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The Ballot Or The Bullet Speech Analysis

1035 Words5 Pages

Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X were both powerful African American figures in history who spoke on the issue of discrimination against blacks and equal rights. While Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X were both advocates for African Americans and had similar goals, they preached opposing methods, ideas and beliefs. Martin Luther King, a christian man, passionately upheld the idea of seeking freedom through nonviolent actions, depicted in his speech ‘I have a Dream’. Malcolm X practiced ideas which were inspired by the Muslim teachings and condoned fighting back and ‘playing fire with fire’ which he portrays in “The Ballot or the Bullet” speech. Despite their disagreements, ultimately, Martin and Malcolm both aimed for freedom and equal rights in America but their beliefs, methods, and deliveries were different.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
As a preacher of nonviolence and leader of peace, Martin Luther King Jr wanted blacks to unite against racism through a completely civil manner. After growing up in a middle class family and following the christian faith, Martin became a minister and …show more content…

“Concerning nonviolence, it is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks.” One of the main arguments Malcom is making in the speech is the power in fighting back. He claims that the African American community has been abused for too long and they need to take violent actions in order for anything to change. In other words, he is holding the black man accountable for their unfair conditions. “We want freedom now, but we’re not going to get it saying“We Shall Overcome.” We’ve got to fight until we overcome.” With this, Malcolm is rejecting Martin Luther Kings peaceful method and proposing something much more

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The speech opened the eyes of many blacks, inspiring a change to begin to occur. Through analogies, metaphors, and a vitriolic and urgent tone, Malcolm X concisely and clearly informs the audience of their mistreatment and encourages them to get their just deserts. X’s intelligence, passion, and oratorical skills helped make “The Ballot or the Bullet” one of the greatest rhetorical acts in black history. This phrase, “The Ballot or the Bullet”, truly defines Malcolm X’s stance on the current treatment of blacks and how he believes a violent response is necessary when all other means of communication are ignored or

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Introduction: Malcom X urges the Negro community to fight to gain the equal rights they deserve by taking action against their white oppressors. He emphasizes that blacks will gain their rights either thorough voting, with the ballot, or else through the inevitable violence with the bullet. Thesis [part a] Like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., also fighting for the civil rights of black Americans in the 1960s, but in a more peaceful manner, Malcom X takes a different approach.

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