The "Ballot or the Bullet" is a speech given by civil rights activist Malcolm X in 1964. In the speech, Malcolm X addresses the African American community and encourages them to take action in the fight for their civil rights. He argues that African Americans should not rely solely on the ballot (voting) to bring about change, but should also be prepared to use the bullet (violence) if necessary.
Malcolm X begins the speech by discussing the history of African Americans in the United States. He notes that African Americans have always been oppressed and discriminated against, and that they have always had to fight for their rights. He points out that, despite this, African Americans have made some progress over the years, but that there is still much work to be done.
Malcolm X then goes on to argue that the civil rights movement of the time was not making enough progress and that African Americans needed to take more drastic action. He asserts that the ballot alone is not enough to bring about the necessary change, and that African Americans should also be prepared to use violence if necessary. He argues that violence is sometimes necessary in order to achieve justice, and that African Americans should not be afraid to use it.
Malcolm X also discusses the role of the government in the civil rights movement. He argues that the government has historically been complicit in the oppression of African Americans and that it cannot be trusted to bring about the necessary changes. He calls on African Americans to take matters into their own hands and to fight for their rights.
In conclusion, the "Ballot or the Bullet" is a powerful and influential speech that encourages African Americans to take action in the fight for their civil rights. Malcolm X argues that the ballot alone is not enough to bring about change and that African Americans should also be prepared to use violence if necessary. He also calls on African Americans to take matters into their own hands and to fight for their rights.
Ballot or the Bullet: Summary & Analysis (2022)
As such, African-Americans must endeavor to educate themselves on which politicians will best serve the aims of the civil rights movement. This was featured by his speech in 1964 in which he urged African Americans to utilize their entitlement to vote and threatened the government with a violent reaction if African Americans did not get full voting fairness, expressing "it's either the ballot or the bullet". There has never been a successful non-violent revolution, he says, not even in Hollywood. Human rights, the next question raised by Malcolm, became, in fact, his main point. The black vote is powerful and it is time for the Negro to realize its value.
The Ballot or the Bullet (2012)
If the African-American community continues to blindly stick with the Democratic party, Malcolm asserts, then they are race traitors. The struggle to pass the Civil Rights Act is not an issue of filibustering segregationists, but of a government that violates the citizenship of its people. Throughout the 1960s, numerous civil rights activists lead even more events creating a tense and electric atmosphere on the home front. Because Russia had nuclear weapons pointed at the U. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Summary Of The Ballot Or The Bullet
Bloodiest of all was the American Revolution. Malcolm also said that Uncle Sam was the one that created this problem in the first place and going to his court expecting him to fix the problem would do absolutely nothing because he is the criminal and he is the one that needs to be fixed. Buy Study Guide Summary The Democrats, who promised equal rights for African-Americans, did not accomplish what they said they set out to do. Regardless of age, religion, education, or anything else, the white man is the enemy to them all. Malcolm X Speaks: Selected Speeches and Statements. Though the Democrats blame this on the Dixiecrats southern segregationist Democrats , Malcolm X says that both are at fault. Malcolm X highlights the frustrating struggle of African Americans' fight to be able to vote by mentioning John F.
The Ballot or the Bullet
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 juxtaposes black nationalism with the non-violent philosophy of advocates like Martin Luther King Jr. At numerous times throughout the speech, Malcolm X recounts founding father Patrick Henry's famous quote, "Give me liberty, or give me death," when he tells African Americans the time has come to choose between "the ballot or the bullet. A re-education of Black people must take place to enable them to comprehend how to build and maintain wealth within their own community. And where you and I are concerned, not only do we lose it when we spend it out of the community, but the white man has got all our stores in the community tied up; so that though we spend it in the community, at sundown the man who runs the store takes it over across town somewhere. Moreover, he continued employing specific language and metaphors to express his thoughts about society and history in novel ways, allowing his followers to raise questions Rodriguez.
"The Ballot or the Bullet" by Malcolm X: African Americans Right to Vote
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. King may have different ways of worshipping, but they are both known as civil rights leaders. He frequently coined that the streets can explode at any time, and self-defense can turn into something more Tinson. Even in Hollywood, he jokes, revolutions are bloody. I think it was a mistake to reject this initiative because if it had been passed it would have benefited Californians in a variety of ways. The party line will always be a point on contention but understandably why Mr.
