...------------------------------------------------- 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. In his speech he focuses on the oppression of the African American, and how African Americans are able to stand up against the illegal segregation. Malcolm also focuses on the African American’s right to vote, and how effective each vote actually is. He also warns the government that if he and his people are not able to vote that they may have to take up arms. The Ballot or the Bullet is among one of Malcolm’s most famous speeches being ranked at number seven in a Top 100 list of speeches in the 20th century. (News, 2008) On May 19, 1925 Malcolm Little was born to parents Earl and Louise Little the fourth of seven children. Born in Omaha, Nebraska the Little family shortly after moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and then to Lansing, Michigan to avoid any further harassment from the Ku Klux Klan. In 1929, just four years after Malcolm was born, the LIttle family house was burned down. This was no accident it was believed to have been burned by members of the Black Legion. At the age of six Malcolm’s father passed away in an automobile accident. Rumors spread that Earl had been murdered by white racists. His mother believed...
Words: 2232 - Pages: 9
...by Malcolm X In 1960’s America, the Civil Rights Movement was divided. Both sides sought change for the black community but by different means, and to different ends. They were all frustrated and fed up with the oppression with which they were forced to live. Today we especially remember two iconic figures as a representative of each side. The two great civil rights leaders of the 1960’s, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, held diametrically opposed political philosophies. King was a pacifist, in the tradition of Gandhi before him. Malcolm X was a radical, who advocated for violence. Both, however, shared a common goal—real freedom for African Americans. Malcolm X’s speech, “The Ballot or the Bullet,” was a direct response to Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech of a month before. The speech is directed at Americas black population. At this point in history black people in America often belonged to the country’s lowest social- and economic group. This meant that a large part of the black community had little to no education. Malcolm X adjusted his rhetoric accordingly. In Malcolm X’s attempt to reach and address this part of society he used different types of language. His use of negative connotations is an example of the low style language which appears in his speech. He used these connotations when he for example referred to white people as “crackers”. “The Ballot or the Bullet” is Malcolm X’s equivalent of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Its...
Words: 819 - Pages: 4
...leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, such as Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X have different ways to meet the need for racial equality. Martin Luther King Junior’s message in “I have a Dream” speech in the March on Washington is one of the most inspiring speech in history. King’s message during this speech was to protest peacefully instead of violently. King’s hope is to get everything integrated instead of segregated. Martin Luther King’s family was very loving and close. Dr. King’s father and grandfather were ministers. Dr . King realized at a young age that segregation was incorrect, while integration was...
Words: 1375 - Pages: 6
...Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) and Malcolm X were two fortunate African American leaders who fought for the freedom of Black America. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of a kind just like his “I Have a Dream “speech which explained the injustice and violation of freedom towards African Americans even after slavery had ended it also explains how he wants both African Americans and whites to unite as one. As to Malcolm X, his most famous speech was “God’s Judgement” which also explained the injustice towards the African American race but leans more towards the violent path rather than the peaceful way. Both characters have similarities and differences between their speeches like the imagery they each portray, the tone/mood they present, and the type of character that they each show throughout the speech. The imagery that both speeches portrayed was in a way much different. For Example, MLK’ s “I Have a Dream” speech was intended to portray a world where both African Americans and whites were united and together without judgment and...
Words: 543 - Pages: 3
...The piece that is being used for this assignment is a speech by Malcolm X titled, “The Ballot or The Bullet.” The whole speech can be found here, although a few segments of the speech will be used, http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/speeches/malcolm_x_ballot.html. The first logical fallacy found in this speech is one that appeals to emotion. To be specific, this quote appeals to the fear of the audience who listened to it. In paragraph 3, Malcolm X stated, “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. We're all in the same boat and we all are going to catch the same hell from the same man. He just happens to be a white man.” This is an example of the appeal to fear fallacy because of the fact that Malcolm X stated that no matter who you were, you were going to be affected negatively by the same person. In this case, he was using the fallacy as a way to worry the crowd about the upcoming elections in that year. Because of this, he is increasing the prejudice, or...
Words: 704 - Pages: 3
...What makes a great speech? A great speech requires passion, emotion, and a firm belief on what’s being said. Anyone can make a speech, but creating a difference through your words, through your body language and through your emotions is what makes it great. Martin Luther King Jr made a change in boycotting black society, Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery and Emma Watson opened the UN’s eyes on the oppression that women face every day. But I’m not going to talk about them. Rather than a passive speaker a more aggressive speaker. Malcolm X. A former minister for the nation of Islam and a black rights activist. Malcolm X’s speech the Ballot or the Bullet, educated and motivated the black community in the states, of the harsh lives they live and...
Words: 852 - Pages: 4
...Patrick Brown Mr.Challandes AP Language and Composition 24 February 2015 Malcolm X: Building Up the Fire of the Civil Rights Movement “Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you're a man, you take it” (Malcolm X). This quote from one of Malcolm X’s speeches embodies who he was as a person and what he valued. As a civil rights activist, Malcolm learned not to let the hate of others prevent him from living out his life the way he wanted. While others pushed a pacifist movement, Malcolm understood that there would be no peaceful way to resolve the civil rights issues. Malcolm was prepared to fight for his own rights, and even put his own life at risk. The impact that he had on the Civil rights movement was rivaled only by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and all of his ideas were culminated into one speech, called The Ballot or the Bullet. Malcolm X’s speech comes during April of 1963, a critical time during the American Civil rights movement, and Malcolm’s ability to target and rile up the emotions of his African-American audience is what makes his speech so powerful. During the 1960’s, America was a hostile environment for an ambitious African-American citizen. Although executive leaders, such as John F. Kennedy, were promising that they had been doing as much as possible to improve civil rights, not enough actual progress had been made to improve the lives of African-Americans. In 1963 alone, a year in which the civil rights...
Words: 2619 - Pages: 11
... By Any Means Necessary! (Malcolm X) Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska on May 19, 1925. His father, Earl Little, was an outspoken Baptist minister and avid supporter of Black Nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. Earl’s civil rights activism prompted death threats from the white supremacist organization Black Legion and the KKK, forcing the family to relocate twice before Malcolm’s fourth birthday. Regardless of the Little’s efforts to get away from the Legion, in 1929, their Michigan home was burned to the ground. Two years later, Earl’s body was found lying across the town’s trolley tracks. Police ruled both incidents as accidents. Malcolm’s mother, .Louise suffered emotional breakdown several years after the death of her husband and was committed to a mental institution, while her children were split up among various foster homes and orphanages. In Malcolm’s late teens he began to drift into the life of petty crime and was convicted on burglary charges. He was to serve 10 years of prison but was granted parole after seven. During his sentence he was converted to the Nation of Islam under the “Great” Elijah Muhammad. He became very active in the Nation and his great talents as a leader moved him to the number two spot in the Muslim organization. In 1964, he withdrew from the Nation upon the knowledge of Muhammad’s affairs and future children, and being silenced because of his comments towards Kennedy’s assassination. Malcolm X setup his own orthodox Muslim...
Words: 1562 - Pages: 7
...Malcolm X’s The Ballot or the Bullet speech was ranked 7th as one of the most prominent speeches in America. On April 3,1964 in his speech The Ballot or the Bullet, civil rights activist Malcolm X suggested that black nationalism should be the philosophy of all African American people. Malcolm X supported this suggestion by using examples of how they have been mistreated to convert them to that philosophy. Malcolm X’s purpose is to persuade the black population to unite, exercise their right to vote and take action if they are robbed their civil rights. Malcolm X uses a commanding tone with the African American people to make them feel angry about what has been done to them and to persuade them that fighting back is the solution. Malcolm X...
Words: 1246 - Pages: 5
...1960’s, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, held diametrically opposed political philosophies. King was a pacifist, in the tradition of Gandhi before him; Malcolm X was a radical, an advocate of violence. Both, however, shared a common goal—real freedom for African Americans. Malcolm X’s speech, “The Ballot or the Bullet,” was a direct response to Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech of a month before. Malcolm X, once associated with the Black Panthers, and a member of the Black Muslim movement, wrote “The Ballot or the Bullet” not only as a response to Martin Luther King Jr.’s pacifism, but because he was frustrated with white dilly-dallying in reaching a decision on black rights in America. Political debate had reached an impasse, and Malcolm wanted to make it clear that if the Congress couldn’t come to a decision, black Americans would take matters into their own hands. He did not share Martin’s pacifist inclinations, and he promised a violent seizure of civil rights. An examination of Malcolm X’s speech will reveal that it is one of the most powerful speeches ever written. It is, in every respect, the equal of Martin’s “I Have a Dream” speech. It is eloquent, it is memorable, and it is poetic. Its tone, unlike Martin’s conciliatory speech, is militant. He appeals to the emotions of his young audience, rousing them to anger; and in the same breath, strikes fear into the hearts of his white listeners. Malcolm uses several methods to rouse his...
Words: 1064 - Pages: 5
...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...
Words: 438 - Pages: 2
...Science and Technology Malcolm X and the effect of his literature On the Black Civil Rights Movement Ohoud Al-Awadhi Ibrahim Al-Hiyari American Literature 12/1/13 Malcolm Little was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on the day of May 19, 1925. He decided to withdrawal from middle school at the age 15. This resulted in the him being convicted of robbery and as a result, being sent to prison at the age of twenty one. In that facility, the Nation of Islam which were a group of Black Muslims, were a group of which he found interest in. After he left prison in 1952, he devoted himself to helping the Black Muslims, and later adopted the name; Malcolm X. Unfortunately, the group eventually decided to overthrow him, due to remarks made about John F. Kennedy (Helfer 34). This led him to depart from that movement. During March, 1964, he was occupied in arranging first the Muslim Mosque, Inc., and the Organization of Afro American Unity. He travelled twice to Africa and the Middle East also in the same year. That would end only three months after he returned (X &Perry 14). Once he landed in United States, he was assassinated in the city of New York on February 21, 1965. Since his child hood, Malcolm X was born into a society that embarked the ideas of radical Black tradition. Once he left prison, Malcolm joined the Nation of Islam and was taught by Elijah Muhammad. As with all Nation of Islam members, Malcolm little transformed to Malcolm X, to counter his slave name...
Words: 1817 - Pages: 8
...Great Racial Debate; and Differences of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. for Racial Equality America in the 1960s was marked by an era of unfortunate segregation, violence and unrest towards African Americans in the country. They faced often-brutal violence and a government that had forgotten them in regards to human rights. Blacks needed something to be done about the harm and inequality they were facing at the time. Fortunately, two men in particular rose to the occasion to fight for what they believed in. They focused on achieving the same goal of a better society for Blacks. However, they differed greatly in regards to how they sought to complete this goal. While Malcolm X often viewed the problem as a war and wanted to ensure that his people would have the means and the power to fight back against the harmful Whites. Martin Luther King Jr. believed it would be more beneficial to both parties if the violence ceased to exist. The struggle for racial equality caused Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. to seek separate and contradictory methods of achieving what they felt was right for African Americans. One main difference between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. was their distinctive childhoods. The two men were raised under dissimilar circumstances and environments. It can be supposed that the way they grew up directly relates to the views they had on the racial problems and the way they dealt with them. Malcolm X (1925 – 1965) had a terrible way of life...
Words: 2834 - Pages: 12
...Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X grew up in different environments. King was raised in a comfortable middle-class family where education was stressed. On the other hand, Malcolm X came from and underprivileged home. He was a self-taught man who received little schooling and rose to greatness on his own intelligence and determination. Martin Luther King was born into a family whose name in Atlanta was well established. Despite segregation, Martin Luther King's parents ensured that their child was secure and happy. Malcolm X, for the most part, believed that non-violence and integration was a trick by the whites to keep blacks in their places. He was furious at white racism and encouraged his followers through his speeches to rise up and protest against their white enemies. After Malcolm X broke away from Elijah Mohammed, this change is reflected in his more moderate speeches. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King's childhoods had powerful influences on the men and their speeches. Malcolm X was brought up in an atmosphere of violence. During his childhood, Malcolm X suffered not only from abuse by whites, but also from domestic violence. His father beat his mother and both of them abused their children. His mother was forced to raise eight children during the depression. After his mother had a mental breakdown, the children were all placed in foster homes. Malcolm X's resentment was increased as he suffered through the ravages of integrated schooling. Although an intelligent...
Words: 1181 - Pages: 5
...The Power of Tone When reciting a speech, there are many writing strategies that add value to the words you portray. Among others, there is rhythm, parallelism and humor. Yet the most important aspect to your writing seems to be the use of tone. In their speeches, William Shakespeare and Malcolm X use different tones, appropriate for their cause, to get their point across more effectively. In Brutus’ speech, written by Shakespeare, he talks with a fake sympathy for the death of Julius Caesar. Antony’s speech, also by Shakespeare, uses a truer compassionate tone towards the death of his dear friend, but sarcastic towards the “honorable” Brutus. In The Ballot or the Bullet, Malcolm X shows a disappointed and angry tone directed at the African Americans who aren’t showing initiative to better their lives. Brutus, after having committed a crime of a tremendous scale, tried to escape punishment by justifying the murder with a later disproved excuse. His claim: Caesar was ambitious. For unknown reasons Brutus, accompanied by his comrades, had killed Caesar. Now to reinforce his false claim, Brutus talked with an exceedingly convincing sympathy. In his speech, he claims “If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar’s, to him I say that Brutus’ love to Caesar was no less than his.” If Brutus had talked portraying no sadness, no sympathy, the event would have turned out very differently. Had Brutus just said Caesar was ambitious, without pointing out their close friendship...
Words: 822 - Pages: 4
