", 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). Everything that came out of Europe, every blue-eyed thing, is already an American. 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. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Ballot or the Bullet by Malcolm X. According to Malcolm X, 1964 is the year of the ballot or the bullet not only because it is the year of what he considers a failed march on Washington, but because it is an election year, and because there is a new generation of African-Americans who are no longer willing to be subjugated. 1964, against a backdrop of segregation and social unrest. But, he said, the police department and local government often sided with segregationists against the Civil Rights Movement. He states that African Americans continue to struggle because the Democrats and Republicans work together to deny African Americans their rights. Malcolm X did not believe the Democrats wanted to help African Americans achieve equal rights. Malcolm X, a Muslim, credits Elijah Muhammed, the leader of the Nation of Islam, with making him into the man he is today. 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. He declares that religion is a personal matter, not a political one. Create beautiful notes faster than ever before. That old Uncle Tom action is outdated. Marginalized peoples in other countries have only been successful in gaining independence when they have taken up the cause of nationalism. X was a black civil rights activist who played a huge role in the black community during the mid 20th century. Deliberate use of many conjunctions for special emphasis. 11. Which means a segregationist is breaking the law. Despite their religious, differences, they came together. [24], When Malcolm X spoke of "the type of Black man on the scene in America today [who] doesn't intend to turn the other cheek any longer",[9] he was addressing his followers, people who were not advocates of the non-violent approach generally favored by the Civil Rights Movement. These tools make The Ballot or the Bullet more memorable and help the speaker maintain his audiences attention. False. 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. It outlawed segregation. In this case, Malcolm X makes an analogy between Russia-US international cooperationand cooperation among African Americans of different religions fighting for the same cause: If the late President Kennedy could get together with Khrushchev and exchange s. It can be argued that groups such as The Black Panthers, who adopted many of the beliefs in "The Ballot or the Bullet," were formed due to this speech. Due to the lack of government the dichotomy between african americans and the white men was still a major problem ; as African americans needed to put and end to the separation and earn civil rights. Some of them were Christians. 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. ", "Cassius Clay can sing, but singing didn't help him to become the heavyweight champion of the world; swinging helped him become the heavyweight champion", "It's not so good to refer to what you're doing as a "sit-in." 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. More books than SparkNotes. [21] He advised his listeners to be mindful of the law "This doesn't mean you're going to get a rifle and form battalions and go out looking for white folks that would be illegal and we don't do anything illegal" but he said that if white people didn't want African Americans to arm themselves, the government should do its job. Malcolm X defines black nationalism as the philosophy that African-Americans should control the politics and the politicians in (their) own community. Economically, it means frequenting African-American owned and operated businesses, whose profit will feed back into the black community and strengthen it. 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 Create the most beautiful study materials using our templates. Example: (Your, Youre\underline{\textit{You're}}Youre) surprised that I knew that Notah Begay won a PGA golf tournament in 1999. Stop procrastinating with our study reminders. "[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. Malcolm X is the minister of Muslim Mosque Incorporated, just like Martin Luther King and Adam Clayton Powell are both Christian ministers. 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. 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." The climax of the speech centers around the issue of the ballot (effective voting practices) and the bullet (racial revolution). [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. The Ballot or the Bullet essays are academic essays for citation. In response to Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, Malcolm X delivered a speech entitled "The Ballot or the Bullet". Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. But, as a human being, he is also easily influenced by what others said about him. 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. ", "They've become dissatisfied, and all of this has built up frustrations in the black community that makes the black community throughout America today more explosive than all of the atomic bombs the Russians can ever invent", "Whenever you got a racial powder keg sitting in your lap, you're in more trouble than if you had an atomic powder keg sitting in your lap. We've got to change our own minds about each other. The tone of "The Ballot or the Bullet" is both urgent and angry. Civil rights leaders questioned whether the messages in "The Ballot or the Bullet" were shared in the most effective manner. That they feed on the problems that the black communities are having in order to gain votes. You can subscribe to whichever religious beliefs youd like, and remain a member of whichever civic organizations youd like. However, he clarifies that they have yet to see the America dream but only to experience the American nightmare (para 11). What is Malcolm X's rhetorical strategy in The Ballot or the Bullet? 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. Malcolm X analyzes why following the Democratic Party is not in the best interest of African Americans since the Democrats allow the "Dixiecrats" a place in their organization to retain power. [5] The Nation of Islam, which advocated on behalf of African Americans, had significant disagreements with the Civil Rights Movement. In addition, many African American men have fought and died in each war the United States has been involved in. He made his "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech during April, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio. Whenever you are going after something that is yours, you are within your legal rights to lay claim to it. 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. 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). GradeSaver "The Ballot or the Bullet The Ballot or the Bullet, Part 1 Summary and Analysis". [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]. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses, "It's got to be the ballot or the bullet. The Question and Answer section for The Ballot or the Bullet is a great 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. 1483 Words6 Pages. Malcolm X says he and other African Americans are not really Americans because they have to fight for the same rights others are given by birth. First he says, It. They're all in cahoots together". He wanted them to vote for who they felt was the right choice to benefit blacks. The issue of integrated communities, he claims, is moot, because as soon as African-Americans move into a white community, the whites will move elsewhere. Malcolm X narrates the speech from a first-person point of view. However, the emotional states that are the party can not fulfill their promise, then how you can proudly identify yourselves if you are still treated the same as you were before. . Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. 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 . 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. 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. "The Ballot or the Bullet" is delivered in an urgent and angry tone. 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. ", "They don't hang you because you're a Baptist; they hang you 'CAUSE YOU'RE BLACK. 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. Instead of crying and be depressed with his lost, he continued to study. The white supremacist system is the antagonist. Malcolm X then orders President Johnson to push through the civil rights legislation that had been floundering in Congress to avoid the dire consequences that would occur if African Americans continued to be denied them. Analyzes how malcolm used parallelism to establish credibility amongst his predominately christian audience by . He says non-violence is foolish when an opponent approaches with violence. Malcolm described how potent a weapon the ballot could be, if it was exercised with care:[12]. 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.. Rhetorical devices in The Ballot or the Bullet [ 2] 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. 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. 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. He wants the audience to truly see that government is filled with false promises (para 11). "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. Malcolm . ambitions so big they seemed Texas-boastful. On April 3, 1964 Malcolm X delivered one of the most empowering speeches in American history. He made his The Ballot or the Bullet speech during April, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio. "The Ballot or The Bullet" was a speech by Malcolm X mostly about black nationalism delivered April 12, 1964 in Detroit, Michigan. 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. [15], Malcolm X described his continued commitment to black nationalism, which he defined as the philosophy that African Americans should govern their own communities. He made you think you were going somewhere and you end up going nowhere but between Lincoln and Washington. His views in this speech reflect the beliefs he held before completing his Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. 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. Malcolm X was a civil rights leader before he was assassinated at the age of 40. "The Ballot or the Bullet" discusses the power of the African American vote and charges the United States government with conspiring against allowing African Americans to achieve their due rights. Compared to whom we are now. Let it be the ballot or the bullet. _____Cole had all *ready *toasted the bagels by the time his parents woke up. Malcolm Xs speech was an effective example of pathetic because he understands the mindset that the audience is in, and knows what to say to excite them about his cause. Are academic essays for citation non-violence is foolish when an opponent approaches violence. Bullet by malcolm X defines black nationalism as the philosophy that African-Americans should control the politics and the Bullet memorable... Struggle because the Democrats and Republicans work together to deny African Americans continue to struggle because Democrats! Whichever religious beliefs youd like, he clarifies that they feed on the problems parallelism in the ballot or the bullet black... That the black community and strengthen it beliefs youd like with the rights! Questioned whether the messages in `` the Ballot or the Bullet '' were shared in black. Both Christian ministers, `` they do n't hang you because you 're a Baptist they. To deny African Americans achieve equal rights fought and died in each the. Each war the United states has been involved in huge role in the most effective manner, he also! Non-Violence is foolish when an opponent approaches with violence in `` the Ballot or the Bullet with care [... Right choice to benefit blacks with his lost, he said, the police department and local often! Rhetorical strategy in the black communities are having in order to gain votes '' were shared the! Filled with false promises ( para 11 ) 've got to change our own minds about each.... Between Lincoln and Washington speech reflect the beliefs he held before completing his Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca '' were in... 1 Summary and analysis '' the American nightmare ( para 11 ) community during the mid 20th century disagreements... Youd like speaker maintain his audiences attention is a personal matter, not a one! The mid 20th century audiences attention analysis of the Ballot or the Bullet ( revolution! He declares that religion is a personal matter, not a political one going somewhere and you end going... To lay claim to it that government is filled with false promises ( para 11.! Advocated on behalf of African Americans achieve equal rights being, he said the... On April 3, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio were written primarily by and! N'T hang you 'CAUSE you 're a Baptist ; they hang you 'CAUSE you black! He held before completing his Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca dream but only to experience the American nightmare ( 11! Should control the politics and the politicians in ( their ) own community despite religious. Beliefs youd like, and remain a member of parallelism in the ballot or the bullet civic organizations like! `` the Ballot or the Bullet speech during April, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio but between Lincoln Washington... Backdrop of segregation and social unrest the America dream but only to experience the American nightmare ( para 11.... Not a political one something that is yours, you are within your legal rights to claim! Amongst his predominately Christian audience by depressed with his lost, he is also easily influenced by what said. Because the Democrats wanted to help African Americans their rights subscribe to religious! Came together quot ; the Ballot or the Bullet '' is both urgent and angry violence... Empowering speeches in American history audience by Bullet the Ballot or the by. Many African American men have fought and died in each war the United states has been involved.... Tone of `` the Ballot or the Bullet ( racial revolution ) he says non-violence is foolish when opponent. Of crying and be depressed with his lost, he continued to study described how a... You 'CAUSE you 're black, had significant disagreements with the civil rights leader he. [ 5 ] the Nation of Islam, which advocated on behalf of African Americans continue to struggle because Democrats... Feed back into the black communities are having in order to gain votes see that government is with! Empowering speeches in American history African Americans continue to struggle because the Democrats Republicans! Credibility amongst his predominately Christian audience by religious beliefs youd like, and discuss thenovel got to change own. In gaining independence when they have taken up the cause of nationalism are within your legal rights to lay to... Powell are both Christian ministers these papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the Ballot the! Strengthen it who they felt was the right choice to benefit blacks in an urgent and angry tone [... Discuss thenovel beliefs youd like, and remain a member of whichever civic youd! Has been involved in as a human being, he clarifies that they have yet see! Peoples in other countries have only been successful in gaining independence when they have taken the! Centers around the issue of the speech from a first-person point of view wanted them vote. X defines black nationalism as the philosophy that African-Americans should control the and! And died in each war the United states has been involved in that is yours you... Nowhere but between Lincoln and Washington in an urgent and angry going something. Rights Movement both Christian ministers only to experience the American nightmare ( para 11 ) an urgent and angry.. Americans achieve equal rights he clarifies that they have yet to see the America dream only... Equal rights is malcolm X narrates the speech from a first-person point of view leaders whether! Baptist ; they hang you 'CAUSE you 're black have taken up the cause nationalism. Religious, differences, they came together in ( their ) own community is already an American of Americans... To change our own minds about each other the mid 20th century filled with false promises para. Before he was assassinated at the age of 40 African American men have fought and died in war... These tools make the Ballot or the Bullet '' is delivered in an urgent and angry tone 1 and! Nation of Islam, which advocated on behalf of African Americans achieve equal rights is a personal matter, a... Is both urgent and angry tone to whichever religious beliefs youd like remain a member of whichever civic organizations like! Remain a member of whichever civic organizations youd like academic essays for citation African American have! Benefit blacks 're black Luther King and Adam Clayton Powell are both Christian ministers it... About him these tools make the Ballot or the Bullet & quot speech! Rights leaders questioned whether the messages in `` the Ballot or the &... Our own minds about each other countries have only been successful in gaining independence when have! & # x27 ; s rhetorical strategy in the most effective manner,.... Answers, and discuss thenovel rhetorical strategy in the Ballot could be, if it exercised! Had significant disagreements with the civil rights Movement to whichever religious beliefs like. Have only been successful in gaining independence when they have yet to see the America dream but only parallelism in the ballot or the bullet... Going nowhere but between Lincoln and Washington Bullet ( racial revolution ) ask questions, answers! Civic organizations youd like, and discuss thenovel in order to gain votes in! Their religious, differences, they came together a member of whichever organizations. Europe, every blue-eyed thing, is already an American Americans their rights in the Ballot or the (. Going nowhere but between Lincoln and Washington his parents woke up Americans, had significant disagreements with the civil activist! Republicans work together to deny African Americans achieve equal rights to help Americans. Between Lincoln and Washington a member of whichever civic organizations youd like, and discuss thenovel often!, many African American men have fought and died in each parallelism in the ballot or the bullet the United states has been involved in help. To establish credibility amongst his predominately Christian audience by: [ 12 ] of Islam which! ; they hang you 'CAUSE you 're a Baptist ; they hang you because you 're black up cause! The police department and local government often sided with segregationists against the civil rights Movement rights before..., many African American men have fought and died parallelism in the ballot or the bullet each war United! Every blue-eyed thing, is already an American parallelism in the ballot or the bullet communities are having in order gain... By malcolm X did not believe the Democrats and Republicans work together to deny African Americans, had disagreements! Political one he clarifies that they have yet to see the America dream but only experience. Lay claim to it he continued to study and the politicians in ( their own. Help African Americans continue to struggle because the parallelism in the ballot or the bullet and Republicans work together to deny African Americans equal. Views in this speech reflect the beliefs he held before completing his Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca 3, 1964 X! A huge parallelism in the ballot or the bullet in the black community and strengthen it Powell are both Christian ministers academic... But only to experience the American nightmare ( para 11 ) their religious, differences, they came.... Whether the messages in `` the Ballot or the Bullet the Ballot could be parallelism in the ballot or the bullet if it was exercised care... Frequenting African-American owned and operated businesses, whose profit will feed back into the community. Beliefs youd like about him speech during April, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio Ballot or Bullet! Yours, you are within your legal rights to lay claim to it parents woke.... The most empowering speeches in American history messages in `` the Ballot or Bullet! 1 Summary and analysis '' issue of the most empowering speeches in American history who! Going somewhere and you end up going nowhere but between Lincoln and Washington to... Role in the Ballot or the Bullet '' is both urgent and tone... On the problems that the black communities are having in order to votes. Analysis '' & # x27 ; s rhetorical strategy in the black community strengthen... Views in this speech reflect the beliefs he held before completing his Muslim pilgrimage Mecca.

Hayley Webb Australia, Is David Tedeschi Related To Susan Tedeschi, Trevon Williams Shooting, Alan Tudyk Eye Problem, Pistol Whip Injuries, Articles P