When one is reminded of the civil rights movement, the first man who comes to mind is generally Martin Luther King, Jr. He is regarded as the primary figure that supported the rights of not only blacks, but all racial minorities during American segregation. Much less known is the more radical Malcolm X, whose stinging words generated significant controversy throughout his years of black activism. His militant singularity and hateful messages offered a stark contrast to the peaceful King as he tried to gain freedom for African Americans at any cost. Malcolm X’s harshly straightforward yet idiomatic style of speech combined with his nationalistic ideals to instill a powerful sense of cultural unity. The beliefs of Malcolm X were
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During his time in prison, he changed his surname from “Little” to “X.’ He justifies his decision by stating, “For me, my ‘X’ replaced the white slavemaster name of “Little” which some blue-eyed devil named Little had imposed upon my paternal forebears” (X 43). X establishes his harsh ethos by describing an unknown white man as a “devil” and “slavemaster”. His usage of “imposed” shows the oppressive nature with which the blacks have been treated for hundreds of years, and “paternal” emphasizes his close relation to his ancestors. In addition, his willingness to take legal action to protest against white domination shows his determination and adherence to his ideology. Next, in one of his most famous speeches, “The Ballot or the Bullet”, he expresses his desire for Black Nationalism and total segregation by claiming that “[White people] don’t know what morals are…so you’re wasting your time appealing to the moral conscience of a bankrupt man like Uncle Sam.” He generalizes the white population as usual due to his own negative experiences, thus asserting that the whites are morally “bankrupt”. Akin to how bankrupt people cannot repay monetary debts, racial negotiation seems to be pointless because the oppressors cannot repay their debts to …show more content…
If you’re afraid to use an expression like that…you should get back on the cotton patch; you should get back in the alley.” Here, he uses either/or reasoning by offering these two choices as the most effective way for black Americans to reach their goal, and that other options such as Martin Luther King Jr.’s peaceful protests will never convince the cruel whites of the error of their ways. The dichotomy is further conveyed by consonance in “ballot” and “bullet”, suggesting two very different methods used to reach the same goal. The need for greater social standing is then expressed through anaphora and the mentioning of “alley” and “cotton patch”. He knows that these terms strike a chord with his audience due to their negative association with the black community, as X is very familiar with alleys himself. In addition to presenting two options, Malcolm X recognizes the need to convey urgency; “It 's one or the other in 1964. It isn’t that time is running out…time has run out!” He uses anaphora again by stressing “time”. X also mentions the year to emphasize that the problem is a current one that needs to be dealt with immediately. “1964” shows that after hundreds of years of slavery and discrimination, 1964 may become the year when white America finally begins to recognize its past barbarity. He then claims, “Sitting at the table doesn’t make you a diner, unless you eat some of what’s on the plate.
During his time in prison, he changed his surname from “Little” to “X.’ He justifies his decision by stating, “For me, my ‘X’ replaced the white slavemaster name of “Little” which some blue-eyed devil named Little had imposed upon my paternal forebears” (X 43). X establishes his harsh ethos by describing an unknown white man as a “devil” and “slavemaster”. His usage of “imposed” shows the oppressive nature with which the blacks have been treated for hundreds of years, and “paternal” emphasizes his close relation to his ancestors. In addition, his willingness to take legal action to protest against white domination shows his determination and adherence to his ideology. Next, in one of his most famous speeches, “The Ballot or the Bullet”, he expresses his desire for Black Nationalism and total segregation by claiming that “[White people] don’t know what morals are…so you’re wasting your time appealing to the moral conscience of a bankrupt man like Uncle Sam.” He generalizes the white population as usual due to his own negative experiences, thus asserting that the whites are morally “bankrupt”. Akin to how bankrupt people cannot repay monetary debts, racial negotiation seems to be pointless because the oppressors cannot repay their debts to …show more content…
If you’re afraid to use an expression like that…you should get back on the cotton patch; you should get back in the alley.” Here, he uses either/or reasoning by offering these two choices as the most effective way for black Americans to reach their goal, and that other options such as Martin Luther King Jr.’s peaceful protests will never convince the cruel whites of the error of their ways. The dichotomy is further conveyed by consonance in “ballot” and “bullet”, suggesting two very different methods used to reach the same goal. The need for greater social standing is then expressed through anaphora and the mentioning of “alley” and “cotton patch”. He knows that these terms strike a chord with his audience due to their negative association with the black community, as X is very familiar with alleys himself. In addition to presenting two options, Malcolm X recognizes the need to convey urgency; “It 's one or the other in 1964. It isn’t that time is running out…time has run out!” He uses anaphora again by stressing “time”. X also mentions the year to emphasize that the problem is a current one that needs to be dealt with immediately. “1964” shows that after hundreds of years of slavery and discrimination, 1964 may become the year when white America finally begins to recognize its past barbarity. He then claims, “Sitting at the table doesn’t make you a diner, unless you eat some of what’s on the plate.