Hala
Ariqat
Mr. Michael Molenaar
English Language & Literature
11-3
9/4/2017
1460 words
English Paper One
The text presented is an extract from
a political speech ‘The Ballot or the Bullet’ by African-American Muslim
minister Malcolm X. This speech was delivered on April 3rd 1964 and
can be classified as a political speech since it contains a variety of
conventions such as rhetorical devices, slogans and memorable advice with the
sole purpose of reminding African-Americans of their rights to vote for freedom.
The use of political references in history enables the speech to have a
distinctive style, as he is able to appeal to his audience and call them to action
accordingly. Malcolm X political speech comprises of literary techniques,
stylistic features of the text and contextual significance that drives the
purpose of persuading African-Americans to stand up against their
discrimination through Black Nationalism.
The audience of this speech is
directed towards African-American voters with the exclusive purpose of
persuading the audience to stand up for their rights through the championing of
Black Nationalism. This is evident when Malcolm X uses pronouns referring to
African-Americans by saying: “And it will take black nationalism- that to bring
about the freedom of 22 million Afro-Americans here in this country where we have suffered colonialism for the
past 400 years”. The use of pronouns like “we” suggests that he is referring to
himself as being apart of the African-American race that were discriminated and
is directly addressing their lack of social justice during the 1960’s. To justify,
Malcolm X suggests that national liberation comes from their own effort rather
than white liberals as he continues to champion the philosophy of Black
Nationalism. Such use of personal pronouns implies to readers that his purpose
is to persuade African-Americans to stand up for their freedom through Black
Nationalism. This is also clear when he expresses how: “In 1964 you’ll see this
young black man, this new generation asking for the ballot or the bullet”.
Obviously, Malcolm X informs African-Americans of his future goals as he
strives for change by directly encouraging African-Americans to join him to
stand up against discrimination by championing the notion of Black Nationalism.
There is no doubt that the audience of this speech is targeted towards
African-American voters with the persistence of urging the audience to stand up
for their rights through advocating Black Nationalism.
The Ballot or the Bullet progresses
Malcolm X’s need of change in society in order to express the theme of inequality,
hope and Black Nationalism. In the beginning of the extract X says: “It is
nationalism that brought about the independence of the people in Asia.” in
order to drive the theme of black nationalism through the credibility of Asia
gaining independence due to nationalism. Such use of historical references reinforces
the theme of black nationalism by emphasizing its importance in society in
order to gradually progress X’s purpose. Further more in the text, X progresses
his need of change in order to drive the theme of inequality by expressing how:
“they try and make you think they set you free by calling you a second-class
citizen, oh, you’re nothing but a 20th century slave” in order to
denote the cruel way that African-Americans were being treated. Obviously, the
speech encourages African-Americans to fight against injustice through the
practice of Black Nationalism. X effectively contrasts the action taken towards
the struggle for justice between the hegemonic power and the subaltern
African-American race in order to further drive the theme of hope by saying:
“So today, our people are disillusioned. They’ve become disenchanted. They’ve
become dissatisfied, and in their frustrations they want action.” To justify,
he expresses how the trickery and false promises of the white man is not
something that African-Americans should fall for since their social justice was
not seen as a serious problem by the supreme regime. Moreover, X perceives the
vital notion of change rather in the peoples hands thus, encourages them to
fight against racial discrimination through nationalism. The Ballot or the
Bullet progresses Malcolm X’s need of change in society in order to express the
theme of inequality, hope and Black Nationalism.
X employs an assertive tone of which advocates
African-Americans rights to vote that develops an inspiring mood in the
political speech. X evokes a sense of
assertiveness when he introduces his speech by saying: “It’s time for us today
to starts doing some standing, and some fighting to back that up”. There is not doubt that his clear and
directive statement about the notion of Civil rights carries the tone of assertiveness
that re-enforces the importance of change that X is striving for his people. Moreover,
his tone develops an inspiring mood that is evident when he says: “This new
generation asking for the ballot or the bullet. The young generations don’t
want to hear anything about the odds are against us. What do we care about
odds.” Clearly, his certainty on the young generations perception of politics
stimulates an inspiring mood that is also evident when he says: “And in 1964
you’ll see this young black man asking for the ballot or the bullet”. To
justify, the use of such determinations allows the audience to evoke a sense of
inspiration towards the justice of African-Americans, as he is determined that
he will be the change. X employs an assertive tone of which champions
African-Americans rights to vote that develops an inspiring mood in the
political speech.
X uses a variety of literary devices
such as bandwagon appeal, anaphora and hypopohra that intensifies the theme of
black nationalism in order to drive his purpose of encouraging African-Americans
to have the rights to vote. In the beginning of the speech he says: “You can
stay in any kind of civic organization that you belong to and still take black
nationalism as your philosophy. You can be an atheist and still take Black
Nationalism as your philosophy”. X provokes a sense of encouragement towards
African-Americans by expressing how suitable nationalism is for anyone through
the use of two similar clauses. This is obviously anaphora as he is able to
repetitively repeat how an individual can be apart of any belief and still
support African-Americans fight for civil rights. As of the use of bandwagon
appeal, he conveys how: “If you are black you should be thinking black, and if
you are black and you not thinking black at this late date, well I’m sorry for
you.” X evokes an image of someone sitting that develops a call of urgency in
order to drive the purpose of gaining African-American rights. Further more, X
directly asks: “What do you call second-class citizenship? Why, that’s
colonization. Second class citizenship is nothing but 20th century
slavery”. Clearly, this implies how the use of hypophora intensifies the importance
of black nationalism since their treatment should not be acceptable in society
as they are regarded as “20th century slaves”. X uses a variety of
literary devices such as bandwagon appeal, anaphora and hypopohra that
intensifies the theme of black nationalism in order to drive his purpose of
encouraging African-Americans to have the rights to vote.
X uses a suitable structure for his
political speech that comprises of literary devices in order to develop the
importance of the title and text. He structures his ideas in a coherent and
organized manner. This is evident where each paragraph focuses on a main theme
in order to drive his purpose of encouraging African-Americans to stand up for
their voting rights where the first paragraph focuses on the philosophy of
Black Nationalism and how it’s a “self help philosophy where once you change your
philosophy, you change your thought patter, Once you change your attitude, it
changes you behavior pattern and then you go on into some action”. Introducing
the philosophy of Black Nationalism cements to the audience the contextual
significance that X is striving for during that era. Furthermore, he builds up
his need of change by encouraging African-Americans in the second paragraph
that: “ American is more so a colonial power as France ever was. In fact,
American is more so a colonial power than they because she’s a hypocritical
colonial power behind it.” Clearly, he establishes the idea that the superior
hegemonic power in charge of the government did not fulfill their needs in terms
of racial equality, civil rights and voting rights but rather are being hypocritical.
This is further developed in his last paragraph that focuses on the theme of
hope where he concludes how: “They’ve become dissatisfied, and in their
frustrations they want action.” This concludes how X calls for urgency as he
exemplifies the inclusivity of Black Nationalism that drives the audience to
stand up for their rights.
The text is an extract from a
political speech given by Malcolm X with the purpose of persuading the audience
to stand up for their rights through the championing of Black Nationalism. The
political speech comprises of literary techniques, stylistic features such as
anaphora, hypophora and bandwagon appeal and contextual significance that
drives the purpose of this speech. The Ballot or the Bullet progresses Malcolm
X’s need of change in society in order to express the theme of inequality, hope
and Black Nationalism.
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