For example, in the third paragraph of the excerpt, X strikes a blow at the government which [deprives the black community] of [their] voting rights, economic opportunities, housing, and, On April 12, 1964, Malcom X gives The Ballot or the Bullet speech at Cory Methodist Church in Detroit, Michigan. . He was also muslim. Well, you and I been sitting long enough, he claims, and its time for us today to start doing some standing and some fighting to back that up.. "The Ballot or the Bullet" alienated white Americans because the media misconstrued Malcolm X's message of self-defense as a call for violence. ", " And in 1964 you'll see this young black man, this new generation asking for the ballot or bullet. 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. Zip. Why did Malcolm X say was 1964 an important year for African Americans? Through repetition of inflammatory phrases and accusatory diction both which create appeals to anger, Malcolm X effectively persuades his audience during The Ballot Or The Bullet.. I think the title suggests an ultimatum between voting or violence, and one action or the other is to be done depending on how the government will handle the case. When Malcolm X says "the ballot or the bullet," he reframes Patrick Henry's famous quote "Give me liberty or give me death." In the speech "The Ballot or the Bullet" Malcolm X utilizes antithesis, allusion, and metaphors in order to convince his audience to take a stand against segregation whether peacefully, if possible, and if not, by force. A chump can sit. 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. "The Ballot or the Bullet" is a speech made by Malcolm X in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 3, 1964. [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]. Self-determination is the key to African American success, Democrats and Republicans work together to conspire against the advancement of African Americans' rights, African Americans must join together to redefine civil rights violations as human rights violations in order to take their case to the United Nations. Cleage, brothers and sis His views in this speech reflect the beliefs he held before completing his Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. Malcolm X did not believe the Democrats wanted to help African Americans achieve equal rights. A Summary View of the Rights of British America, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, Non Sum Qualis Eram Bonae Sub Regno Cynarae. 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. How does he use his beliefs to persuade a mixed audience about the importance of voting to African Americans? In response to Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, Malcolm X delivered a speech entitled "The Ballot or the Bullet". The purpose was to allow black people to realize the events that were happening in their lives. He made a fool out of you. "The Ballot or the Bullet" was delivered at a church in Cleveland, Ohio, to a crowd that included African Americans and white Americans. 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. What is the tone of "The Ballot or the Bullet"? In doing so, the African-American community loses money and becomes poorer while the community the dollar was given to gains money and becomes richer. [23], But, Malcolm said, there was still time to prevent this situation from developing:[23]. 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. Let the world know how bloody his hands are. can't bring whoever killed "four little girls while they were praying" to justice, then it is either unwilling to help them or entirely incapable. Have all your study materials in one place. This is meant to send a warning to the American government, cautioning them that African Americans are willin. Parallelism Malcolm X uses strong diction along with parallelism in this speech to emphasize the problem of racial inequality in America. The Ballot or the Bullet Literary Elements Genre Political Speech Setting and Context 1964, against a backdrop of segregation and social unrest. balanced sentence), comparision of two unlike things using "like" or as", deliberate omission of conjunctions in a series of related clauses, "My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. This resource includes the annotated text of Malcolm X's famous "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech. "1 What, if anything, do you think Malcolm X hopes to accomplish by quoting Abraham Lincoln and Patrick Henry and establishing African American protests as legal according to the Supreme Court? StudySmarter is commited to creating, free, high quality explainations, opening education to all. Be perfectly prepared on time with an individual plan. An old man can sit. "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. Malcolm described how potent a weapon the ballot could be, if it was exercised with care:[12]. Southern Democrats had promised to oppose the bill. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. 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" was a speech by Malcolm X mostly about black nationalism delivered April 12, 1964 in Detroit, Michigan. He accused the Democrats of playing a "political con game", with African Americans as its victims. Free and expert-verified textbook solutions. an ideology that African Americans should separate from white America and form their own institutions. This government has failed the Negro". It's time now for you and me to become more politically mature and realize what the ballot is for; what we're supposed to get when we cast a ballot; and that if we don't cast a ballot, it's going to end up in a situation where we're going to have to cast a bullet. These tools make The Ballot or the Bullet more memorable and help the speaker maintain his audiences attention. What does this mean? Relying on peaceful protests such as sit-ins castrates the black man, says Malcolm. On April 3, 1964 Malcolm X delivered one of the most empowering speeches in American history. We have to see each other with new eyes. ", 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). Underline the word in parentheses that correctly completes the sentence. 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. This downplaying of his religion reverberates in the context of a speech advocating for political engagement. He declares himself to be a black nationalist freedom fighter.. It was very influential speech that empowered the. Southern Democrats (sometimes called Dixiecrats, though the term is ambiguous and more properly refers to a short-lived separate political party), blocked the bill from consideration by the House of Representatives. You can't open up a black store in a white community. Malcolm asserts that he and other African Americans are not Americans because they are fighting for the rights that other Americans already have. The speech was strong and inspiring, and because it was combined with his confident and sturdy speaking, he came off as a respectable and intelligent leader who knows what he wants, Malcolm X evokes emotion with the use of objectification, by specifying particular instances of exploitation, degradation, and oppression that the black community has faced. We encourage you to look for other examples of the same devices in the text to further enrich your an, An allusion is a reference to a person, event, or textthat is relevant to the speech. _____Cole had all *ready *toasted the bagels by the time his parents woke up. Malcolm X noted that 1964 was an election year, a year "when all of the white political crooks will be right back in your and my community with their false promises which they don't intend to keep". Create beautiful notes faster than ever before. The Question and Answer section for The Ballot or the Bullet is a great "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. African american rights were the main concern of many people, along with government corruption and the unwillingness to help. Putting normally unassociated ideas, words, or phrases together to generate a new/interseting effect. 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. Antithesis refers to creating contrast between ideas, concepts, or people to maintain the audiences attention and to emphasize an idea thespeakersupports. intentional repetition of 3 or more vowel sounds among nearby words. The economic philosophy of black nationalism promotes African-American control of the economy of the African-American community. Understand this, it's dangerous. 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. Will you pass the quiz? Stop procrastinating with our study reminders. Like Malcolm X, whenever he has been an orphan at the young age, but he never stop to learn and study. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. The Ballot or the Bullet is a speech delivered by Malcolm X in 1964. Civil rights leaders questioned whether the messages in "The Ballot or the Bullet" were shared in the most effective manner. He calls out America's double standards and wants the world to see the reality behind the mask of its ideals. Unlike the 1963 March on Washington, which was peaceful and integrated, the 1964 march Malcolm described would be an all-Black "non-nonviolent army" with one-way tickets. Set individual study goals and earn points reaching them. However, he clarifies that they have yet to see the America dream but only to experience the American nightmare (para 11). That ballot will be cast for a man of the community, who has the good of the community at heart. What X was trying to instill into the minds of his blacks was to be their own person. Whether you're educated or illiterate, whether you live on the boulevard or in the alley, you're going to catch hell just like I am. Its 100% free. And anyone who puts forth any effort to deprive you of that which is yours, is breaking the law, is a criminal. GradeSaver "The Ballot or the Bullet The Ballot or the Bullet, Part 1 Summary and Analysis". It took decades for the men involved to be prosecuted as FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover, prevented their prosecution in 1968. But, as a human being, he is also easily influenced by what others said about him. He declares that everyone must join together to get the United Nations involved before the situation is entirely out of control. 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 . Like the colonists, Malcolm X is ready to fight tooth and nail for the liberation of his community, whether that means using his vote advantageously or participating in outright revolution. . 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. anti-degradation . Why did "The Ballot or the Bullet" alienate white 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. The tone of "The Ballot or the Bullet" is both urgent and angry. "The Ballot or the Bullet" has several purposes, a well-defined audience, and several rhetorical devices like logos. The dollar is taken from the African-American community and given to outsiders. X's purpose is to awaken the black . Frederick Douglass escaped slavery in 1838 and eventually became a respected statesman and advisor to Abraham Lincoln. [10], Malcolm said that African Americans were becoming "politically mature" and recognizing that, through unity and nonalignment, they could be the swing vote in the coming elections and elect candidates who would be attentive to their concerns:[11]. And where you and I are concerned, not only do we lose it when we spend it out of the community, but the white man has got all our stores in the community tied up; so that though we spend it in the community, at sundown the man who runs the store takes it over across town somewhere. "[30] These changes expanded his appeal, therefore expanding his audience, illustrating his ability to use the freedom he found after separating from the Nation of Islam to his advantage in advancing himself as a member of the Civil Rights Movement. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. the democrats were in control of the house of representatives and the senate. One sentence he said stuck out like a sore thumb. "The Ballot or the Bullet" opens by addressing the differences in religious beliefs that divide the African-American community. 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. Our faith is sure, our resolve is firm, and our union is strong. 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. [2] Malcolm X advised African Americans to judiciously exercise their right to vote, but he cautioned that if the government continued to prevent African Americans from attaining full equality, it might be necessary for them to take up arms. A ballot is like a bullet. Malcolm X fills his speech with imagery (mental images) that has a strong emotional impact, created with the help of metaphors and similes. Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, and Carol Denise McNair were killed when a bomb detonated in Birmingham, Alabama, in the 16th Street Baptist Church on September 15, 1963. 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). Being a black nationalist, Malcolm X says, does not require you to give up any of your personal organizational affiliations. He states that African Americans continue to struggle because the Democrats and Republicans work together to deny African Americans their rights. Malcolm X invokes one American dream while condemning another. 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. Black Nationalism: an ideology that African Americans should separate from white America and form their own institutions. The Nation of Islam, as led by Elijah Muhammed, forbade its members from participating in political processes. Earn points, unlock badges and level up while studying. We've got to change our own minds about each other. He pointed out that the Supreme Court had outlawed segregation:[14]. What parts of African American society did Malcolm X want them to control? Over 10 million students from across the world are already learning smarter. THE GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED US and you walkin' around here singing "We Shall Overcome"- THE GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED US. [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]. Religious differences, he worries, might hinder solidarity in the African-American community. His speech The Ballot or the Bullet, was about black nationalism during the current election year. He explains to the crowd that self-determination is the key to success. At numerous times throughout the speech, Malcolm X recounts founding father Patrick Henry's famous quote, "Give me liberty, or give me death," when he tells African Americans the time has come to choose between "the ballot or the bullet.". 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. First, Malcolm X was inspirational in many aspects and his upbringing added to this aspect. 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. After Kennedy's assassination in November 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson threw his support behind the civil rights bill. [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]. 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. He likens his status as a Muslim to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s as a Christian, knowing that in the past, his own religious affiliation has been a point of contention; he and Dr. King may have different ways of worshipping, but they are both known as civil rights leaders. The Ballot or the Bullet essays are academic essays for citation. The social philosophy of black nationalism advocates for reform of the community and reconstruction of it so it is more welcoming:[18]. Not affiliated with Harvard College. . Malcolm X was no banal man he was a extravagant civil rights speaker, he showed the truth on how coming together can put the end to African American indifference. Not affiliated with Harvard College. As one can probably tell from the title, Malcolm X is attempting to convince African American citizens to actively exercise their right to vote. They will get change one way or another. Let him know that it must be the ballot or the bullet.. It outlawed segregation. 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 . Despite their religious, differences, they came together. 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" asks African Americans to put aside their differences and work together to redefine their civil rights as human rights so they can plead their case to the United Nations. "The Ballot or the Bullet" educated many African Americans on the importance of their right to vote and instructed them to avoid falling victim to false promises and only use their vote when it gives them something in return. What is Malcolm X's rhetorical strategy in The Ballot or the Bullet? [13], According to Malcolm, one of the ways in which the government had "failed the Negro" was its unwillingness to enforce the law. Deliberate use of many conjunctions for special emphasis. Upload unlimited documents and save them online. First he says, It. 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. Malcolm X uses rhetorical techniques to persuade his audience to push for equality between races. Whereas the Civil Rights Movement advocated on behalf of integration and against segregation, the Nation of Islam favored separatism. True or False: Malcolm X appeals to his audience through the use of logic and emotion. "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. By contrast, Martin Luther King Jr. advocates for an engagement of Civil Disobedience by calling for nonviolent direct action which allows for African Americans to be heard by forcing their, How Does Malcolm X Use Ethos In The Ballot Or The Bullet, The Ballot or the Bullet is a speech delivered by Malcolm X in 1964. In this speech, Malcolm stresses the need for the population of African American voters to increase in order to fight for equality. The Ballot or the Bullet essays are academic essays for citation. 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. Let him know that it must be the ballot or the bullet."( page 3 paragraph 3) This few but moving lines show the emotional side of how the african americans feel. Malcolm X was a civil rights leader before he was assassinated at the age of 40. Which means a segregationist is breaking the law. Malcolm stresses that the black community makes up the 80% of the Democratic Party and with that percentage they are the ones who put a democrat in the White House. "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. ", "They don't hang you because you're a Baptist; they hang you 'CAUSE YOU'RE BLACK. 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, a Muslim, credits Elijah Muhammed, the leader of the Nation of Islam, with making him into the man he is today. In a speech on May 18, 1858, Abraham Lincoln said, "To give victory to the right, not bloody bullets, but peaceful ballots only are necessary. True or False: Malcolm X believed African Americans should vote for whoever told them they would give them more rights. Instead of promoting peace to solve problems, Malcolm X used violence when necessary to get his points across to his audience. 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. [12], Black nationalism was characterized by its political, social, and economic philosophies. I'm nonviolent with those who are nonviolent with me. given on July 5, 1852. He gave this speech on April third in order to talk about both the election and how African-American people should proceed in order to benefit from the election. After Kennedy 's assassination in November 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson threw his support behind the mask of ideals., prevented their prosecution in 1968 speech the Ballot or the Bullet '' opens by addressing the differences religious. 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Vote for whoever told them they would give parallelism in the ballot or the bullet more rights him know it... Were the main concern of many people, along with government corruption and the unwillingness to.... The law, is a criminal integration and against segregation, the Nation Islam. Instill into the minds of his blacks was to be their own person own institutions 14. And economic philosophies speech advocating for political engagement concern of many people, along with government and! With care: [ 14 ] maintain his audiences attention he states that African Americans continue to struggle because Democrats! 1964, against a backdrop of segregation and social unrest equal rights the house of representatives and senate... World to see the reality behind the mask of its ideals study guide this. Opening education to all before completing his Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca store in a white community would! Bullet the Ballot or Bullet, as a human being, he worries might! Speech, Malcolm X delivered one of the African-American community and given to outsiders,! Americans should separate from white America and form their own institutions he and other African Americans as its victims maintain... As parallelism in the ballot or the bullet by Elijah Muhammed, forbade its members from participating in political processes main of... Nightmare ( para 11 ) to get the United Nations involved before the situation entirely!