The Ballot or the bullet and its meaning Essays - Free Essays

The Ballot or the bullet and its meaning Essays - Free Essays The Ballot or the bullet and its meaning The Ballot or the bullet and its meaning University of Phoenix ENG/496 Angela Mullennix All of us have suffered here, in this country, 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. (Malcom X, 1964) That is the line that stuck out at the beginning of the speech. Malcom X seemed to be tired of everything that was going on including the bad justice system with the false arrest, the dogs and firehoses, and also the religious aspect being brought into a complex situation that in moments he didnt feel was necessary to bring up. He said in the speech Although I'm still a Muslim, I'm not here tonight to discuss my religion. I'm not here to try and change your religion. I'm not here to argue or discuss anything that we differ about, because it's time for us to submerge our differences and realize that it is best for us to first see that we have the same problem, a common problem, a problem that will make you catch hell whether you're a Baptist, or a Methodist, or a Mu slim, or a nationalist. Whether you're educated or illiterate, whether you live on the boulevard or in the alley, you're going to catch hell just like I am. We're all in the same boat and we all are going to catch the same hell from the same man. He just happens to be a white man. All of us have suffered here, in this country, 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. (Malcom X, 1964) This is a profound speech not only for the content in it but the fact that he seemed to touch on the point of acceptance from everyone. Equal opportunity to be treated as a human. He says Now in speaking like this, it doesn't mean that we're anti-white, but it does mean we're anti-exploitation, we're anti-degradation, and were anti-oppression. And if the white man doesn't want us to be anti-him let him stop oppressing and exploiting and degrading us. He wasnt a racist, but he wanted equality and thats probably the best part I can relate to. From experience it is irritating watching a person walk across the street because they assume I am a criminal, and while some statistics back that fact up it is irritating when I am a educated African American that served my country, so that people can continue to have the freedoms they poses today. I loved this speech, not for its anti-Semitism but for the purpose of it. Work Cited X, M. (1963, April 3). Malcolm X: The Ballot or the Bullet. Retrieved July 27, 2015, from edchange.org/multicultural/speeches/malcolm_x_ballot.html Dixon, E. (2011, January 4). Realism and Modernism, the Black Arts Movement, and Contemporary Literature. Retrieved July 27, 2015, from https://eng351wi2011finalproject.wordpress.com/about/education-and-literacy/realism-and-modernism/