Rhetorical Brilliance in Malcolm X's 'The Ballot Or The Bullet'

Throughout the past of our governance, the United States of America has consistently had conflicts with civil rights. During the peak of the civil rights movement, a key leader known as Malcom X, advocated for african american rights. Malcom X delivered a speech named, “The Ballot or the Bullet”. In this address, Malcom X's purpose was to motivate African American individuals to actively pursue their voting privileges. During the time, Malcom wrote this speech for America's neglected black population and as well as the American government overall. Malcom X proclaimed on March 8, 1964 his withdraw from the Nation of Islam which was a conservative black suprimist group. The nation of Islam had substantial diffrences with the civil rights movement like the termination of disenfranchisment of African Americans, but the Nation of Islam refused to allow its leaders from partaking in the electoral proccess. Malcom believed this speech could significantly convince Americans Americans that they needed to begin standing up for themselves and warn the American government that there were black citizens heading for them. In his speech, Malcolm utilizes the rhetorical ideas of anaphora, imagery, and pathos when he empowers the African Americans to vote and take a stand in their equality, as well as respond in aggression if it is not enough.

Malcolm’s speech uses anaphora to emphasize the dominance of the “white man”. For example, Malcolm states “He made a chump out of you. He made a fool out of you….”. The repetition by the use of the phrases “he made” were followed by “you”. The authority of the “white man” that was held over the audience was demonstrated by these phrases. He as well allowed for “his voice” to be heard by discussing the 'white political crooks who will be right back in your and my community', as this generates a pessimistic minority group. He actively emphasizes this by ensuring the audience understands that he demonstrated his contempt towards the discriminatory national institution and making sure to identify himself with the audience.

Moving on, the use of imagery conveys the notion of authority in Malcolm's speech. When Malcolm compares “a racial powder keg sitting in your lap” to an “atomic powder keg sitting in your lap”, he elaborates that you are ultimately “in more trouble”. In his analogy, he ultimately suggests that a “racial powder keg” is more harmful than an “atomic powder keg”, he attempts to create a concept that african-american supremacy is impactful and can affect the entire globe over an “atomic powder keg” as it just affects a specific region. The “atomic powder keg” concept portrays an illusion of control and induces uncertainty in the audience. This was significant in his speech as it emphasised on the idea for African-Americans to actively engage in their voting power.

Pathos was incorporated by Malcolm allowing him to further establish his purpose.

Malcom went on to say that a dixiecrat is “... nothing but a democrat in disguise” and how African Americans are officially opposed by the government. Malcom speaks on how the government exploits the African American citizens from the United States of America by how the Democrats put most of their civil rights disputes on their southern Rivals known as the Dixiecrats. Malcolm used the rhetorical concept of pathos by allowing his audience to feel emotional about the immediate shift in the governmental structure and society regarding civil rights in the United States of America. Also, frustration was incorporated in the consciousness of his audiences in regards to the white man and the government. He is able to persuade the African Americans to assert their right to vote with the use of pathos.

In 'The Ballot or the Bullet,' X approached the audience specifically, promoting the 'reciprocation' of aggression in the pursuit of freedom and self-respect. Denouncing the American administration, it made known its emphatic stand against the white establishment's violence. In his address, you can see that Malcolm X possessed anaphora, imagery, and pathos to convince his audience of his main purpose in motivating African American individuals to actively pursue their voting privileges. He employed integrity, moral, and rational arguments to persuade his audience to always stand up for your acquired rights, no matter the circumstance. Overall, the purpose of the story to always own your rights, and can have significance in modern day times as many more african americans have engaged with their voting rights today.