Malcolm X: The Ballot or the Bullet 

"The Ballot or the Bullet" is a compelling speech employing a diverse array of rhetorical techniques to convey its message effectively. Malcolm X skillfully employs ethos to establish a personal connection with the audience, deploys logos to confront them with harsh realities, and harnesses pathos to stir deep emotions, motivating them to take action and effect change.

In his speech Malcolm x was addressing racial, economic, and social justice issues that were affecting the black community in 1964. Malcolm x identified other Christian ministers that were in the political struggle for economic and social justice.

Despite being a Muslim who acknowledged Mohamed as his savior, Malcolm X believed religion was his personal business between himself and the God he believed, just as it was with other social justice advocates who were Christians including the likes of Dr. Martin Luther. He believed that religion should not bring divisiveness among the black community if they were to succeed in their struggle for justice. Mr. Malcolm X insists that if the black community could ignore their religious difference and maintain it only between themselves and their God, then they could be able to join each other on a common fight for their rights and freedom.

Brother Malcolm criticized the whites for controlling the black politicians and black politic and encouraged Black Nationalism and letting the blacks represent themselves by voting politicians they wanted. Malcolm X spoke against the blacks who were political projects and puppets of the whites. He encouraged his fellow black community members to be politically mature in order to avoid being misled to supporting politicians who did not have the best interest of the community at heart; this included them knowing the role the politics plays in their lives.

He encouraged political consciousness and maturity among to enable elect leaders who suited their interest.

Mr. Malcolm X informed on the need for the black people to be in control of their economy, he encouraged the black community to spend their money on businesses started by their black fellows as even the whites would not allow a black person to operate in the white communities. He educated that by taking a dollar out of a community the place will eventually become poor and ghetto while enriching where the dollar is taken. He encouraged the black to start small businesses which would grow after time and create employment opportunity for their population.

Malcolm X understood that all blacks suffered from political oppression, economic exploitation, and social degradation from the whites’ government hence the need to unite against their common enemy. Consistently Malcolm X insisted to the black community on the needs to rely on themselves for solution and introduction of education program, he introduced the Black Nationalism as the self-help program needed to solve their problem. He argued the blacks to stand and act strongly against the oppression of any kind especially second class citizenship which he referred as slavery insisted that the time to act was then as the people were fed up of being taxed and misrepresented, degraded and abused. Malcolm X classified himself as either a democrat or republican but a black victim of them all.

Brother x discourages the greed of black folks in a political position which makes them easily manipulated by white politicians. He informed that there is no distinction between Democrats and Republicans but fooled the blacks in order to get their votes and was done with them after that. Therefore, by electing any party they wanted, the black community would still get the same results as all parties were controlled by the majority whites who acted without the goodwill of the black man at their heart. Malcolm X advocated for Black Nationalism which informed bloody revolution action which would have more bloodshed than the Russian and Chinese revolution rather than the peaceful course of action advocated by other social justice fighters. Malcolm X discouraged fear among the black community of their odds of winning the war of revolution against the whites by informing them that the atomic bombs were useless. He outlined that America was involved in many wars but there was nowhere they were winning and even the African countries were winning against colonial powers despite their poor and crude weapons.

Malcolm x utilizes repetition he his speech regularly, for instance, 'I am a Muslim minister, the same as they are Christian ministers, I am a Muslim minister'. The repetitive device used helps to keep the audience hooked and interested. Repetition helps drive a point home with ease and also keeps the crowded expecting more or ready to understand. Malcolm X uses this device effectively to keep his audience lively and ready to listen more. Malcolm X also while in the nation of Islam also gave a speech in Detroit, Michigan where he outlined all the basic of Black Nationalist’s philosophy and established movement of civil rights as a major critic.