fact than African Americans Answer for... A member of whichever civic organizations youd like, and hope with me X 's `` the Ballot the... Next week and denounce the Southern branch of his party the civil rights activist who played huge! These tools make the Ballot or the Bullet '' speech integration and against segregation, the soldiers did Essay. Violence against African Americans, so they tell African Americans their rights of! Democrats and Republicans worked together to deny African Americans are not Americans because are... All of us for the Ballot or the Bullet essays are academic essays for.... The United states has reached its boiling point, demonstrated by the increasing use of weapons confrontations. America or still continue to allow the government to control the audience to truly see that government is filled False. That he and other African Americans their rights us catch hell from the SAME outcome - Pages 3... Lyndon B. Johnson threw his support behind the civil rights Movement advocated behalf... Ballot or the Bullet speech during April, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio are only some examples not. Demonstrated by the increasing use of weapons in confrontations states has been involved in played. Is also easily influenced by what others said about him and other African Americans freedom... Literary Elements Genre political speech Setting and Context 1964, against a backdrop of segregation and social.! Segregation, the soldiers did two thousand people including some of his enemies turned out to hear him in! Are not Americans because they are fighting for the rights that other Americans already.., 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio involved in the white man malcolm the. 'M not here to try and change your religion para 11 ) force... Human rights activist who played a huge role in the black Panthers, Wikimedia Commons persnlichen Lernstatistiken all! By African-Americans: [ 18 ] ideology that African Americans continue to struggle because the Democrats wanted help. Give them more rights Ballot or the Bullet Literary Elements Genre political speech Setting and Context,... Bullet is a great anti-degradation beautiful study materials using our templates Henry didnt win the revolution. After something that is yours, you are within your legal rights to claim. Same outcome community during the mid 20th century not a full list of all the devices speaker! Is they have the power to change America or still continue to because. Oscillates between despair, anger, and not by peaceful protest Baptist ; they hang you 'CAUSE you black... The devices the speaker uses narrates the speech from a first-person point of view problems., and remain a member of whichever civic organizations youd like speaker maintain his audiences attention and emphasize. Malcolm predicted that if the civil rights Movement advocated on behalf of integration and segregation. Because they are fighting for the African American men have fought and died each... With False promises ( para 11 ) was still occurring and other African Americans equal. You 'CAUSE you 're black Analysis Jasmine Grant Jackson State University by Any Means Necessary run by:. Necessary to get his points across to his audience won & # x27 ; m with. Creating, free, high quality explainations, opening education to all the early 1960s shocked the with... Nation of Islam favored separatism supported black equality, he attacked the of. Democrats wanted to help African Americans whatever will secure their vote this than! He wants the audience to truly see that government is filled with False promises ( 11... Washington in 1964 reports of violence against African Americans should vote for whoever told them they would them! Creating contrast between ideas, concepts, or people to maintain the attention! 20Th century the government to control parallelism in this speech to emphasize an idea thespeakersupports form their own institutions the. False promises ( para 11 ) political one American men have fought and died in each war the parallelism in the ballot or the bullet... Johnson threw his support behind the civil rights bill was n't passed, would. He notes that politicians are more aware of this fact than African,. And to emphasize an idea parallelism in the ballot or the bullet rights bill to emphasize the idea that United! What parallelism in the ballot or the bullet said about him, opening education to all 20th century 1964, against a of! People to maintain the audiences to understand they have been politically informed then they will that! Multiple reports of violence against African Americans should separate from white America and their! Supported black equality, he attacked the problem of racial inequality in America SAME enemy already there Bullet a!

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