In the speech, which was delivered on two occasions the first being April 3, 1964, at the Cory Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio[1] and the second being on April 12th 1964 at the King Solomon Baptist Church, in Detroit, Michigan. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Some of them were Christians. 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. Imagine living in a world of segregation - constantly judged by color of ones skin and not being permitted to associate with the superior race. The dollar is taken from the African-American community and given to outsiders. Black Nationalism: an ideology that African Americans should separate from white America and form their own institutions. Zip. Malcolm X, a Muslim, credits Elijah Muhammed, the leader of the Nation of Islam, with making him into the man he is today. Black people in America came together to receive motivation to fight for equality.In this speech Malcolm X inspires black people to take a stance and fight for their civil rights. Rhetorical devices in The Ballot or the Bullet [ 0] 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. As one can probably tell from the title, Malcolm X is attempting to convince African American citizens to actively exercise their right to vote. "Those Honkies that just got off the boat, they're already Americans; Polacks are already Americans; the Italian refugees are already Americans. [23], But, Malcolm said, there was still time to prevent this situation from developing:[23]. African Americans should be "re-educated into the science of politics" in order to understand the importance and effect of the vote they cast:[12]. And anyone who puts forth any effort to deprive you of that which is yours, is breaking the law, is a criminal. Being a black nationalist, Malcolm X says, does not require you to give up any of your personal organizational affiliations. The white politicians would come into black neighborhoods and push, press, and force it upon blacks to put them in office. 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. The young generation don't want to hear anything about the odds are against us. 5- Parallelism: Wrapping Up. He praises the idea that they had let the government blind them for a way too long. That is they have been politically informed then they will recognize that each election will end with the same outcome. Post navigation . If gaming the political system doesnt work, he recommends African-Americans turn to outright revolution. One of the goals of the Civil Rights Movement was to end disenfranchisement of African Americans, but the Nation of Islam forbade its members from participating in the political process. African Americans have a constitutional right to own guns and defend themselves from being attacked by the white man. "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? Correct the word in italics. Malcolm X thinks African Americans should join together and state their case to the United Nations as a human rights issue. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Ballot or the Bullet by Malcolm X. Freedom or civil rebellion In frequenting stores not owned by an African-American, the money is given to another community. They're all in cahoots together". Malcolm X: ( 06:52) The economic philosophy of Black Nationalism only means that we should own, and operate, and control the economy of our community. They will get change one way or another. Free and expert-verified textbook solutions. We have to come together with warmth so we can develop unity and harmony that's necessary to get this problem solved ourselves. Let the world know how bloody his hands are. X's purpose is to awaken the black . African american rights were the main concern of many people, along with government corruption and the unwillingness to help. Separate to the "big" ballot, we are running ballots in the Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and other areas. His subject was Negro rights, and he was speaking to the African American population. Therefore if these are successful, we could see 150,000 members plus in dispute by the time of the . Upload unlimited documents and save them online. "The Ballot or the Bullet" was delivered at a church in Cleveland, Ohio, to a crowd that included African Americans and white Americans. Malcolm X fills his speech with imagery (mental images) that has a strong emotional impact, created with the help of metaphors and similes. In the speech, Malcolm X states, "It isn't that time is running out time has run out." 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. Besides, in Malcolm X biography, I learnt that, an extraordinary person has an extraordinary characteristics. An old man can sit. First he says, It. 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). 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. The Ballot or the Bullet Literary Elements Genre Political Speech Setting and Context 1964, against a backdrop of segregation and social unrest. Malcolm X emphasizes Black Nationalism as a way to help African Americans gain political, economic, and social control over their communities. Malcolm X highlights the frustrating struggle of African Americans' fight to be able to vote by mentioning John F. Kennedy's desire to force Cuba to have democratic elections. These tools make The Ballot or the Bullet more memorable and help the speaker maintain his audiences attention. These cover over 30,000 members. intentional repetition of 3 or more vowel sounds among nearby words. 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. Parallelism In the speech, he uses colorful language and straight talk to drive his messages surrounding voting rights, self-defense, and what he believed were worthwhile goals of the Civil Rights Movement home to his audience. StudySmarter is commited to creating, free, high quality explainations, opening education to all. "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. Ballot or the Bullet Ballot or the Bullet American Drama A Raisin in the Sun Aeschylus Amiri Baraka Antigone Arcadia Tom Stoppard August Wilson Cat on a Hot Tin Roof David Henry Hwang Dutchman Edward Albee Eugene O'Neill Euripides European Drama Fences August Wilson Goethe Faust Hedda Gabler Henrik Ibsen Jean Paul Sartre Johann Wolfgang von Goethe False. 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. He appeals to the crowd's sense of pride, telling them that their children won't respect them if they don't take a stand against the white man. [3][4], On March 8, 1964, Malcolm X announced his separation from the Nation of Islam, a black nationalist religious organization for which he had been the spokesman for nearly a decade. In one of many clever turns of phrase, Malcolm employs both humor and repetition to rename the situation facing African-Americans as an American nightmare.. Let it be the ballot or the bullet. Sign up to highlight and take notes. Let it be the ballot or the bullet. Our faith is sure, our resolve is firm, and our union is strong. "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. What does this mean? "The time when white people can come in our community and get us to vote for them so that they can be our political leaders and tell us what to do and what not to do is long gone. The main points of "The Ballot or the Bullet" are: Who was the audience of "The Ballot or the Bullet"? It was very influential speech that . 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. Civil rights leaders questioned whether the messages in "The Ballot or the Bullet" were shared in the most effective manner. 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. I'm nonviolent with those who are nonviolent with me. Lerne mit deinen Freunden und bleibe auf dem richtigen Kurs mit deinen persnlichen Lernstatistiken. He uses "if-then" statements in "The Ballot or the Bullet" to organize his reasoning, such as when he states, "[i]f birth made you an American, [then] you wouldn't need any legislation." Have all your study materials in one place. 0; [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. 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. 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. [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]. "The Ballot or the Bullet" served several purposes at a critical point in Malcolm X's life: it was part of his effort to distance himself from the Nation of Islam, and it was intended to reach out to moderate civil rights leaders. He tells the crowd that they first need to set aside differences to focus on their common issue the white man. 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. He made his The Ballot or the Bullet speech during April, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio. [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]. He calls out America's double standards and wants the world to see the reality behind the mask of its ideals. He made a fool out of you. He also delivered the speech about a week later in Detroit, Michigan, on April 12, 1964. Malcolm . After you go (threw, through) that intersection, take the next left tum. 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. "Malcolm X, "The Ballot or the Bullet," April 12, 1964", "Top 100 American speeches of the 20th century", Annotated entire speech by Malcolm-X, The Ballot or the Bullet, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Ballot_or_the_Bullet&oldid=1116556108, This page was last edited on 17 October 2022, at 04:47. How does he use his beliefs to persuade a mixed audience about the importance of voting to African Americans? The tone is provocative and righteous. Note that these are only some examples and not a full list of all the devices the speaker uses. But, as a human being, he is also easily influenced by what others said about him. 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. Malcolm X did not believe the Democrats wanted to help African Americans achieve equal rights. He observes that the United States has reached its boiling point, demonstrated by the increasing use of weapons in confrontations. 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. We have to see each other as brothers and sisters. "The Ballot or the Bullet" is delivered in an urgent and angry tone. Read this article to know What is Ballad in Literature, characteristics of a ballad, types of ballads, a ballad in literature, ballad literary definition. He explains that he does not subscribe to either the Democratic or the Republican party, because he considers himself a victim of Americas so-called democracy. For African-Americans, there is no American dream, only an American nightmare. Did Malcolm X believe the Democrats wanted to help African Americans achieve equal rights? 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". The Question and Answer section for The Ballot or the Bullet is a great "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. 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. In this speech, Malcolm stresses the need for the population of African American voters to increase in order to fight for equality. This government has failed the Negro". 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. How does he use his beliefs to persuade a mixed audience about the importance of voting to African Americans? What are the main points of "The Ballot or the Bullet"? Why did Malcolm X deliver "The Ballot or the Bullet"? Malcolm X narrates the speech from a first-person point of view. [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]. Although "The Ballot or the Bullet" advocates self-defense, it discusses non-violent ways of achieving equal rights for African Americans. 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.. 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. Instead, he said, the Democrats blamed the Dixiecrats, who were "nothing but Democrat[s] in disguise". 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