The Dream and the Ballot or the Bullet

He emotionally appeal to his audience in a straight forward way. He made his black Americans feel like they are not American even though they were born in this country. Instead of approaching the issue like other civil rights leaders, he promotes the separation of the black and white populations. Malcolm X said I am not a Republican nor a Democrat, nor an American, and got sense enough to know it. I am one of the 22million black victims of the Democrats, one of the 22 million black vicctims of Americanism. And when I speak, I don’t speak as a Democrat, or a Republican *nor an American*. I speak as a victim of America’s so called democracy"(Malcolm X). Malcolm here is tryed to arouse his audience and make his audience angry.

Powerful movements require powerful leadership. During the 1960s a push for civil rights developed, and African Americans took various positions. Two strong leaders, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X approached the Civil Rights Movement using different methods. Their speeches reflect the disposition of their tactics. In his speech, “I Have a Dream,” Martin Luther King, Jr. focuses on applying his non-violent philosophy. On the contrary, Malcolm X projects himself in an aggressive tone reflecting the attitudes of Black Nationalists in “Ballot or the Bullet.” These speakers demonstrate their objectives and tone through their use of diction and syntax.

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed - we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal" (King, “I HAVE A DREAM…,” pg.4 ¶.5). Both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were major figures in the fight for racial equality but their ideals were diametrically opposed. In MLK JR’s March on Washington speech, he calls for peaceful resistance and integration into an equal society. Malcolm X, however, disagrees with that in his Message to Grassroots and argues equality cannot be obtained peacefully and that living together wouldn’t be much better than slavery. By comparing the two men’s goals and messages expressed in these speeches we can gain an understanding of the feelings of the general populace on the issues of racial inequity.

Opposeors to Martin Luther King's non-violent forms of protest felt that the Civil Rights Movement was dominated by white people too much and that black people should be more in control over the protests that affect them the most. Whites were heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement on all levels, from senior positions involving planning the strategy and policies of the movement, to white liberals joining the protests and demonstrations. Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam felt that white people were not to be trusted and therefore white people would only harm the struggle for improvement of life for black people. Malcolm X openly criticised the 1963 Civil Rights march on Washington, where Martin Luther King delivered his famous "I have a dream…" speech to over two hundred thousand people. Malcolm X said that the march had been taken over by white liberals: "as they [white liberals] took it over it lost its militancy. It ceased to be angry, it ceased to be hot, it ceased to be uncompromising…it became a picnic, a circus". (11) Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam felt that a more uncompromising solidly black force could achieve far more than the more liberal people of the Civil Rights Movement. This offered an

As one of the most proficient civil rights activist of the 1960's, Malcolm X and his speeches were very influential but particularly one speech was highly esteemed, that being the Ballot or the Bullet speech. A speech that was given after the "I have A Dream speech by Dr. Martin Luther King. Despite, Dr. Martin Luther King being a pacifist and also a civil rights activist as well; Malcolm X was more tyrannical and advocated the use of violence. During this era, the democrats were in control of the House of Representatives and the Senate, therefore both the Senate and the House of Representatives were leaning towards providing more civil rights to African-Americans. The purpose of Malcolm X’s speech was to convince African Americans to

Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X had a common purpose for African Americans; justice and equality. Illustrated through their speeches, Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” and Malcolm X’s “Talk to Young African Americans”, the two did not share techniques or ideas. Yet both men had the support of millions and millions of people.

The two most influential civil rights activists in American history were Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. They supported equal rights for every race, but when comparing MLK’s “I Have a Dream’ and Malcolm X’s “The Ballot or the Bullet,” one sees the similarities in their rhetorical styles and differences in their tone and message. As seen in “I Have a Dream,” MLK has a more civilized and peaceful solution to the nation’s problems; whereas in X’s he has a will to do whatever it may take to solve the problems.

Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most famous civil rights activists in the history of the United States. He gave several important speeches and promoted non-violent protests. His most famous speech was “I Have A Dream”, around a quarter of a million patrons, black and white, attended this empowering speech at the March on Washington on August 28, 1963. The reason his speech was vastly successful in the movement against segregation and injustice was because of its repetitiveness.

Martin Luther King Jr. changed the Civil Rights movement with the sound of his voice. Martin Luther King was the most powerful activist for equal rights because of his peaceful marches, and speeches. The March on Washington and the I Have a Dream speech were the most important events he participated in. The “I Have a Dream” speech took place in August, 1963, in Washington D.C. The speech was monumental for the Civil Rights Movement, as it was broadcasted nationwide. The speech consisted of how African Americans have been discriminated against as time progress since the Gettysburg Address one hundred years before. Dr. King then went on to explain some of the problems African Americans still face today. As the speech went on he gradually raised

Many people have heard the famous “I have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King Jr., but do you know about Malcolm X? “Freedom comes to us either by ballot, or by bullet.”(X 12), a line from “What does Mississippi have to do with Harlem” by Malcolm X. In his speech he talks about the many problems going on during the early 1950’s to the late 1960’s. Malcolm X’s speech used language the best to inspire and motivate people to take a stand against segregation, throughout his speech he uses many different types of figurative languages to get his message across to people.

On 3rd April 1964, Malcom X addressed the Negro community assembled in Cleveland over the controversial issue of the civil rights movement. “The Ballot or the Bullet” speech of Malcom X can be considered as a direct response to “I have a Dream” speech of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Malcom X and Dr. Martin were taking a stand for the true freedom of the same community but with a diagonally opposite philosophies. Dr. Martin chose a non-violent approach inspired from an Indian freedom fighter Gandhi, whereas Malcom X’s approach was radical and violent. The aim of Malcom’s speech was to invoke a need for action amongst the African-American community while at the same time generating a fear of civil war amongst the Whites.

Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X are notable activists during the civil rights movement in America. They were leaders highly credited by the public. They carried similar, and different views on how to take on oppression in America. “Nonviolence: The Only Road to Freedom” (1966) by Martin Luther King and “The Ballot or the Bullet” (1964) by Malcolm X had points were they agreed with one another, points of controversy were the did not see eye to eye, and points of disagreement about violence in the civil rights movement.

Malcolm X’s “The Ballot or the Bullet” was one of the most significant and powerful speeches delivered during the Civil Rights era. X, an advocate for civil rights, was also an influential leader who sought to end the complete and utter degradation of Black Americans. Conflicting with the peaceful and nonviolent Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was another important leader at his time, X believed in using any means necessary, including violence, to accomplish his goals. Because of his controversial methods, X was seen as a radical, causing many to disagree with his tactics. Without a doubt, X was definitely a great leader and excellent orator, regardless of his disputable views. He understood the influence of language and used that to his own advantage, as he created and delivered an inspiring speech to achieve his purpose. In “The Ballot or the Bullet,” X’s appeal to emotion, critical tone, and his overall consideration of his audience convinces Black Americans to hasten their fight for equality.

Malcolm X delivered “The Ballot or the Bullet,” one of the most inspiring and empowering speeches to ever be spoken on American soil, on April 3, 1964. Two thousand people, including his friends as well as his enemies, came to watch the black civil rights activist speak about black nationalism during the election year. He stressed individual uplift, moral reform, and entrepreneurship. He used this speech as a call to action. He wanted to inspire every member of the black population to be their own person.

From the late 1870s to the late 1960s, two powerful, moving and motivational speeches were given from two mighty hero’s. These individuals fought for civil rights, made a transformation in the world, and changed the outlook of people’s point of view. Susan B. Anthony was a legendary American civil rights leader and is famous for her arrest for voting in 1872. She traveled all over the country giving speeches and circulated petitions and organized local women’s rights organizations. One of her most famous speeches, “After Being Convicted of Voting,” was to prove she committed no crime in voting and that she was merely using her citizen rights. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. too stood strong for what he believed in. King was a Baptist minister, civil-rights activist, and was the head of the Southern Christian Leadership conference. Similar to Anthony, King gave several powerful speeches around the United States. One of his renowned speeches “I Have a Dream,” was to end racism. King continued to persistently writing speeches, he even wrote a letter while he was in a jail called, “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” King wanted equal rights for all African American people and peace through the States. Susan B. Anthony and Martin Luther King Jr. stood strong in what they believed was right. These two American civil rights activists strongly express their beliefs by persuading their audience by using logos, ethos and pathos.