ipl-logo

Rhetorical Analysis Of The Ballot Or The Bullet

1148 Words5 Pages

Several people now and throughout history have experienced a sense of inequality within their lives. In his speech, “The Ballot or the Bullet,” Malcolm X, addresses how the depletion of rights within his race has led to many conflicts. In, “The Ballot or the Bullet,” the speaker--Malcolm X--explores through ethics, establishing a commonplace, a historical reference, anaphora, and analogies to prove to his audience they must take action in order to gain their human and civil rights. Malcolm X urges his audience that in order to achieve equality, they must take action and set aside differences. He develops his point through an ethical appeal. Malcolm states that we must set aside our differences, it 's morally right, “Muslims or nationalists …show more content…

No white man that should tell them their rights, “If it is necessary to form a black nationalist army, we will form a black nationalist army. It’ll be the ballot or the bullet. It’ll be liberty or it’ll be death” (Malcolm 45). This first analogy is saying that if the white man does not listen to their cries for rights, they must strike back; it’ll be the ballot (freedom) or the bullet. A further example is the true meaning of segregation, “Segregation means that he puts you away from him, but not far enough for you to be out of his jurisdiction...i’ll die saying one thing: the ballot or the bullet…” (Malcolm 48). Malcolm uses powerful word choice to convey that they need to gain freedom, and if the movement for rights does not work out as planned, come down with pride saying: “the ballot or the bullet.” Malcolm X focuses his entire speech on the “ballot or the bullet” reference. In these cases, he uses them to establish what they need to execute to take action against the government that is abusing their human and civil rights. In conclusion, “The Ballot or the Bullet,” presented by Malcolm X, includes the rhetorical strategies ethics, establishing a commonplace, a historical reference, anaphora, and analogies to display to the reader we must strive for equality. Malcolm X uses these examples to fabricate his point: setting aside differences, the problem is the Democrats, America is being corrupted, black nationalism, and the “ballot or the bullet” reference. The obvious would be, instead of gaining control of one another, we must learn to forgive and forget our

Show More
Related

Martin Luther King Jr Vs Malcolm X Research Paper

723 Words | 3 Pages

That is when Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr were fighting for civil rights, even though they were both fighting for the same reason but they both had different methods trying to achieve what they wanted. Malcolm’s idea was to use violence against the racist people who would attack them to death or end, up injured severely and on the other hand, Martin’s ideas were to protest peacefully and to not use violence even if they were being attacked severely as well. Malcolm X's philosophy made the most sense for America during the 1960’s because they were being attacked violently and what he wanted was to make them feel the same pain they felt as they were attacked. Although many people think that the best option is not used violence, but that could actually be wrong. If the person who is attacking the other with violence

Read More

Annotated Bibliography: The Autobiography Of Malcolm X

1072 Words | 5 Pages

Thesis: In “The Autobiography of Malcolm X”, Malcolm X in his telling of his life to Alex Haley uncovers the theme of positive and negative environments unearthed by the interaction of African Americans and White Americans in his life and what those kinds of environments inherently produce. Annotated Bibliography Nelson, Emmanuel S. Ethnic American Literature: an Encyclopedia for Students. Greenwood, An Imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC, 2015.This encyclopedia points out that the negative interaction he held with the white man as a young hustler was countered by these same experiences pushing Malcolm X to reclaim his “African identity”. This shows, as described by the cited work, what a man pushed by his negative interactions with the oppressive white men is willing to do to find his identity (i.e. through hustling).

Read More

Who Is Malcolm X's Speech Appeal In The Ballot Or The Bullet

834 Words | 4 Pages

Imagine living in a world of segregation - constantly judged by color of one’s skin and not being permitted to associate with the “superior” race. From slavery to discrimination, African-Americans experienced this horror in daily life since the beginning of their existence. Due to the fear of severe punishment, blacks were scared to fight for equality; however, on April 3, 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio, one brave soul finally did. His name was Malcolm Little (known as Malcolm X), a widely acknowledged human rights activist. Although he supported black equality, he attacked the problem unlike others such as Martin Luther King Jr. did.

Read More

Philosophical Differences Between Martin Luther King And Malcolm X

1512 Words | 7 Pages

Philosophical differences between martin luther king and malcolm X The philosophical differences between Martin Luther King and Malcolm X have to do with the their protest strategies. MLK never fought with violence. Although he would get physically attacked, he stood his ground and continued to fight for equality peacefully. King believed that whites and blacks should come together to end the hate and violence.

Read More

Malcolm X Book Report

971 Words | 4 Pages

This book brings together some of the best primary sources on Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X that relate to what I’ve learned in history class. Through their writings and speeches, I appreciate the roles they played in the freedom crusade of the 1950s and 1960s. It is a good summary of its essential teachings that give me insight into their individual styles and personalities. The book is not one that tries to force ideas or a religion on the reader but instead offers new insight on two of these most important civil rights leaders of the century. It is a valuable effort that helps me both within and beyond the classroom, which focuses on the crucial years in the lives of quintessentially human

Read More

The Ballot Or The Bullet Rhetorical Analysis

607 Words | 3 Pages

We know that in order to create an effective message whether on speech or paper, the three rhetorical appeals are essential. The Ballot or the Bullet by Malcolm X demonstrates all three appeals superbly. Malcolm X himself builds ethos very well, as well as displays his automatic ethos. He also appeals to logos through an ample amount of solid reasoning and several facts. In this speech pathos is extremely well present and effective.

Read More

Martin Luther King Jr And Malcolm X Comparison Essay

1125 Words | 5 Pages

Martin Luther King Jr said,“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools”. In the late 1960s, racial tension was high, African Americans were not given the right to vote, the right to a fair education, and the right to a fair judgement. This then led to the separation of schools and the destruction of a normal livelihood. Dr.King and Malcolm X, two men in the face of oppression rose up to challenge the racial barrier, thus changing the world forever. Although Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X seem to have mutual respect and an equal understanding of the inequality, their philosophies were quite different from each other.

Read More

The Great Debaters Rhetorical Analysis

334 Words | 2 Pages

When arguing for racial equality, James Farmer Jr. quotes St.Augustine, “An unjust law is no law at all.” He claims that just laws are meant to protect all citizens; whereas, unjust laws that discriminate Negroes are not laws to be followed, thus raising awareness of racial discrimination by using emotional and logical appeals. In The Great Debaters, Henry Lowe appeals to the audience’s emotions during a debate about Negro integration into state universities. To challenge his opponent’s claim that the South isn 't ready to integrate Negroes into universities, he affirms that if change wasn’t forcefully brought upon the South, Negroes would “still be in chains,” which is an allusion to slavery. With this point, he is able to raise awareness of

Read More

The Ballot Or The Bullet Summary

472 Words | 2 Pages

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

Read More

Malcolm X Influence

559 Words | 3 Pages

Malcolm was not a man who believed that the problem of the African Americans would be solved through a peaceful, quiet means and nuances, he believed the problem has graduated through the centuries and has come to a stage when the assertion of African Americans’ existence as humans has to be forcefully done or never. Malcolm’s methods were mainly campaigns and speeches aimed at restoring the dignity of the black man, his confidence in himself and a complete freedom as Americans

Read More

The Ballot Or The Bullet Essay

1318 Words | 6 Pages

Malcolm X and his ideals are arguably a representation of the transition from the early 1950 's non-violent movement for integration to a more aggressive black power movement. Evidence of this is shown through powerful strands of his novel “The Ballot or the Bullet” including when he writes, “I don 't mean go out and get violent, but at the same time you should never be non-violent unless you run into some non-violence.” (Malcolm 439). In writing that members of the civil rights movement should never be non-violent he does so facetiously. This excerpt indicates a call for violence as a more powerful method for achieving the equality he feels they deserve.

Read More

Malcolm X And Black Rage

946 Words | 4 Pages

(West 140) West argues “[Malcolm X’s] claim is both subtle and problematic. It is subtle in that every black freedom movement is predicated on an affirmation of African humanity and a quest for black control over

Read More

Compare And Contrast I Have A Dream And Martin Luther King Jr.

719 Words | 3 Pages

Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. were both two African American civil rights activists who were very prominent throughout history. They fought for what they believed in but in vastly different ways. Martin Luther King Jr. was born to a middle class family and was well educated. Malcolm X, on the other hand, grew up in a rather hostile environment with barely enough schooling. Both their speeches, “I Have a Dream” and “The Ballot or the Bullet” may have shared some common traits, but at the same time, differed greatly in various aspects.

Read More

Thesis Statement On Malcolm X

717 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More

Summary Of Malcolm X's Speech By Any Means Necessary

395 Words | 2 Pages

According to X, “The ballot or the bullet”... “Now in speaking like this, it doesn't mean that we're anti­-white, but it does mean we're anti­-exploitation,we're anti­-degradation, we're anti­-oppression. And if the white man doesn't want us to be anti-­him, let him stop oppressing and exploiting and degrading us”(Malcolm #2). The essence of Malcolm’s argument is that he is not anti white, he is anti whites oppressing and disenfranchising African Americans and if the white person wants to not be hated, then he should stop hating himself. In a letter written in Mecca, Malcolm X says,“on this pilgrimage, what I have seen,and experienced, has forced me to re-arrange much of my thought-patterns previously held, and to toss aside some of my previous conclusions” (Malcolm X).

Read More

More about Rhetorical Analysis Of The Ballot Or The Bullet

Related Topics

Open Document