Malcolm X was a very instrumental figure towards the establishment of the American Civil Rights Movements and in the fight for emancipation of Black people in that society. Through his most famous ‘Bullet or Ballot’ speech, he reminded African Americans about their place in the society and how they were being used by the political class as a stepping stone to acquiring power. This paper asserts that the speech sparked an array of activism which was then deeply rooted in the hearts of Black Americans up until now. The powerful words mirrored the events in the American society at that time and changed the perceptions of many people. I will endeavor to discuss the events that actuated the making of that speech at that point in time.
Born and brought up in a community where racial discrimination was out rightly practiced, Malcolm X had a difficult childhood. He recalled watching his father mother and siblings being beaten up by members of the Klu Klux Klan who eventually killed his father. From this moment and during his whole short life, he devoted himself to Civil Rights activism and advocacy for equality. Therefore most of his target audience was composed of black people who faced oppression in America at that time. It is this background that endeared him closer to many black people. Also, the fact that he was opposed to political manipulation and dominance of the Whites made him hated in equal measure by the political class. These two factors reaffirm the magnanimity of influence that he wielded even as he gave his last speech.
The ‘Ballot or Bullet’ speech sought to address four major themes which were predominantly manifested in the 1960s. It was centered on racism, segregation, civil rights, and voting rights. From his conception, the Blacks in America could only be liberated if they became cautious of the political trend. He warned against political activists who urged calm and instead betrayed the black fraternity by bowing down to the Whites. He also called for trepidation when dealing with White liberals who purported to be advocating for rights of the Blacks when in real sense they were just after votes. To nail this point home he asserted that a black person would be lynched in Texas as easily as he would be in Michigan. The import of all these cautionary talk was actually to sensitize black people not to heed to calls of Whites rooting for political support within their neighborhoods. Instead, he advocated for self-help. This means that Black people would be better off if they mobilized their votes into one basket by themselves. This would let them effectively front their ideology instead of relying on democrats and republican leaders who only lied to them.
X acknowledged the prevalence of discriminatory practices which were racially motivated. Drawing from his own experience, he proclaimed that the American government by turning a blind eye on the Human Rights violations against Black Americans; it had crossed the red line. He not only blamed the political class, but also the Black people for being easily manipulated by empty promises. It is at this point that he stressed on ‘the ballot or the bullet’ options. This phrase famously meant that Black Americans wanted either liberty or death. He urged that they be freed from shackles of oppression or die trying to liberate themselves. In the same breath, he also called on the United Nations to conduct investigations on the Human Rights violations against Black Americans by the government. Essentially, this speech addressed matters which were very rife in the society. To the surprise of many, this speech turned out to be one of the most accurate political prophecies in US history.
The events preceding this speech spelled utmost confusion in the political system of the United States. President John F. Kennedy had just been assassinated and there was a sense of uncertainty and anxiety in the country. The United States was also waging a war against Vietnam in defense of its political interests. These external operations by the state turned a blind eye on the internal issues. African Americans were being treated as second class citizens in the country. Even though retrogressive practices like slavery had already been outlawed, it was still a living hell for Black Americans. They were often subjected to arbitrary arrests, police harassment and general mistreatment by other Caucasian citizens. There was no punitive measure that could be taken by the authorities to remedy this situation. Before President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, he had mooted for passing of the Civil Rights Act which would significantly diminish segregation and inequality. The bill proposed banning discrimination based on race, sex, religion and gender be it in jobs or public accommodations. Southern Democrats blocked the bill from even reaching the stage of consideration by the House of Representatives. Lyndon B. Johnson, his successor ensured that the bill was sent to senate where it could still face opposition from the Southern Democrats. Malcolm termed this as a game which politicians enjoyed playing because they were one and the same thing.
It is noteworthy that at this point in history, the general elections were nearing and all politicians were racing for the black vote which was considered the swing vote then. Owing to the standoff in the political arena about the Civil Rights Act, all politicians sought to wash their reputation in front of the electorate. Both Democrats and Republicans claimed to be in full support of the bill and blamed each other for frustrating the other’s efforts. The Democrats heaped their blame on Dixiecrats or Southern Democrats who had incessantly frustrated passing of that bill. This according to Malcolm was a ping pong game aimed at fooling African Americans. He added that African Americans had already politically matured and knowing that they could be the swing vote in the elections, their votes had even become more precious. Since white people were evenly divided, if blacks threw their weight on one candidate, they could easily decide their future in the country. In that case, he stated that a ballot is a bullet and it should not be thrown anyhow unless a specific target has been identified.
Finally, there were problems of financial inequality within the country. The White community comprised of many elites. Generally, Whites were averagely richer than Blacks with a life expectancy of over fifteen years more than what a Black American would live. On the other hand, the Blacks were always in the lower tier league, languishing in poverty and lacking basic social amenities. The cost of healthcare was too high and even if the African Americans were to go to the least charging public health care centers, they would be guaranteed to access the poorest standards of healthcare in the country. The rate of unemployment was equally higher among the Black because they were often discriminated against even if they merited getting the jobs. That is how dire the social disparity in the country was.
While many people adored the Civil Rights activist for his gallantry, revolutionary nature and assertiveness; other critics do not put him on this pedestal. Perhaps, many of them are opposed to the vigor and violence slogans and analogies that filled the air during his speeches. They differ with the suggestion of self-help or abatement by suggesting that institutional structures of the government were equally important in running of the nation. In fact, members of the Muslim faith like himself despised him for deviating from the teachings of Allah. As such, many people would have wanted his speeches to those of the likes of Dr. Martin Lither King which contained the message of self-restoration through peaceable protest against the authorities. Others perceived him to be just another political demagogue.
What was not addressed however was the way forward given the differential treatment pitting Caucasians and Blacks. The Human Rights movements were heading in a good direction but not with the desired pace. On top of this, the political class still propagated retrogressive practices. The Democrats would promise Blacks heaven while campaigning. So will the Republicans. But upon getting instruments of power, there are very few gestures of fulfilling the promises made. There was no black representation in any political office to even highlight the salient rights and maltreatment directed to their compatriots. Therefore, the best solution to this menace was what was suggested by Malcolm X. Everyone had to watch over themselves. Everyone had to mistrust the political class and instead be at the forefront advocating for their rights. That will be a sure way of beating the system.
Amidst the many criticisms of Malcolm X, it is worth acknowledging that at the end of the day, he highlighted real issues affecting the society at that time. The only controversy comes when we consider the types of solutions he offers to the Black American Community since most of them entail wearing the iron fist and standing in opposition to the authorities. Aside from this, it is still noteworthy that the social injustices that were prevalent in the 1960s are still haunting the American Society even after progression in documentation of amendments of civil rights and liberties in the country.
Bibliography
Bowers, John Waite, Donovan J. Ochs, Richard J. Jensen, and David P. Schulz. The rhetoric of agitation and control. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, 2010.
Isserman, Maurice, and Michael Kazin. America divided: the civil war of the 1960s. New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 2004.
Justice Policy Institute. Gaming the System: How the Political Strategies of Private Prison Companies Promote Ineffective Incarceration Policies. Washington, DC: Justice Policy Institute, 2011.
X, Malcolm, and George Breitman. Malcolm X speaks: selected speeches and statements. New York: Grove Weidenfeld, 1990.
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