Malcolm X The Ballot or the Bullet Rhetorical Analysis
Devon Barry
3/22/15
Malcolm X Rhet. Analysis
On April 3rd 1964, Malcolm X gave a speech that transformed the cultural consciousness of AfricanAmericans.
The Ballot or The Bullet revolutionized the black mind, changing
AfricanAmerican attitudes across the country from passive and reticent to active and selfconfident. While Malcolm’s inspiring tone of voice and remarkable rhythmic speaking captivated his audience, his true success in achieving his purpose was his expert use of rhetorical strategies. In a five paragraph excerpt of this speech, these rhetorical skills are exemplified.
Within this short passage, Malcolm X has a clear, concise point of view and a driven purpose him and the rest of the 22 million blacks living in America are victims to the system, and if they want to change that, they must go out and vote.
In the onset of the passage, Malcolm X is building up a tension to bring the audience’s attention to a maximum. Malcolm X relies strongly on repetition to create this tension. He lists, in a repetitive sentence structure, immigrant groups fresh off the boat who are considered to be
American “Honkies… are already Americans, Polacks are already Americans; Italian refugees are already Americans;... every blueeyed thing, is already an American” After this sequence of repeating phrases, he is able to drive home his point at an optimal moment, when everyone’s eyes, ears and minds are open. He concludes his list with the one demographic not considered to be American blacks; “And as long as you and I have been over here, we aren’t Americans yet.”
Malcolm continues this style of repetition to further enforce this claim that he, and the other 22 million blacks of America, are not Americans. His message is then clear to his audience the black community is truly ostracized from America; they are the victims of the American system, deprived of opportunities given to every other socalled American. One pivotal sentence
3/22/15
Malcolm X Rhet. Analysis
On April 3rd 1964, Malcolm X gave a speech that transformed the cultural consciousness of AfricanAmericans.
The Ballot or The Bullet revolutionized the black mind, changing
AfricanAmerican attitudes across the country from passive and reticent to active and selfconfident. While Malcolm’s inspiring tone of voice and remarkable rhythmic speaking captivated his audience, his true success in achieving his purpose was his expert use of rhetorical strategies. In a five paragraph excerpt of this speech, these rhetorical skills are exemplified.
Within this short passage, Malcolm X has a clear, concise point of view and a driven purpose him and the rest of the 22 million blacks living in America are victims to the system, and if they want to change that, they must go out and vote.
In the onset of the passage, Malcolm X is building up a tension to bring the audience’s attention to a maximum. Malcolm X relies strongly on repetition to create this tension. He lists, in a repetitive sentence structure, immigrant groups fresh off the boat who are considered to be
American “Honkies… are already Americans, Polacks are already Americans; Italian refugees are already Americans;... every blueeyed thing, is already an American” After this sequence of repeating phrases, he is able to drive home his point at an optimal moment, when everyone’s eyes, ears and minds are open. He concludes his list with the one demographic not considered to be American blacks; “And as long as you and I have been over here, we aren’t Americans yet.”
Malcolm continues this style of repetition to further enforce this claim that he, and the other 22 million blacks of America, are not Americans. His message is then clear to his audience the black community is truly ostracized from America; they are the victims of the American system, deprived of opportunities given to every other socalled American. One pivotal sentence