What Is The Purpose Of Malcolm X's Speech

This is seen when he says, “We will never communicate talking one language and he’s talking another language. He’s talking the language of violence...If his language is with a shotgun, get a shotgun...But don’t waste time talking the wrong language to a man, if you want to really communicate with him” (paragraph 2). In this quote, Malcolm uses the analogy of comparing actions to language to make his point clear. What he wants is for the people to “speak the same language” and uses literary devices and strong wording to get that to sink in. He explains how if they want white people to listen to them, then they have to speak the same language they are, where the case is violence. This incited many African-Americans to fight back against the violent and unfair treatment they received from white

I have a dream that one day everyone will understand what Martin Luther King Jr said in his infamous speech on August 28, 1963, and recognize the power and beauty in his words. In the “I Have a Dream” speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. persuades the citizens of the United States that they should no longer accept segregation, and all men should be created equal, as our Constitution states. In this fight though, we can not use violence, but use the power of words, and not stop until every human being is free. This speech was given in a time where black people were made to think that they were equal with white people, when in actuality, they were “separate but equal” which is not the same thing. This is when called segregation flourished and eventually, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had enough of this injustice and he spoke out to the citizens of the United States and the world to fight for freedom. This speech used all of the rhetorical devices: ethos, logos, and pathos, and it used such powerful, discrete language that not only persuaded the reader, but entertained them, drawing in his audience after every word. Its rhythm made it stay with people, haunting them. He truly made it clear of the awful ways the African American people were being treated, connecting to them, making them feel something, making the reader want to listen to him and follow King with every step he took.

In the speech “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution” Dr. King stated his thoughts about segregation, racial justice, and war. Dr. King thought segregation was the worst thing a country could do, he couldn’t see how people could live this way. He’s basically saying that we had to be united and form a “Brother Hood” not with

He then compares Uncle Tom to Martin Luther king Jr calling him “Just a 20th century or modern Uncle Tom or a religious Uncle Tom who was doing the same thing today to keep negros defendless” Malcolm X knew other activist opposed his methods. These activist claimed that Malcolm X was encouraging violence, trying to raise war and as Dr. King once said Malcolm X was causing “negative tension” to build. This was not his goal whatsoever. He simply trying to prevent his people from being like he says “defenseless in face of attack.” The whites had already shown they were not going to back down without a fight and have proven it both physically, mentally and vocally. Just as in 1963 after the Birmingham church bombing when 100’s of protesters marched thru Alabama but were saldy beaten and sprayed with a fire hose at full force for no apparent reason. The whites proved the were ready for war and Malcolm X was preparing to give it to him. All he needed was the support from the

On the other hand, Malcolm X had a different approach in providing African Americans equality. Malcolm X believed anything must be done to provide equality for African Americans. For Malcolm, anything would also be violence, unlike Dr. King who favored on non-violence ways to achieve equality. During 1950’s and early 1960’s Malcolm became a speaker for the Nation of Islam. Malcolm created newspapers and organized several temples to get his message out. For Malcolm, whites were devils because they oppressed blacks. Malcolm was one of the leaders that motivated racial dignity, black power, and economic opportunities for blacks. As the lines in PBS states "Brothers and sisters, the white man has brainwashed us black people to fasten our gaze on a blond-haired, blue-eyed Jesus! We're worshipping a Jesus that doesn't even look like us! ... The white man has taught us to shout and sing and pray until we die…” it explains that Christianity is not a religion that Black people can follow. He felt that Christianity is a religion followed by Whites and we as African Americans cannot follow this religion. Also, Malcolm believed that nonviolence was a realistic concept as he states, "I don't favor violence. If we could bring about recognition and respect of our people by peaceful means, well and good. Everybody would like to reach his objectives peacefully. But I'm also a realist. The only people in this country who are asked to be nonviolent are black people” (PBS). In other words for him being violent is not needed but has become necessary. In these lines Malcolm believes that Whites are not peaceful and they continue to be violent and as a result African Americans are asked to be nonviolent.

Analyzing the origin of racial history allows one to witness the inherent value within this argument: the idea of unity vs. diversity. As a result of the plethora of different races immigrating to the United States, the nation’s already immense diversity increased as most immigrants’ were in search for better lives through the “American Dream” and promised opportunity (Life). However, at this time, many whites believed their skin color automatically made them superior when juxtaposed with other races, specifically blacks; this led to unequal opportunity in harsh conditions when working for larger businesses and corporations. With this diversity existent in America, the idea of unity was absent, in the whites’ naive mindset. When famous figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. advocated for equal rights through non-violent protests and the creation of the “Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern state,” (King) as he wrote in his letter from Birmingham Jail, he and his followers were met with

No man in our time aroused fear and hatred in the white man as did Malcolm, because in him the white man sense an implacable foe who could not be had for any price-a man unreservedly committed to the cause of liberating the black man in American society rather than integrating the black man into that society. (Haley XXV) Without a doubt Malcolm X was one of the most brilliantly moving speakers that has ever lived. His strong voice and commanding presence paired with his wit and sheer intelligence brought a people to their feet and struck fear in the hearts of a nation. Malcolm X excited and inspired a passive people to take a stand for real.

Malcolm X states that he believes African Americans, “should protect ourselves at any means necessary when we are attacked by racists” (Malcolm X Document 9). If the colored people used violence they would be seen as the “bad guy”. King states, “Violence may go to the point of murdering the hater, but it doesn’t murder hate. It may increase hate. Violence…doesn’t solve any problems.” (King Document 8). Martin Luther King, Jr. is saying that if someone kills a hater, that someone doesn’t stop the hate. Hate will still continue in the world and the person who killed the hater is now a murderer. Plus, murder is violence. Violence can solve nothing because violence just creates more evil. So, if the colored people fought back they would be creating more violence. Using peaceful ways of protest, such as, speeches which can be a way to protect themselves and get their point across. Malcolm believes in the separation of races instead of integration, “We encourage Afro-American themselves to establish experimental institutes and educational workshops, liberation schools and child-care centers in Afro-American communities” (Malcolm X Document 5). This would be unsustainable for a long period of time because it goes against human nature of wanting to stay together. Dr. King said that

Malcolm never really believed in the collective actions of peaceful assembly and inclusion because he had a different attitude in addressing the situation. His speech tailored to a more resistant approach that offered little hope to these African Americans for the future other than creating another system where they can be included. If we are analyzing Malcolm's use of ethos, pathos, and logos, we come to find out that his ideology of black nationalism is unrealistic and hinders the progression of the Civil Rights movement by brainwashing a group of people to into thinking that black nationalism is the only way for change to happen. Black nationalism is not the key to the problems of the African Americans system—working within the system is. Hence, this Ballot or the Bullet speech is a proverb that should be left in the history books because we do not need an ideology that promotes inequality in the United

He said in his famous speech, “we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to climb up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day” (Document B). It is clear that Malcolm X was only trying to push America backwards while Martin Luther King's was trying to push America forward more into desegregation. The quote reveals to us how Dr. King believed that whites and blacks should work with each other in order to gain equality. King thought that by having whites and blacks communicate together over time the bad rooted thoughts of each side would fade away and both sides will start to realize that they have much in common. King’s idea of integration is very good because he is trying to change the mindset of black and whites unlike Malcolm X who is building the thoughts of separation. That is bad because then the idea will be passed on from parents to kids which will make it harder to change the mindset of those people. Martin Luther King thought integration would lead to peace between both races. Martin Luther King shows us how he wants both races to collaborate together in his speech “The Future Of Integration”, when he said “If we are to make brotherhood a reality, the white man must treat the Negro right, not merely because the law says so, but because it’s natural, because it’s right, and because the Negro is his brother. If the problem is to be solved, men and

Unlike MLK Jr., Malcolm X did not seek white support for his movement. Instead, he viewed the white race as an inherently corrupted entity because of the history of continued coercion of superiority and subsequent marginalization of black Americans and even minorities of other countries. Malcolm X implored black Americans to fight the historical oppression with aggression and antagonism. He believed the black community must defend itself by whatever means possible, noting “When a racial powder keg goes off it doesn’t care who it knocks out the way” (X). Evidently, Malcolm X did not pay any mind to the reaction from white America for his teachings and did not care if they were harmed in the struggle for freedom. While Malcolm X uses sound logic to come to these conclusions, if his goal truly was achieving equality making all white people a pariah does not constitute the most effective method for trying to shift the structure of society. In fact, Malcolm X even lambasted the March on Washington, saying the white man “put down that march on Washington…he tricked you…had you marching back and forth between the feet of a dead man named Lincoln” (X). Despite the fact that the March on Washington made great strides for the civil rights movement through publicity, Malcolm X could not accept the protest because of its partnership with elements of white society. Ultimately, unifying with white society was a necessary tool for moving America forward because institutionalization would have continued with or without black

Malcolm X was misunderstood his whole life and even after his death. He has been portrayed as a hate activist because people thought that since he was willing to use violence, it meant that he was always physically attacking people, which he wasn’t. He struggled through a rough life since the day he was born. Malcolm X chose violence as his way to fight for Civil Rights because of his childhood that affected his religion which crafted his positive perspective on black power through violence instead of peaceful methods.

This speech was given by Malcolm X in Detroit, Michigan on April 12, 1964. He spoke to a large crowd including enemies being present. His voice was very forceful and demanding throughout His speech. He begins his speech by comparing himself to Christian ministers who were going through the same struggle during that era. He distant himself from the other ministers when he referred to himself as a Muslim minister. And his belief of confrontation and whatever comes with it. However, he made it clear to the audience that he was not discussing religion because of too many differences from the start. Malcolm X goal was to identify the common problems that all blacks shared regardless to what denomination. It didn’t matter whether you were educated or illiterate, all blacks are in the same boat and receive that same treatment at the hand of the white man. He sees economic, political, oppression, degrading and hardship are also caused by the white man.

Martin Luther King sees the segregation is a law that treats the black people unfairly. Because of this law, they could not have their own freedom and acted inferior in front of the white people. He wants to be the leader of the black people and does not afraid to be punished by the government for the sake of abolishing this segregation law. In order to get back the black people’s rights back and to make an equal society, he tries to appeal all the black people to join in this fight of racial justice through his writing. At the same time, he wants to tell the world that this injustice of racial should be ended. Like the other parts of the world, the American society needs to move forward. If there is no more segregation in the society and all

Dr. King states how he wants everyone to be able to hold hands like little brothers and sisters instead of hating each other for their skin color.