What does this mean? 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). It's either a ballot or a bullet. He accused the Democrats of playing a "political con game", with African Americans as its victims. False. parallelism "And until we become politically mature we will always be mislead, lead astray, or deceived or maneuvered into supporting someone politically who doesn't have the good of our community at heart." epistrophe "They don't hang you because you're a Baptist; they hang you 'CAUSE YOU'RE BLACK. Malcolm X, a Muslim, credits Elijah Muhammed, the leader of the Nation of Islam, with making him into the man he is today. [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. "I'm not here tonight to discuss my religion. White men won't even patronize you. "The Ballot or the Bullet" is delivered in an urgent and angry tone. [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. He is not here today to discuss his relationship with God, but to speak about black nationalism. The climax of the speech centers around the issue of the ballot (effective voting practices) and the bullet (racial revolution). It can be argued that groups such as The Black Panthers, who adopted many of the beliefs in "The Ballot or the Bullet," were formed due to this speech. Let it be the ballot or the bullet. If the ballot doesn't work, Malcolm X says, then African-Americans will have to resort to the bullet. Everything you need for your studies in one place. He used ethos, pathos, and logos to gain the audience's trust and appeal to them both emotionally and logically, in order to inspire them to fight back. Tell him, don't wait until election time. [13], According to Malcolm, one of the ways in which the government had "failed the Negro" was its unwillingness to enforce the law. You don't throw your ballots until you see a target, and if that target is not within your reach, keep your ballot in your pocket. 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. He wanted them to vote for who they felt was the right choice to benefit blacks. Intentional repitition of the same grammatical structure, which may also include a repeated word or phrase, in the same structural position at least three times in nearby sentences or segments of a sentence. Although their outspoken beliefs in self-defense and gun ownership branded them a militant group, they created much-needed social programs for their communities, such as health clinics and free breakfast programs. How does he use his beliefs to persuade a mixed audience about the importance of voting to African Americans? Gradesaver has a complete summary of "The Ballot of the Bullet" speech readily available in its study guide for this unit. The Ballot or the Bullet is a speech delivered by Malcolm X in 1964. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. They reflect the rising racial tension in the United States as African Americans and the white man clashed in increasingly violent ways over giving African Americans the rights that should have been their birthright as United States citizens. Malcolm X's speech "The Ballot or the Bullet" is intended to encourage African Americans to take the Civil Rights Movement forward and become even more determined in actively fighting for their rights. It was the third bombing in 11 days after Birmingham received a federal order to integrate its schools. These cover over 30,000 members. Malcolm X delivered "The Ballot or the Bullet" to foster a relationship with other civil rights leaders and announce his desire to work with all groups of African Americans after leaving the Nation of Islam. Insulting his listener is meant to stoke the listeners sense of anger and injustice, and therefore to provoke him into more direct action against white supremacy than the peaceful protests advocated for by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are able to do. 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. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. It was very influential speech that empowered the. Earlier in the year, Malcolm X, once an outspoken follower of Elijah Muhammed, declared his separation from the Nation of Islam and realigned himself with the civil rights movement. Malcolm X frequently uses provocative language to incite anger in his audience, as is evident in his accusation that the white man has made a fool out of you. Here, he is utilizing the rhetorical device of pathos, or appealing to the audiences emotions, to his advantage. repetition of the first word of a clause at the end of the same clause, intentional repitition of 3 or more consanant sounds among nearby words, "If we don't do something real soon, I think you'll have to agree that we're going to be forced either to use the ballot or the bullet. The tone is provocative and righteous. Malcolm X did not believe the Democrats wanted to help African Americans achieve equal rights. Malcolm uses emotions because he wants the audience to feel the events in America especially when it comes the time to vote. Note that these are only some examples and not a full list of all the devices the speaker uses. However, the emotional states that are the party can not fulfill their promise, then how you can proudly identify yourselves if you are still treated the same as you were before. Malcolm X uses "if-then" statements and examples designed to evoke emotion to appeal to his audience. In June 1963, President John F. Kennedy sent Congress a civil rights bill. 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. Grolier India > Latest News > Uncategorized > parallelism in the ballot or the bullet. Malcolm X was a fighter for civil rights. Zip. . driving, working feverishly, pushing, building. The mood oscillates between despair, anger, and hope. Why did Malcolm X deliver "The Ballot or the Bullet"? 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". He also references Abraham Lincoln's statement, "To give victory to the right, not bloody bullets, but peaceful ballots only, are necessary," from his speech on May 18, 1858. The speech is among the top persuasive speeches of the 20th century. Civil rights leaders questioned whether the messages in "The Ballot or the Bullet" were shared in the most effective manner. The Ballot or the Bullet Analysis Jasmine Grant Jackson State University By Any Means Necessary! Let him know that it must be the ballot or the bullet.. 5- Parallelism: Wrapping Up. Rhetorical Analysis Of The Ballot Or The Bullet. Instead of crying and be depressed with his lost, he continued to study. The Nation of Islam, as led by Elijah Muhammed, forbade its members from participating in political processes. Nothing but Africans." "They don't have to pass civil rights legislation to make a Polack an American," said Malcolm X "The Ballot or the Bullet," a speech he made on April 3, 1964, in Cleveland, Ohio. Malcolm provides an economic summary of black nationalism: African-Americans should buy from African-American owned and operated businesses so as to feed the prosperity of their own communities and lift the levelto a higher levelso that we will be satisfied in our own circles and wont be running around here to knock our way into a social circle where were not wanted. This economic attitude is in keeping with the larger social and political attitudes of separatism that marked black nationalism, which claimed that integration would only result in further oppression of black peoples and advocated, as the name suggests, for entirely separate and self-governed communities. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Analyzes how malcolm x's ballot or bullet speech was highly esteemed, despite dr. martin luther king being a pacifist and civil rights activist. ", "And until we become politically mature we will always be mislead, lead astray, or deceived or maneuvered into supporting someone politically who doesn't have the good of our community at heart. Being a black nationalist, Malcolm X says, does not require you to give up any of your personal organizational affiliations. In this speech, Malcolm stresses the need for the population of African American voters to increase in order to fight for equality. [23], But, Malcolm said, there was still time to prevent this situation from developing:[23]. Anything can sit. [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]. repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses, "It's got to be the ballot or the bullet. He came back to America with renewed purpose and a new perspective that redefined racism as an American rather than a black versus white problem. In his, "The Ballot or the Bullet" was a public acknowledgment of. Malcolm . has failed and failed and failed the works of freedom. In these opening paragraphs, Malcolm X calls for increased political participation and awareness in the black community. 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. Why did "The Ballot or the Bullet" alienate white Americans? . "The Ballot or the Bullet" discusses the power of the African American vote and charges the United States government with conspiring against allowing African Americans to achieve their due rights. given on July 5, 1852. Did Malcolm X believe the Democrats wanted to help African Americans achieve equal rights? The ballot or the bullet Malcolm X during his speech of the ballot or the bullet was the fullest declaration of his black nationalism philosophy. Selecciona la palabra que no est relacionada. 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. Malcolm asserts that African Americans have earned their rights because they've secured massive wealth for the United States by working for free as enslaved people. Malcolm X was a civil rights leader before he was assassinated at the age of 40. Cone, pp. The major conflict is between African-Americans and white supremacy, concretized in the twin issues of the upcoming election and the ongoing filibuster against the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Malcolm Xs speech was an effective example of pathetic because he understands the mindset that the audience is in, and knows what to say to excite them about his cause. Let him go in there right now and take a moral stand right now, not later. Their eyes are coming open. Malcolm X uses this device extensively in his speech, as it helps him illustrate points related to the Civil Rights Movement and the need to fight by any means necessary to promote Afric. Malcolm X begins "The Ballot or the Bullet" by announcing that he'll explain what he believes the next steps of the Civil Rights Movement should be. Examining Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in Malcolm X's "BAllot or the Bullet" speech. I'm not here to try and change your religion. The Ballot or the Bullet study guide contains a biography of Malcolm X, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. What are the main points of "The Ballot or the Bullet"? [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. He declares himself to be a black nationalist freedom fighter.. In response to Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, Malcolm X delivered a speech entitled "The Ballot or the Bullet". Publicly, his criticisms of the system fell on mostly deaf ears. Malcolm predicted that if the civil rights bill wasn't passed, there would be a march on Washington in 1964. They attack all of us for the SAME reason; all of us catch hell from the SAME enemy. Tone and Mood The tone is provocative and righteous. [6], When he left the Nation of Islam, Malcolm declared his willingness to cooperate with the Civil Rights Movement. The Black Panther Party was organized in 1966 in California to combat police brutality, and it eventually spread to many other parts of the country. Dixicrats: a southern segregationist faction of the Democratic Party. The history of America is one of colonialism; Malcolm likens the colonists struggle against the British to that of African-Americans against white supremacy. The main aim of the speech is to urge African Americans to vote, and if they do not attain equality through voting, they can use violence to fight for their rights. Malcolm X's "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech was a powerful call to action for African Americans to take a more militant approach to the civil rights movement. anti-degradation . Whenever you are going after something that is yours, you are within your legal rights to lay claim to it. The most significant modification of Malcolm X's rhetoric that can be observed in "The Ballot or the Bullet" is the broadening of his audience, as he "emphasizes individualized judgement rather than group cohesion"[29] and allows for more analytical "flexibility restrained by a purposive focus on particular goals. You're nothing but Africans. I'm not here to argue or discuss anything that we differ about,", "I'm not a politician, not even a student of politics; in fact, I'm not a student of much of anything. In frequenting stores not owned by an African-American, the money is given to another community. In 1964 there was going to be a presidential election. "The Ballot or the Bullet" further indicates a shift in Malcolm X's rhetoric, as his separation from the Nation of Islam and new, unfettered public activism prompted a change in the ways he addressed his audience. Malcolm X was a civil rights leader and part of The Nation of Islam. (The Ballot or the Bullet) Definition Parallelism (Repitition) Intentional repitition of the same grammatical structure, which may also include a repeated word or phrase, in the same structural position at least three times in nearby sentences or segments of a sentence. [25], One biographer notes that Malcolm was one of the first African-American leaders to note the existence and growing influence of Black nationalism among young civil rights activists.[26]. JCBEdPRO. African american rights were the main concern of many people, along with government corruption and the unwillingness to help. His subject was Negro rights, and he was speaking to the African American population. [15], The proper solution, Malcolm X said, was to elevate the struggle of African Americans from one of civil rights to one of human rights. Malcolms purpose was to emphasize the idea that the black community needs to be informed about the political community. 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