He constantly used repetition of the words "the ballot or the bullet" in order to keep the thought present in the head of the audience, and after completing every thought, he found a way to connect it back to the issue of the ballot or the bullet. the democrats were in control of the house of representatives and the senate. 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. 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. [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]. Separate to the "big" ballot, we are running ballots in the Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and other areas. 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. That right there castrates you. Post navigation . In America at the time The Ballot or the Bullet was given, segregation was still occurring. Zip. He made his "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech during April, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio. Let it be the ballot or the bullet. Will you pass the quiz? He explains to the crowd that self-determination is the key to success. This downplaying of his religion reverberates in the context of a speech advocating for political engagement. Not affiliated with Harvard College. "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. 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. The early 1960s shocked the nation with multiple reports of violence against African Americans. 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. It was ranked 7th in the top 100 American speeches of the 20th century by 137 leading scholars of American public address. Lyndon B. Johnson is the head of the Democratic Party. On the other hand, "The Ballot or the Bullet" alienated white Americans. The Question and Answer section for The Ballot or the Bullet is a great Malcolm X was a fighter for civil rights. 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. 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. in "the Ballot or the Bullet" with Malcom X. what made the speaker qualified to give this speech. "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. 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. The tone is provocative and righteous. Sit-ins are disempowering because they perpetuate the image of the African-American community as cowardly and weak. It was very influential speech that empowered the. At the start of "The Ballot or the Bullet," Malcolm X dispenses with the divisive issue of religion in favor of the common cause of civil rights. Let it be the ballot or the bullet. 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. 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. At the time, blacks did not have much say in who they wanted to elect. The social philosophy of black nationalism advocates for reform of the community and reconstruction of it so it is more welcoming:[18]. On April 3, 1964 Malcolm X delivered one of the most empowering speeches in American history. Douglass received an invitation to speak at a Fourth of July celebration in his hometown, and the speech he gave called out the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom as a country while millions of its residents are enslaved. 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. Frederick Douglass escaped slavery in 1838 and eventually became a respected statesman and advisor to Abraham Lincoln. If the word is correct, write C./ Malcolm X states that, since 1964 was an election year, it was the year for African Americans to stand up and show the United States government they would no longer wait for the rights they deserve. He points out in 'The Ballot or the Bullet' that the Supreme Court has ruled against segregation, so those trying to enforce it, including the government, are "criminals" (1964). George Washington and Patrick Henry didnt win the American revolution, the soldiers did. "The Ballot or the Bullet" opens by addressing the differences in religious beliefs that divide the African-American community. GradeSaver "The Ballot or the Bullet Literary Elements". Two thousand people including some of his enemies turned out to hear him speak in Cleveland, Ohio. . You can't open up a black store in a white community. Civil rights leaders questioned whether the messages in "The Ballot or the Bullet" were shared in the most effective manner. They don't attack me because I'm a Muslim; they attack me 'CAUSE I'M BLACK. Malcolm X uses rhetorical techniques to persuade his audience to push for equality between races. As such, African-Americans must endeavor to educate themselves on which politicians will best serve the aims of the civil rights movement. What is meant by "the ballot or the bullet"? The text shown above is just an extract. 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.. We've got to change our own minds about each other. Its 100% free. Malcolm X was a civil rights leader before he was assassinated at the age of 40. Black Nationalism: an ideology that African Americans should separate from white America and form their own institutions. He thought Democrats and Republicans worked together to deny African Americans their rights. . He said that Black nationalists believe that African Americans should control the politics and the economy in their communities and that they need to remove the vices, such as alcoholism and drug addiction, that afflict their communities. He was also muslim. 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. The tone of "The Ballot or the Bullet" is both urgent and angry. 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. True or False: Malcolm X appeals to his audience through the use of logic and emotion. Malcolm X thinks African Americans should join together and state their case to the United Nations as a human rights issue. 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. First, Malcolm X was inspirational in many aspects and his upbringing added to this aspect. "The Ballot or the Bullet" has several purposes, a well-defined audience, and several rhetorical devices like logos. His speech The Ballot or the Bullet, was about black nationalism during the current election year. X's purpose is to awaken the black . In June 1963, President John F. Kennedy sent Congress a civil rights bill. Underline the word in parentheses that correctly completes the sentence. [23], But, Malcolm said, there was still time to prevent this situation from developing:[23]. Right there it brings you down. Our faith is sure, our resolve is firm, and our union is strong. Besides, in Malcolm X biography, I learnt that, an extraordinary person has an extraordinary characteristics. 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. A ballot is like a bullet. It was very influential speech that . Everything you need for your studies in one place. 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. Stop procrastinating with our study reminders. [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 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. The Ballot or the Bullet essays are academic essays for citation. 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. 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. [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 doing so, the African-American community loses money and becomes poorer while the community the dollar was given to gains money and becomes richer. Malcolm X states that achieving a resolution for the African American cause would be more likely if it was taken to the United Nations. Your vote, your dumb vote, your ignorant vote, your wasted vote put administration in Washington D.C. His repetition of your followed by a negative adjective and vote made his parallel structure apparent he used your to throw shade on african americans and how they complain about our white presidents. The Ballot or the Bullet, Part 2 Summary and Analysis. After Kennedy's assassination in November 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson threw his support behind the civil rights bill. Malcolm X invokes one American dream while condemning another. Anything can sit. 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. This government has failed the Negro". You're nothing but Africans. An old man can sit. From slavery to discrimination, African-Americans experienced this horror in daily life since the beginning of their existence. 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. Malcolm X uses a combination of logic and emotion to appeal to his audience. ", "They don't hang you because you're a Baptist; they hang you 'CAUSE YOU'RE BLACK. African american rights were the main concern of many people, along with government corruption and the unwillingness to help. An old woman can sit. In 1964 there was going to be a presidential election. That old Uncle Tom action is outdated. Parallelism "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. The title "The Ballot or the Bullet" has an underlining meaning. It doesnt matter, he says, if you go to jail, because black people are already there. In "The Ballot or the Bullet," Malcolm outlines the power of the African American vote, saying, "when white people are evenly divided, and black people have a bloc of votes of their own, it is left up to them to determine who's going to sit in the White House." Gradesaver has a complete summary of "The Ballot of the Bullet" speech readily available in its study guide for this unit. He declares himself to be a black nationalist freedom fighter.. Words: 732 - Pages: 3 Premium Essay Malcolm X's The Ballot Or The Bullet . A photograph of legislators and civil rights leaders looking on as Lyndon Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act on July 2, 1964, pixabay. He declares that religion is a personal matter, not a political one. [and] anti-oppression" and that, if white Americans take issue with being considered a problem, all they have to do is stop treating African Americans in those ways. 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