Malcolm X’s speech titled “The ballot or the bullet” was one of the most empowering speeches delivered in the American history. The speech was delivered on April 3, 1964 at Cory Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio. The speech was delivered during the time of the election year when previously, white politicians would come out to get votes and make promises which they would not fulfill later. Malcolm X clearly stated at the start of his speech that he is a Muslim but he is not here talk to talk about his religion, instead he said that it’s time for us to submerge our differences and realize that we have a common enemy that just happens to be a ‘White man’. X goes on 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, we’re anti-oppression. And if the white man doesn’t want us to be anti-him, let him stop oppressing and exploiting and degrading us”. X in his speech emphasized the importance of voting as a means to end discrimination against the black. He says that since the white people are so evenly divided in elections that the Black vote is the deciding factor in elections. He says that we will hold the candidates accountable for their promises. X uses the phrase ‘The ballot or the bullet’ many times during his speech through which he means that we will get are rights through voting or by violence. Each of his claims are backed up by his justification. X says, “I’m not going to sit at your table and watch you eat, with nothing on my plate, and call myself a diner. Sitting at the table doesn’t make you at a diner, unless you eat some of what’s on that plate.”
As the 2016 election is almost a week away, after reading the Malcolm X’s speech, I immediately saw the problems that ‘Muslims’ are facing that was previously seen by Malcolm X in 1964 for ‘Blacks’. Donald Trump’s statement, “Ban all Muslim travel to U.S.” is a reason why Muslims have to carefully consider their vote and have to make their vote count. Donald Trump also said that he would implement a database system tracking all Muslims in the United States. Muslims have found these statement offensive, terrifying, disrespectful, racist and discriminating. Family of a Muslim U.S. soldier stepped forward to speak at the Democratic Convention that their son was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq war. Like Malcolm X said, “Not only did we give of our free labor, we gave of our blood. Every time he had a call to arms, we were the first ones in uniform. We died on every battlefield the white man had. We have made a greater sacrifice than anybody who’s standing up in America today.” Muslims have been fighting alongside the U.S. for a long time. More than 3500 Muslims fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. Nsenga Knight a New York City Muslim Black resident in an interview with Washington post said, “Muslim is the new black.” Muslims must go out and vote if they want to end this discrimination because their vote matters as said by Malcolm X to Blacks. Muslims vote can be the swinging vote in the 2016 presidential election if Hillary Clinton is in a close tie with Donald Trump.
The Questions:
Would Hillary Clinton keep her promises after being elected or supporting Muslims is just a part of her political campaign?
If you are opposed to P.C culture. Do you think it was fair for Donald Trump to make these statements?
References
Diamond, Jeremy. “Donald Trump: Ban All Muslim Travel to U.S.” CNN. Cable News Network, 8 Dec. 2015. Web. 31 Oct. 2016.
“Muslim Is the New Black.” Voters Reflect on the 2016 Campaign.” Washington Post. The Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2016. Web. 31 Oct. 2016.
Considine, Craig. “Saluting Muslim American Patriots.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 4 Oct. 2015. Web. 31 Oct. 2016
The Malcolm X speech and the presidential campaign of 2016 do hit on similar topics even though they are from two different eras. Malcolm X saw African Americans as individuals that were oppressed, degraded and of course discriminated against. Today, with this presidential election we see the similar treatment to Muslim Americans, from presidential candidate Donald Trump. I do agree with the connection and argument you are making with the Malcolm X speech and the contemporary news articles you are using. I believe that many groups throughout the history of the US have been degraded and then seek the vote, the ballot, etc. to fight against such degradation and oppression. However, in order to be “diners at the table” we need more than to the vote. We need the education and we need the people that will represent us rather than voting for candidates that may or may not have our best interests in mind. Many candidates do not fulfill their promises and leave the minority groups that supported them in the same position they were before they were elected.
I really like your response, i strongly agree with many of your statements. The comparison between muslim americans and african americans is fascinating when thinking about it because at first it seems like it may be a bit of a stretch but truly considering the similar aspects it becomes evident its closer than it appears. As much as we would like to feel as if we have moved forward throughout time it seems as if we are essentially in the same place, the only main difference being that it is a different group being oppressed. I do agree with you that the speech “The ballot or the bullet” by Malcom X was very empowering and helped push a movement like no other. The instability Trump has caused has separated our country essentially into two parts which most be repaired regardless of the fact that Trump has won.