Civil rights activist, Malcolm X, speaks to an audience of African Americans in his 1964 speech, “The Ballot or the Bullet.” Malcolm’s purpose was to increase the numbers in African American voting so that the nation could gain equality. He adopts a persuadable tone in order to make the Negroes act right and wisely. In the speech, “The Ballot or the Bullet,” the author, Malcolm X, encourages his audience to create equality by trusting the American democracy through the rhetorical elements of logos, repetition, and metaphor.
Initially, Malcolm X includes the element of logos so that he can further persuade the African Americans to make the right decision. X proclaims, “It’s time for you and me to stop sitting in this country...to give freedom to the black man” (Pg 2, Para 13). The author advances his purpose by listing facts and giving the people an example of what freedom should really look like. By using logos, the audience can reflect on how they’re treated and will want to take a step in ending segregation. It is painful looking at the ugly truth and Malcolm’s technique of using logos in his speech really made people look at the ugly truth of it all. …show more content…
X exerts emotion when speaking of 1964, “That’s why, in 1964...it’s either a ballot or the bullet” (Pg 3, Para 19). Malcolm uses “the ballet or the bullet” throughout his speech so that he could continually remind the Negroes that they had two options: to have a voice in front of the whites and easier gain equality, or to be forced in casting a risky bullet. Using repetition was effective because the people could get that phrase engraved in their head. It was important for them to know the consequences and how they would feel if they made the right or wrong decision. Both sides of the equation were made obvious -- it was the simple way or the hard
Initially, Malcolm X includes the element of logos so that he can further persuade the African Americans to make the right decision. X proclaims, “It’s time for you and me to stop sitting in this country...to give freedom to the black man” (Pg 2, Para 13). The author advances his purpose by listing facts and giving the people an example of what freedom should really look like. By using logos, the audience can reflect on how they’re treated and will want to take a step in ending segregation. It is painful looking at the ugly truth and Malcolm’s technique of using logos in his speech really made people look at the ugly truth of it all. …show more content…
X exerts emotion when speaking of 1964, “That’s why, in 1964...it’s either a ballot or the bullet” (Pg 3, Para 19). Malcolm uses “the ballet or the bullet” throughout his speech so that he could continually remind the Negroes that they had two options: to have a voice in front of the whites and easier gain equality, or to be forced in casting a risky bullet. Using repetition was effective because the people could get that phrase engraved in their head. It was important for them to know the consequences and how they would feel if they made the right or wrong decision. Both sides of the equation were made obvious -- it was the simple way or the hard