Malcolm X

Labeled as one of the greatest speakers in African-American history, Malcolm X delivered a powerful speech entitled “Ballot or the Bullet” on April 3, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio. In the profound speech, Malcolm looks to unite all blacks in America, disregarding their religion, and to promote Black Nationalism. Black Nationalism, through the eyes of Malcolm, mainly causes for blacks to take over the politics in their communities. Along with the political aspects, Black Nationalism requires blacks to stop supporting white businesses and only invest in black-owned businesses and companies. Malcolm’s Black Nationalism has a “self-help” philosophy, in which blacks control the jobs, housing and culture of their communities. In addition to uplifting the black community, Black Nationalism also called to unite blacks from different religions to fight for freedom (according to Malcolm, second-class citizens, which most black were classified as, were 20th Century slaves.) Another one of Malcolm’s viewpoints is on a black revolution in America. He seemed upset that in his speech that blacks in the south were choosing the lax methods of sit-ins as a form of desegregation. Malcolm felt that if blacks were to gain freedom in America, blood must be shed, referring back to the term revolution. In Africa, he mentions, blacks did not gain their independence from European nations peacefully, however, that they had to fight, kill, and be killed to gain liberty. He also mentions how bloody the American Revolution was against Great Britain; colonists were tired of being taxed without proper representation and reason, thus causing the most violent Revolution in history. Using these two examples, he mentions that blacks, in order to gain freedom in America, must eliminate the non-violent attitude leading to his statement on how blacks must “stop singing and start swinging.” Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. differed heavily in their approach to black liberty. Martin supported the numerous sit-ins throughout the south, while Malcolm openly opposed them. Malcolm took a more revolutionary method, while Martin’s tactics were completely non-violent. Martin believed numerous marches, speeches, and freedom rides would help end segregation; Malcolm also felt that speeches and protests helped the fight against segregation, but desired more direct action. Malcolm X criticized the March on Washington (where Martin delivered his most infamous speech) calling it a “hoax” and failing to change the situation of blacks in America. Even though their methods were rather different, both men were in favor of uniting blacks and gaining complete equality, which Malcolm often referred to as “Black Freedom.” (Malcolm was for neither segregation nor integration, but for black freedom.)