Black Nationalism In Malcolm X's The Ballot Or The Bullet

Malcolm X was an advocate for the equality and rights of African Americans in the mid-twentieth century, at the height of the civil rights movement. In his famous speech, “The Ballot or the Bullet”, Malcolm X is targeting African Americans, capturing the rage that many people felt due to their oppression from the years of white superiority. Throughout the speech, Malcolm X makes it a point to say that African Americans need to become independent, and take care of solely themselves. By doing this, they would be able to fend for themselves, not relying on anyone else. Integration is the last thing that Malcolm X desires. Instead, he takes on a separatist approach, being that he wants African Americans to become self-sustaining. The phrase “the ballot or the bullet” is Malcolm X referring to the …show more content…
Another issue that Malcolm X discusses is the “civil rights” movement. With the history of the treatment of African Americans in the United States, in addition to his philosophy of Black Nationalism, Malcolm X has made a name for himself as a critic of civil rights. Malcolm X’s main point in “The Ballot or the Bullet” is the concept of Black Nationalism. This idea comes from the fact that all African Americans have suffered, “political oppression at the hands of the white man, economic exploitation at the hands of the white man, and social degradation at the hands of the white man” (Malcolm X, 1964, p. 1). The three main points of Malcolm X’s argument is the oppression, exploitation, and degradation of African Americans. Throughout history, African Americans had suffered these misfortunates at the hands of white men. Black Nationalism comes into effect with the idea that African Americans should become independent, and separate themselves from the white