Ballot or the Bullet

"They don't have to pass civil rights legislation to make a Polack an American," said Malcolm X "The Ballot or the Bullet," a speech he made on April 3, 1964, in Cleveland, Ohio. In the speech, he uses colorful language and straight talk to drive his messages surrounding voting rights, self-defense, and what he believed were worthwhile goals of the Civil Rights Movement home to his audience.

Malcolm X speaking, pixabay.

Summary of The Ballot or the Bullet

Malcolm X begins "The Ballot or the Bullet" by announcing that he'll explain what he believes the next steps of the Civil Rights Movement should be. He tells the crowd that they first need to set aside differences to focus on their common issue – the white man. In "The Ballot or the Bullet," Malcolm X clarifies that African Americans have no inherent bias toward the white man; they are "anti-exploitation . . . anti-degradation . . . [and] anti-oppression" and that, if white Americans take issue with being considered a problem, all they have to do is stop treating African Americans in those ways. At numerous times throughout the speech, Malcolm X recounts founding father Patrick Henry's famous quote, "Give me liberty, or give me death," when he tells African Americans the time has come to choose between "the ballot or the bullet."

Malcolm X states that, since 1964 was an election year, it was the year for African Americans to stand up and show the United States government they would no longer wait for the rights they deserve. Malcolm asserts that he and other African Americans are not Americans because they are fighting for the rights that other Americans already have.

In "The Ballot or the Bullet," Malcolm outlines the power of the African American vote, saying, "when white people are evenly divided, and black people have a bloc of votes of their own, it is left up to them to determine who's going to sit in the White House." He notes that politicians are more aware of this fact than African Americans, so they tell African Americans whatever will secure their vote.

He states that African Americans continue to struggle because the Democrats and Republicans work together to deny African Americans their rights. Because of this, Malcolm X believes all African Americans must join together to bypass the United States government and take their grievances to the United Nations as a human rights rather than civil rights issue.

Malcolm asserts that African Americans have earned their rights because they've secured massive wealth for the United States by working for free as enslaved people. In addition, many African American men have fought and died in each war the United States has been involved in. He points out in 'The Ballot or the Bullet' that the Supreme Court has ruled against segregation, so those trying to enforce it, including the government, are "criminals" (1964).

Malcolm X closes by defining his goal as a Black Nationalist who wants African Americans to gain political, economic, and social control over their communities. He says non-violence is foolish when an opponent approaches with violence. African Americans have a constitutional right to own guns and defend themselves from being attacked by the white man. Malcolm X then orders President Johnson to push through the civil rights legislation that had been floundering in Congress to avoid the dire consequences that would occur if African Americans continued to be denied them.

The Ballot or the Bullet Analysis

Malcolm X delivered "The Ballot or the Bullet" shortly before leaving the United States to travel through North Africa and the Middle East. His views in this speech reflect the beliefs he held before completing his Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. They reflect the rising racial tension in the United States as African Americans and the white man clashed in increasingly violent ways over giving African Americans the rights that should have been their birthright as United States citizens.

"The Ballot or the Bullet" is delivered in an urgent and angry tone. In the speech, Malcolm X states, "It isn't that time is running out – time has run out." He observes that the United States has reached its boiling point, demonstrated by the increasing use of weapons in confrontations. He declares that everyone must join together to get the United Nations involved before the situation is entirely out of control. He points out that if the government can't bring whoever killed "four little girls while they were praying" to justice, then it is either unwilling to help them or entirely incapable.

Malcolm X uses a combination of logic and emotion to appeal to his audience. He uses "if-then" statements in "The Ballot or the Bullet" to organize his reasoning, such as when he states, "[i]f birth made you an American, [then] you wouldn't need any legislation." Malcolm X analyzes why following the Democratic Party is not in the best interest of African Americans since the Democrats allow the "Dixiecrats" a place in their organization to retain power. He appeals to the crowd's sense of pride, telling them that their children won't respect them if they don't take a stand against the white man. Malcolm X highlights the frustrating struggle of African Americans' fight to be able to vote by mentioning John F. Kennedy's desire to force Cuba to have democratic elections.

The Effect of the Speech The Ballot or the Bullet

The early 1960s shocked the nation with multiple reports of violence against African Americans. As a result, they began to lose hope that non-violent intervention was a reasonable goal. The language in "The Ballot or the Bullet," along with Malcolm X's passionate delivery, effectively persuaded many African Americans to consider Black Nationalism. It can be argued that groups such as The Black Panthers, who adopted many of the beliefs in "The Ballot or the Bullet," were formed due to this speech.

On the other hand, "The Ballot or the Bullet" alienated white Americans. The media misconstrued Malcolm X's calls for self-defense as calls for violence. Publicly, his criticisms of the system fell on mostly deaf ears. Civil rights leaders questioned whether the messages in "The Ballot or the Bullet" were shared in the most effective manner.

A march led by the Black Panthers, Wikimedia Commons.

Importance of The Ballot or the Bullet Speech

"The Ballot or the Bullet" is listed as one of the most important speeches Malcolm X ever gave because:

• "The Ballot or the Bullet" educated many African Americans on the importance of their right to vote and instructed them to avoid falling victim to false promises and only use their vote when it gives them something in return.

• He explains to the crowd that self-determination is the key to success. In his speeches to African Americans, taking control over their destinies was a recurring theme.

• "The Ballot or the Bullet" was a public acknowledgment of Malcolm X's break from the Nation of Islam, a Black Nationalist group of Muslims. He used this speech to express his desire to work with other civil rights leaders. Unlike when he was a member of the Nation of Islam, he was open to collaboration with anyone serious about getting African Americans the rights they deserved. By doing so, he gained a wider audience and additional credibility.

The Ballot or the Bullet Quotes

Malcolm X states that achieving a resolution for the African American cause would be more likely if it was taken to the United Nations. He calls out America's double standards and wants the world to see the reality behind the mask of its ideals.

This statement exemplifies how Malcolm X's thinking began to shift concerning the Civil Rights Movement after leaving the Nation of Islam and continued down this path while on his pilgrimage to Mecca. He came back to America with renewed purpose and a new perspective that redefined racism as an American rather than a black versus white problem.