“…if we don’t cast a ballot, it’s going to end up in a situation where we’re going to have to cast a bullet. It’s either a ballot or a bullet”
said Malcolm X on April 3, 1964, in his speech “The Ballot or the Bullet.” Amid the 1950s and the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement was in play where black people were endeavoring to obtain equal rights under the law in the United States.
Around the time of the speech, as expressed by Dr. Ron Daniels in his article about the anniversary of Malcolm X’s assassination, many Black leaders were battling with the government to pass a bill that ensures the rights Black-American citizens. Tensions were high as more news of police brutality appeared in the news, many felt like there was a need for change. Somebody who was willing to help push people towards the change was Malcolm X, a Muslim minister and a human rights activist who advocate for Black Nationalism.
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On April 3, 1964, Malcolm X traveled to King Solomon Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan to urge black people to vote on people whom they know for sure will help them, not the people that have given them empty promises in his speech “The Ballot or the Bullet.”
He also used this chance to assure his followers that his philosophy is still Black Nationalism after his departure from the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X effectively urged people of color to stand up against their oppressors and take a stand in government in “The Ballot or the Bullet,” whilst also utilizing ethos, logos, and pathos to further explain his points.
Towards the start of the speech, Malcolm X utilizes ethos to pass on that he knows, comprehends, and feels the battle that black individuals have to experience since he is additionally black. “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”(Malcolm X). This demonstrates regardless of what sort of living circumstance or what sort of life you live if you’re black, you have a similar enemy.
He identifies with his group of onlookers by discussing their shared adversary, which he considered was white individuals. His utilization of censorious terms against white individuals starts a sentiment of wonderment in black individuals as he was talking against white individuals who have dependably put themselves above dark individuals.
For example, Malcolm X states “Those Honkies that just got off the boat, they’re already Americans; Polacks are already Americans; the Italian refugees are already Americans. Everything that came out of Europe, every blue-eyed thing, is already an American. And as long as you and I have been over here, we aren’t Americans yet”. Utilizing this rhetorical device enables the audience to build up a more profound association with Malcolm X and his speech, which helps drive his point over the gathering of people.
Malcolm X utilizes pathos compellingly in his discourse. A standout amongst the best sentiment precedents utilized by Malcolm X was when he discussed how if they don’t stand firm against their abuse, their children will suffer as well. “If you don’t take this kind of stand, your little children will grow up and look at you and think “shame”.
In this statement, Malcolm is influencing individuals to participate in Black Nationalism all together for their children not to endure a similar abuse they did. He is utilizing a parent’s adoration and defense towards their youngster to interest their feelings and persuade individuals to stand firm.
Another case of Malcolm using pathos in his speech is when begun to utilize huge numbers and details to demonstrate the degree of the issue of oppression against people of color. Here, Malcolm states, “I’m one of the 22 million black people who are the victims of Americanism. One of the 22 million black people who are the victims of democracy, nothing but disguised hypocrisy”.
This enlivens what number of individuals are influenced by oppression in America to the audience, it voices their contemplations and sentiments of selling out by their administration so anyone can hear. Malcolm voicing these thoughts makes individuals feel progressively slanted to follow him since they feel like he has similar thought like them. These details additionally will make individuals feel sympathy towards the circumstance, which will likewise make individuals feel slanted to follow him.
When talking on why black individuals should vote in favor of their political leaders who might really profit them, he skillfully included logos to additionally demonstrate his point. “Don’t be throwing out any ballots. A ballot is like a bullet. You don’t throw your ballots until you see a target, and if that target is not within your reach, keep your ballot in your pocket”.
Here, Malcolm utilizes rationale and explanations to persuade black individuals to really vote in favor of individuals who will do as they guarantee, who will profit the black community. The manner in which the words it drills is sufficiently appealing to be penetrated into the audience’s head where they will recollect it when they choose to vote in favor of their political leaders.
The diction on this statement influences it to appear as though it is common sense so individuals will trust this is the thing that they should do rather than the manner in which they were casting a ballot voting previously. In another analysis, Rochelle Hernandez comments that the point of the quote is to bring together the black community to take action against the white politicians who have done wrongdoings to people of color.
Malcolm X’s “The Ballot or the Bullet” adequately encouraged minorities to face their oppressors and stand firm in government while giving recommendations on the most proficient method to do it effectively. His utilization of ethos, logos, and tenderness adequately gain the consideration and trust of black individuals.
The name “The Ballot or the Bullet” demonstrated to the people of color that they should vote in favor of people that will profit them into office or else there will be no other decision yet to use violence, adequately stirring a feeling of criticalness into his audience, along with the use of pathos and logos in the speech, which pushed them to stand firm against their abuse all the more rapidly.
