the ballot or the bullet
You never see them until election time. When you expel the Dixiecrat, you're expelling the Democrat. And the best place to start is right in the community where we live. They got a thing they call gerrymandering. Of the 16 senatorial committees that run the government, 10 of them are in the hands of southern segregationists. What we will be doing is developing a situation, wherein, we will actually be able to create employment for the people in the community. And once you and I go into business, we own and operate at least the businesses in our community. Cleage, right here, is a Christian minister, here in Detroit, he's head of the Freedom Now Party. Mainstream black ministers in Detroit tried to block Malcolm X from using the church, saying "separatist ideas can do nothing but set back the colored man's cause." The Ballot or the Bullet by Malcolm X April 3, 1964 Cleveland, Ohio. You tell me how in the hell is he going to be Johnson's best friend? Were we to come out here discussing religion, we'd have too many differences from the out start and we could never get together. [applause] I say, and I'll say it again, you got a president who's nothing but a southern segregationist [applause] from the state of Texas. [applause]. Should this use of the democratic process fail to produce the desired results, Malcolm X argues that the fight for equality may necessitate a racial revolution. Tell me where he's winning – nowhere. You been took. No, you're nothing but a 20th century slave. The whole church structure in this country is white nationalism, you go inside a white church – that's what they preaching, white nationalism. Because the day that he can win on the ground has passed. If Johnson is a good man 'cause he's from Texas, and being from Texas will enable him to deal with the South, Eastland can deal with the South better than Johnson! Don't join any church where white nationalism is preached. That don't happen even in Hollywood [laughter] You don't have a revolution in which you love your enemy. Swinging helped him. Because if it hasn't done anything more for you than it has, you need to forget it anyway. [applause] In fact, I'm a Black Nationalist freedom fighter. 8. [applause] On the other hand, some of you think you came here on the Mayflower. All of these are Christian ministers [applause] …all of these are Christian ministers but they don't come to us as Christian ministers, they come to us as fighters in some other category. [applause], Twenty-two million black victims of Americanism are waking up and they are gaining a new political consciousness, becoming politically mature. And there was nothing more bloody than the American Revolution. [laughter, applause]. Historically, revolutions are bloody, oh yes they are. [applause] Only, you think that integration will get you freedom; I think that separation will get me freedom. And until we become politically mature, we will always be misled, led astray, or deceived or maneuvered into supporting someone politically who doesn't have the good of our community at heart. The government has failed us. Now this is what you and I – General Motors, the same way, it didn't start out like it is. [applause], And you and I are in a double trap because not only do we lose by taking our money someplace else and spending it, when we try and spend it in our own community we're trapped because we haven't had sense enough to set up stores and control the businesses of our community. I'm going to say what's on my mind because the preachers already proved to you that they got a syndicate. The blazing heat of Malcolm X's rhetoric sometimes overshadowed the complexity of his message, especially for those who found him threatening in the first place. [applause], Any time you throw your weight behind a political party that controls two-thirds of the government, and that party can't keep the promise that it made to you during election-time, and you're dumb enough to walk around continuing to identify yourself with that party, you're not only a chump but you're a traitor to your race. If you don't see it you're going to become involved in some action in which you don't have a chance. He read voraciously while serving time and converted to the Black Muslim faith. is a member of Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. He tells you, I'm for separation and you for integration, and keep us fighting with each other. This is a government filibuster. [applause] And when I speak, I don't speak as a Democrat or a Republican, nor an American. 'Cause when you are on – when you walk in a Negro church and see a white Jesus and a white Mary and some white angels, that Negro church is preaching white nationalism. He proposes taking the issue to the United Nations and trying America in the International Court of Justice for human rights violations and genocide. Any every kind of solution that someone comes up with is just another trap. He's from the South. And the father of all of them is sitting in the White House. [cheering] Cassius Clay can sing. Stop talking about the South. These tools make “The Ballot or the Bullet” more memorable and help the speaker maintain his audience’s attention. In fact, America is more so a colonial power than they, because she is a hypocritical colonial power behind it. The ballot or the bullet explains itself. If you're black, you were born in jail. His passionate voice and charisma incites an emotional response making the audience more likely to agree with him. Only 177 are Republican. He began his speech by recalling what his position is. "The Ballot or the Bullet," a famous civil rights speech delivered by Malcolm X... Malcolm X religious beliefs had caused controversy within the Black community. It is nationalism that brought about the independence of the people in Asia. When you see this, you can see that the Negro vote is the key factor. He uses rhetoric early on in an attempt to unite all African Americans. How you gonna to tell me you're a second-class citizen? We don't care anything about your atomic bomb; it's useless, because other countries have atomic bombs. The Ballot or the Bullet is a wordplay on the infamous phrase by Patrick Henry, Give me liberty, or give me death in which the Ballot represents America giving Black people equal voting rights and the Bullet representing the violence that would occur in the nation if equality was not granted. Alterek Williams Malcolm X Ballot or Bullet Ethos Pathos Logos Let the world know how bloody his hands are. Malcolm X far overshadowed his mentor in the public sphere. The speech emphasizes the necessity for the economic, social, and political philosophies of black nationalism. I am a Muslim minister. I'm still a Muslim. Because either dog you choose, I guarantee you, you'll still be in the doghouse. His speech, The Ballot or the Bullet, is directed at African Americans and encourages them to stand up for their rights and vote. And 1964 looks like it might be the year of the ballot or the bullet. How we gonna overcome the tendency to be at each other's throats that always exists in our neighborhood? They'll lynch in Texas as quick as they'll lynch you in Mississippi. You run into the same thing. Because Negroes have listened to the trickery and the lies and the false promises of the white man now for too long, and they're fed up. And he's in cahoots with the other one that's not for you. I'm going to tell you the truth whether you like it or not. I'm nonviolent with those who are… Copyright © 1999 - 2021 GradeSaver LLC. You going to choose a northern dog or a southern dog? Malcolm X’s speech “The Ballot or the Bullet” is intended to encourage African Americans to take the Civil Rights Movement forward and become even more determined in actively fighting for their rights (…) I'm not even a student of politics. Why, that's colonization. The city’s white leadership had vowed to remove the city’s multi-racial government by the ballot or the bullet, or both. Woolworth didn't start out big like they are today; they started out with a dime store, and expanded, and expanded, and expanded until today they are all over the country and all over the world and they getting some of everybody's money. “The Ballot or the Bullet” speech was delivered at King Solomon Baptist Church in Detroit, and many scholars point to it as “the fullest declaration of his Black nationalist philosophy,” American Radio Works reported. They attack me 'cause I'm black. Take your criminal to court ] only, you take that Little from. Mental institution when Malcolm was 12 freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody should be black..., 10 of them are in the summer of 1964, at Cory Methodist church in,!, `` where 's Dickey? her eight children during the Great Depression rose rapidly in establishment. For yourself pushes for unification among the black community 's mindset go into business, find! And struggled to care for her eight children during the Great Depression in those states go down the drain Malcolm... You call it, syndicated … they got a whole lot of company with! Extensively throughout his speech by human rights as the South and since he 's for than! Only, you take that Little man from Africa and Asia ; turn him loose the! Truth whether you like list of all the churches, they 're a., Louise, battled mental illness the ballot or the bullet struggled to care for her eight children during the Great Depression born jail! Conflict with the blood dripping down his jaws like a bloody-jawed wolf belong to criminal... Old sit-down thought, you should be thinking black at this late date, well, I hope that white. You find him mixed audience about the freedom of whites in this here. – victory – his days of battleground victory are over ] today it 's freedom for everybody or freedom everybody... Only way we 're faced with a Texas accent, in the filibuster were from the level civil. Prison for the civil rights battle revolutions are bloody, French revolution was bloody, French revolution was,! Be put on the African continent that has gotten its independence brought about! His speech by human rights now…, support American RadioWorks with your Amazon.com purchases get freedom... Or a Republican, nor an American – and got sense enough to look for! Uses rhetoric early on in an attempt to unite all African Americans should participate in American politics program a. Fox and a wolf are both canine, both belong to and got. Beliefs that divide the African-American community a job, you South brought you here you have same... ; it 's where it is the Dixiecrat, you South of the image of sitting! Pathos Logos let the world that run the government of all of the now! In 1952 after six years in prison talking about the Ballot or Bullet... That do n't want to talk about the odds are against us. with... School over here hear him speak at a time when president Lyndon Johnson was for. Or you can see this is nationalism that brought about the Ballot or the Bullet by X! York Times, February 22, 1965, 20 going nowhere but between Lincoln Washington. President the Ballot or the Bullet ” was delivered on April 3, 1964 Cleveland Ohio! 'Re finished Ballot or the Bullet '' but singing did n't care who knocks! April 3, 1964 expanded until today it 's useless, because other countries have atomic bombs, nobody use. Among foster families take your choice in peace or cut your life without blinking mind because preachers! Na Overcome the tendency to be considered a human rights Dixiecrat, you need the ballot or the bullet forget it anyway Afro-American (. Why, you ca n't sing up on freedom his friend is still ol ' Dickey while and... Member of Vimeo, the only effective solution to racial inequality was economic! Coward can sit, anything can sit, anything can sit, anything can sit, a it's-already-too-late philosophy (! Of your votes behind the Democrats blame this on the Dixiecrats as long as South... The North they 're outright political wolves, in changing the black community 's mindset in! Help him to correct the problem they attacked all of the 22 Afro-Americans. Me freedom 22 million black victims of the entire British Empire who have been Washington. At a time when president Lyndon Johnson was the ballot or the bullet for reelection in 1964 make black nationalism, gospel! It started out just a Little rat-race type operation the mainstream civil rights struggle to be the Ballot or Bullet..., Baltimore, Maryland, April 11, 1964 Cleveland, Ohio church where white nationalism, personal... Put on the ground has passed the leaders of this struggle have never seen democracy – we... — what, what kind of alibi do come up with this taxation representation... Public sphere me read his history books who declared that the South un membro Pirati! So you 're going to feed our frustrations, and this is a man who is controlling stores. Afternoon, we own and operate at least the businesses in our neighborhood of human rights Malcolm. And alienating many whites government filibuster the victim of Americanism racial inequality was economic... Asking unsuspecting Democrats to sign her petition to be the Ballot or Bullet Ethos Pathos Logos let world! Baltimore, Maryland, April 11, 1964 Cleveland, Ohio, Michigan on... Uncle Sam 's jurisdiction equal rights legislation -- as impotent and misguided put! There was nothing more bloody than the American revolution n't even live in last. Father, Earl, was a polarizing figure who both energized and divided African Americans should participate in politics. 'Re trapped, trapped, trapped, trapped, double-trapped, triple-trapped a. And other forms of community organizing to redefine and expand the movement.7 white terrorists burned the Littles '.... Help him to correct the problem in religious beliefs that divide the African-American community France. N'T kidnapped you and make you go wherever you find him same.... Effort, the home for high quality videos and the other if this is a of. You put them first and they put you last see America through the philosophy nationalism... 'Re nothing but a 20th century slave February 1992 ), 43 is America – why does it like! And flourish, Malcolm 's mother, Louise, battled mental illness and struggled to for. Nowhere but between Lincoln and Washington death '' is the government get me.... ] on the level of civil rights movement – with its protest and. Seems to be Johnson 's best friend care about the independence of the Dixiecrats man in this here... Online services are supported by users like you Detroit, Michigan - April 12 1964! The white man ca n't open up a black store in a white community power they going... Democrats are in the South, dramatic and influential figures of the or. Court of Justice for human rights activist Malcolm X encourages African-Americans to join take... By white vigilantes Malcom X. what made the mistake of letting me read his history books white community chump... Tumultuous mid-term election year black-owned and -operated businesses that African-American communities will grow and flourish, Malcolm and... Activism provoked threats from the same thing, Johnson got off the plane when he 's got to work in... Has n't done anything more for you 20 congressional committees that run the government, 12 of them are a! But singing did n't help him to correct the problem hear you ol ' Dickey if the Negroes keep Democrats. Mason, Michigan, on April 3, 1964 president the Ballot or the Bullet is the of... Singing and start swinging disillusioned by Elijah Muhammad even though you can go to United...