Introduction
Attention Getter – Everything has its opposite. Black has white. Night has day. Hard, soft. Hot, cold. If there was a Martin Luther King Jr., there had to be a Malcolm X. Martin Luther King, history remembers. Malcolm X, history tries to forget. From the way they were raised, to religious beliefs, to methods of gaining equality, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X differed greatly. King preached integration and peaceful protest. Malcolm X preached separation and revolution. However, despite their differences, both men managed to rally millions against systemic oppression in America.
Summary – On November 10th. 1963, the militant civil rights activists Malcolm X delivered his brutally honest speech Message to the Grassroots in which he criticized the current status of the civil rights movement and urged blacks in America to rally together against the systems implemented by whites. The speech was delivered only a few months after the March on Washington occured, an event Malcolm heavily denounced in the speech. Malcolm is widely known for his criticism of the decisions made by Martin Luther King, Jr and those similar to him., differing him from activists and increasing his significance in the movement. In this further oral activity, I will be analyzing the rhetorical choices made by Malcolm X and their effectiveness in his attempt of unifying black Americans and his efforted persuasion to lean them towards a violent revolution against systemic racism in America.
Thesis – Malcolm X incorporates a variety of literary techniques, evoking pathos to unify black people and ultimately incite a violent revolution against the systems implemented upon them.
Body
Claim – Malcolm X utilizes anaphora to demonstrate the continuous mistreatment of blacks in America.
Example – “You don't catch hell 'cause you're a Baptist, and you don't catch hell 'cause you're a Methodist. You don't catch hell 'cause you're a Methodist or Baptist. You don't catch hell because you're a Democrat or a Republican. You don't catch hell because you're a Mason or an Elk. And you sure don't catch hell 'cause you're an American; 'cause if you was an American, you wouldn't catch no hell. You catch hell 'cause you're a black man. You catch hell, all of us catch hell, for the same reason.”
Analysis – Through slavery, through segregation, through all discrimination in the past and the present, no one has yet to express why an entire demographic of people face ridicule for simply existing… because there is no logical answer. In effort of expressing the ongoing oppression black individuals face, Malcolm X demonstrates anaphora by beginning every sentence with “you don’t catch hell ‘cause…” following an aspect that separates people from each other. By doing so, Malcolm X emphasizes the truth that there is no sound explanation for discrimination against blacks other than they appear different physically. It is not due to religion nor political beliefs nor nationality. It is because of race and race only. Society oversees the attributes blacks contribute to communities because they are black. Society has decided that all blacks are deemed incapable of existing amongst other demographics in America because they are black. Society continues to overlook personality attributes and singles out individuals because they are black. Society has no explanation for continuously holding back black individuals and Malcolm X notes this. Furthermore, when Malcolm X reads, “And you sure don't catch hell ‘cause you’re an American; ‘cause if you was an American, you wouldn’t catch no hell,” he notes that blacks are not treated as American, although they are said to be. The Declaration of Independence reads, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness,” As the document states, no human is born superior to another, meaning they should be treated as equals. However, if blacks were treated as equals, they wouldn't be fighting a system implemented to lower their opportunities. Malcolm X’s use of anaphora in this instance emphasizes the ongoing lies the official documents of the country, which are constantly referred to in decision making, are told to the people of America.
Example – “…one African came from Kenya and was being colonized by the Englishman, and another African came from the Congo and was being colonized by the Belgian, and another African came from Guinea and was being colonized by the French, and another came from Angola and was being colonized by the Portuguese.”
Analysis – Systematic oppression of black is more than America, it’s an international aspect that continues into today. Throughout all of history, blacks have been taken from their homelands and forced to work for others without consent. Malcolm’s decision to begin every sentence in the same manner expresses the continuity of the situation in America with the current laws carried out. In addition, through the repetition of these instances, Malcolm creates pathos and aims to anger the members of the black community, hoping they’ll seek alternative methods of making a change in the way they are treated in America.
Example – “We have a common enemy. We have this in common: We have a common oppressor, a common exploiter, and a common discriminator. But once we all realize that we have this common enemy, then we unite on the basis of what we have in common. And what we have foremost in common is that enemy — the white man. He’s an enemy to all of us.”
Analysis – In an attempt to gather the black community as one, Malcolm stresses that all of them are fighting against the same thing: white America. He stresses that no black man or woman in American isn't affected by the degrading systems set to demean and separate the black community. The use of anaphora in this instance creates pathos through the repetition of the term enemy, as an enemy is one who is actively in opposition to another and seeking the failure of said person. At the time, the majority of whites in America were in opposition to blacks and therefore unwilling to give their time to the battle for civil rights. Being fully aware of this, Malcolm X focused on encouraging black people to fight their own battles as one, against the majority. .
Claim – Through the use of analogies, Malcolm X manages to demonstrates the downsides of an integrated America.
Example – “It's just like when you've got some coffee that's too black, which means it's too strong. What do you do? You integrate it with cream, you make it weak. But if you pour too much cream in it, you won't even know you ever had coffee. It used to be hot, it becomes cool. It used to be strong, it becomes weak. It used to wake you up, now it puts you to sleep.”
Analysis – As mentioned earlier, Malcolm X did not support the idea of integration as many civil rights leaders did at the time. He believed black Americans would lose sight of their culture and ideologies if they were to surround themselves by whites. Therefore, when discussing the topic, Malcolm illustrates the downsides of the consolidation of whites and blacks in America through an analogy. The reference of black coffee is referring to the strength blacks possess when together as one, something white America feared. Therefore, in order to battle this fear, America would form an integration system in which black people would not ally together against, this being the cream added to the coffee. After the cream is included, that being white culture and influences, black elegance would gradually be lost. Malcolm believed black people were better off without influence from those who’ve imprisoned them in a system created against them, and therefore hoped to demonstrate the same ideology to other individuals.
Example – “When I was in prison, I read an article — don’t be shocked when I say I was in prison. You’re still in prison. That’s what America means: prison.”
Analysis – Through the mentioning of his arrest from burglary charges, Malcolm manages to illustrate another analogy in which he compares life in America for blacks to life in prison. In the current system, blacks were not allowed to live amongst other demographics in their own country, a country that claims freedom and equality. Deemed to attend different schools, relinquish their seats in public areas, keep opinions and thoughts within their own community, all to benefit the white man. A system in which you are forced to behave a certain way is a system similar to those of prisons. Through the creation of this analogy, Malcolm demonstrates the continuous suppression of opportunities for black people in America and seeks enragement in response from those listening.
Claim – In effort of explaining his reasoning for inciting a violent revolution in America, Malcolm X employs historical allusion.
Example – “Look at the American Revolution in 1776. That revolution was for what? For land. Why did they want land? Independence. How was it carried out? Bloodshed. Number one, it was based on land, the basis of independence. And the only way they could get it was bloodshed. The French Revolution — what was it based on? The land-less against the landlord. What was it for? Land. How did they get it? Bloodshed. Was no love lost; was no compromise; was no negotiation. I’m telling you, you don’t know what a revolution is. ’Cause when you find out what it is, you’ll get back in the alley; you’ll get out of the way. The Russian Revolution — what was it based on? Land. The land-less against the landlord. How did they bring it about? Bloodshed. You haven’t got a revolution that doesn’t involve bloodshed. And you’re afraid to bleed. I said, you’re afraid to bleed.”
Analysis – After having quickly described the outcomes of several historical revolutions in the past: The American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the Russian Revolution, Malcolm X illustrates that change is not made peacefully. In every revolution described, an increasingly large amount of human lives were lost. However, every life lost was significant and made a difference in the fight. By alluding to these violent revolutions, Malcolm attempts to persuade listeners to do the same in their fight for equality in America. He wishes for a violent protest, the opposite of what Martin Luther King Jr. aimed for. He’s taken account of the several successful revolutions in history in order to have a similar outcome in the civil rights movement, or revolution as he chooses to view it.
Claim – In effort of unifying black Americans in their fight against systematic racism, Malcolm X incorporates inclusive language throughout the entirety of the speech.
Example – “We want to have just an off-the-cuff chat between you and me — us. We want to talk right down to earth in a language that everybody here can easily understand. We all agree tonight, all of the speakers have agreed, that America has a very serious problem. Not only does America have a very serious problem, but our people have a very serious problem. America’s problem is us. We’re her problem.”
Analysis – The more individuals involved, the easier it is to bring about a change. In order to gain support of his atypical decision making, Malcolm focuses on generating a sense of unity throughout the entirety of the speech through the usage of inclusive language such as “I”, “we”, and “us”. By doing so, Malcolm demonstrates to all black people in America that they are fighting the same battle and going through exactly the same thing, regardless of their differences. He emphasizes that every black in America faces the same oppression, the same setbacks, the same ridicule and it’s necessary everyone comes together as one to fight the situation in America. They can no longer rely on the possibility of white individuals to lend their support; they must do it on their own.
Claim – Through the inclusion of several rhetorical questions, Malcolm evokes pathos and emphasizes the importance of everyone getting involved and supporting the idea of a violent revolution.
Example – “How are you going to be nonviolent in Mississippi, as violent as you were in Korea? How can you justify being nonviolent in Mississippi and Alabama, when your churches are being bombed, and your little girls are being murdered, and at the same time you’re going to violent with Hitler, and Tojo, and somebody else that you don’t even know?”
Analysis – By questioning the motives of those who are ignoring the horrors occurring within their own borders, but being willing to fight other countries for a country that does not view them as capable of coexisting with other demographics, Malcolm evokes pathos and elicits fear and rage within the listeners minds. By doing so, he angers listeners as they were forced to fight in these wars, while simultaneously encouraging them to join the war against systematic racism that he hopes to initiate. In addition, the mentioning of defenseless children leads viewers to somewhat feel obligated to be that necessary protection out of fear for their children, as a parents first worry is the life and future of their child. The decision to leave listeners forming their own answers to his questions furthers the pathos evoked as only their feelings will be reflected on.
Claim – Malcolm incorporates metaphorical imagery to illustrate the acceptance of the injustices occurring every day in America, ultimately hoping for the reflection of action taken place currently to fight the oppression.
Example – “You bleed for white people. But when it comes time to seeing your own churches being bombed and little black girls be murdered, you haven’t got no blood. You bleed when the white man says bleed; you bite when the white man says bite; and you bark when the white man says bark. I hate to say this about us, but it’s true.”
Analysis- Enraged over the lax reaction to the injustices occurring everyday in America, Malcolm compares those who are allowing these acts to take place without a violent fight to a dog when writing, “you bite when the white man says bite; and you bark when the white man says bark…”. Although not meant in a literal manner, Malcolm is referring the the compliancy that has been demonstrated over the years by black Americans in response to inhumane acts committed by white Americans. Although not their fault for the majority of history as white people used force and systems to belittle the power of black people, Malcolm notes the possible strength black people can possessed when working together as one. At this point in time, black individuals can take back their freedom by implementing force against white people and their systems set by allying together and joining the violent revolution that is beginning to come together.
Claim – Malcolm creates a parallel structure through the use of repotia to challenge two contrasting ideas.
Example – “If violence is wrong in America, violence is wrong abroad. If it’s wrong to be violent defending black women and black children and black babies and black men, then it’s wrong for America to draft us an make us violent abroad in defense of her. And if it is right for America to draft us, and teach us how to be violent in defense of her, then it is right for you and me to do whatever is necessary to defend our own people right here in this nation.”
Analysis – By aligning contrasting ideas amongst each other, Malcolm creates a parallel structure challenges two ideals: when violence is acceptable and violence is not. By doing so, he questions the morals of every battle ever fought as people were willing to fight for land, but not for people. He points out the truth that humans are capable of turning their backs if the situation does not affect them directly. In addition, Malcolm utilizes repotia, which is the repetition of a phrase with a slight change in style when repeatedly stating what is wrong and what is right in America. By doing so, he forces listeners to reflect on the truth that what is wrong and what is right cannot be the reasoning behind conforming when people are being murdered every day for simply existing.
Conclusion
Review Thesis: Aware of the power and voice he possessed, Malcolm X spoke for those who were not heard, those unwilling to speak up, and those who were speaking up. When doing so, he incorporated a variety of literary techniques, evoking pathos to unify black people and ultimately incite a violent revolution against the systems implemented upon them. Although his ideas were feared by many, his reasoning behind them were understood and did lead to a change in the movement.
Closing Statement: Although the movement has passed and integration has occurred, it is necessary that we as individuals understand that racism is still prevalent in our society today. Black individuals in America continuously have to work harder than others to receive the same treatment and opportunities. Black individuals are still ridiculed in the media and portrayed negatively. Black individuals are still not treated as equals. We as a country still have a long road ahead before the statements, “home of the free,” is completely true.