Rhetorical Analysis Of Malcolm X's The Ballot Or The Bullet

Throughout Malcolm X’s speech “The Ballot or the Bullet,” he empowers the black community to fight the suppression of the “white man.” Malcolm X urges his followers to spread Black Nationalism and to bring awareness to problems that are affecting blacks. By using strategies such as repetition, objectification and shame, X creates an effective argument that persuades the audience to join his movement.

Malcolm X evokes emotion with the use of objectification, by specifying particular instances of exploitation, degradation, and oppression that the black community has faced. For example, in the third paragraph of the excerpt, X strikes a blow at the government which “[deprives the black community] of [their] voting rights,” “economic opportunities,” “housing,” and

In paragraph 4 of the excerpt, he calls the African Americans who have taken part in the mainstream Civil Rights Movement “handkerchief-heads.” This is a derogatory term used to label African Americans who are submissive to white authority. By using this insult, X intends to make his audience feel like the current civil rights movement is not growing enough by comparing the civil rights activists to weak people who succumb to white superiority. Malcolm X also announces that “we don’t intend to let [mainstream civil rights leaders] pussyfoot and dillydally and compromise any longer.” X alludes to the fact that he is more aggressive and that the mainstream civil rights leaders need to become more like him. He continues with rhetorical questioning asking “How can you thank a man for giving you what’s already yours? How then can you thank him for giving you only part of what’s already yours?...Where is the progress?” Restating the dilemma of the civil rights effort makes the civil rights stance seem shamefully illogical. This strategy of shaming inspires the audience to take action in order to make real