Speech 8

 Malcolm X on Jesus Christ

Malcolm x opens his speech with introduction narrative. He starts with an anecdote as a lead in to rouse the listeners and excite the audience. His anecdote is about the town's Mayor with Malcolm reiterrating that the man is a "Professional liar, a Professional liar". This sends the crowd into laughter and a clapping frenzy. The setting looks like a Church as Malcolm X speaks with an epideictic rhetoric. The crowd is engaged and responding to every pause and word as he has them captivated like a preacher on Sunday. Christianity is a common talk in Malcolm X speeches as Christianity is the foundation of black America. It is a subject he must speak on often as he is constantly defending Islam and conveying the parallels and contrasts of the two religions.

He understand his audience and knows they are a Christian people, therefore he appeals to their beliefs to get his message across. He states, "They charged Jesus with sedition. Didn't they do that? They said he was against Caesar. They said he was discriminating because he told his disciples, "Go not the way of the gentiles, but rather go to the lost sheep." He discriminated. Don't go near the Gentiles, go to the lost sheep. Go to the oppressed. Go to the exploited. Go to the downtrodden. Go to the people who don't know who they are, who are lost from the knowledge of themselves and who are strangers in a land that is not theirs. Go to these people. Go to the slaves. Go to the second-class citizens. Go to the ones who are suffering the brunt of Caesar's brutality. And if Jesus were here in America today, he wouldn't be going to the white man."

He uses Christian anecdotes to establish a connection with the people by explaining matters from their religious point of view instead of just his This relates him to the people, making them more open to his words.

Speech 7

Malcolm X- By Any Means Necessary


"Brothers and Siters, our friends, and our enemies." He smirks as begins his speech by opening up with a joke, immediately sending the audience into laughter. Any feelings of tension are instantly relinquished with his charismatic and witty opening. The speech takes place after his return from the holy city of Mecca as he left the Nation of Islam. He is more raw and not as polished as his message is more direct and without concern for the appearance of a whole organization. He uses anecdotes to describe his trips to the Mecca and to Africa. These stories further aids his argument on the castration of black American's progression. He compares the freedom of the recently colonized yet underdeveloped people of Africa to the discriminated blacks of America. He uses his stories to detail the discrepancies of the American black race, giving credibility to his argument with his experiences.

He uses this platform to establish his new organization, The Organization of African Unity. He says its object is " to fight whoever gets in our way and  bring about the complete independence of people of African descent in the western hemisphere, by Any Means Necessary". Here Malcolm speaks some of his most famous words. He is a man of the people through his struggles and triumphs. Even with his struggle with the Nation of Islam , he is still a man of the people. He fights for them because they are him.  His general like oration sends the crows into a clapping frenzy as they get ready for battle behind Malcolm's words.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhg6LxyTnY8

Speech 6

Malcolm X- King James and the Bible

Malcolm X begins his speech with an introduction corrective. He uses it too compare and contrast Islam and Christianity. He proclaims that Christianity has 'failed' the black race and the people want a religion that will give them "freedom, justice, and equality". He uses words that provoke emotion in the listener. Freedom, justice, are things we all want and seek as people. He continues on his diatribe and states that Christianity is a religion taught to us by our white slave masters. Malcolm X uses precise diction and basic facts to back his argument. He uses pathos and logos to justify the choice of Islam over Christianity. For instance he says that Christianity believes in the triad or trinity: 'The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.' He says the basis of this ideal creates division and thus creates confusion in the religion. He believes this type of archetype is a contributing reason to why the black man has been in confusion and disarray over the years. His reason and persuasive arguments would make the strongest believer have doubts. He speaks with ferocity and clear passion with speaking on Islam and his beliefs. He demonstrates Wayne Booth's belief that, " Rhetoric is the art of discovering warantable beliefs of improving these beliefs in shared discourse...the art of probing what we believe we ought to believe, rather than proving what is true accordance to abstract methods".

Malcolm X, a Christian in his early life, speaks to us not to convince us of the faults of Christianity, but to probe our own ideals. Do we believe in Christianity because that's what we were taught or is that what we truly believe. It has to be more than just believing because we feel we should, and Malcolm X challenges us of that.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekZNoUQ0eQ8

Speech 5

Malcolm X Denounces Elijah Muhammad- June 8 1964

This speech by Malcolm X is one of his most career defining. He denounces the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam as he has become disillusioned with the direction of the religion. The corruption and deceit within the organization went against the morals of Malcolm X and he could no longer be associated with it. Using Ethos to appeal to the moral standing of the audience, Malcolm X reaffirms his credibility as he risks his career for the right causes. He demonstrates Quntilian's ,  'Vir Bonues Dicendi Pertus' or "good man speaking well". He is brave and inspiring as he speaks with truth and transparency about his conflict with the Nation of Islam. "Malcolm X knows his word is no good if he represents an organization that is no good; so he broke away even though it meant putting his life in danger. The moral standards he set for himself was more important than the threat on his life. "His followers (Honorable Elijah Muhammad) will attack another a negro, or they will brutalize a fellow Muslim who breaks the law". Malcolm X accepted his consequences and the repercussions of his moral stance. This persuades the listener to stay engaged as he speaks with a raw honesty and almost naive bravery. There is no concern for the inevitable violence he feels he may encounter. There is only concern for light being brought to the truth; which is at the essence of him being an elite orator.

He is a man of human rights and believes in the defense of humanity. He uses deliberative rhetoric to define  Black American's constitutional right to defend themselves with arms. His knowledge of poilitical policies and American principles are a framework to his rhetoric and powerful tool in his persuasion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ4jy5l-KEY

Speech 4

Malcolm X-UC Berkeley October 11, 1963

Malcolm X begins his speech engaging in hyperbole. When speaking at the prestigious University of California Berkely and  being asked to not speak about  religion, the Nation of Islam religion, he goes on, " It's like telling a bird to fly without its wings, or a race horse to run without its legs. Then you condemn that bird you have crippled yourself and condemn the horse you have also crippled because it can't keep p, this is very hypocritical." His analogies on probability emphasize his message on expression. He uses creative imagery of limbless animals to highlight the bias of handicapping dialogue. This device is parallel to Cicero's believe in imaginative imagery to persuade. Cicero believed that, "Orators should strive at creating, avant la lettre, cinematic effects by reducing events, objects, people, architecture, or the world at large, to verbal (rhetorical) expressions, which in the end create visual impressions through the eyes of the mind...these imaginable pictures will generate responses from the audience." 

He uses forensic and deliberative to  rhetoric create a plan for the endurance of the black race. He speaks of the '20 million' ex- slaves to seperate from the white man and have their own land. He demonstrates Strategy, with a Plan, Pattern, Position, and a clear Perspective. He speaks, " The Honorable Elijah Muhammad says that in our own land we can establish our own agriculutral system, we can grow food to feed our own people, we can raise cattle and use the hide, the leather, and the wool to clothe our own people...land is the basis of all economic security, land is essential to freedom, justice, and equality, land is essential to true independence." Malcolm X is clear and concise on his message and the path he wants the black race to follow to prosperity. His plan bold and exact, and he speaks with the same conviction and precision. Malcolm X never demonstrates imprecision or lack of information, as his diction is loaded yet concise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW-EJAD8E30

Speech 3

Malcolm X- A Person's Deeds -1965

Malcolm X begins his speech with a humble tone. This eases the audience and makes them more open to listening to his rhetoric. He uses introduction corrective to overcome preconceived notions the listeners may have. He uses this introduction to overcome the public's misconceptions, sterotypes or any inaccurate information. He begins, 'Before I get involved in anything, I have to state my own position, which is clear I am not a racist in any form whatsoever. I don't believe in any form of racism; I don't believe in any form of discrimination or segregation. I believe in Islam, I am a Muslim. And there's nothing wrong with being a Muslim, nothing wrong with the religion of Islam. That just teaches us to believe in Allah as the God, and those of you who are Christians probably believe in the same God." He starts off the speech providing clarity on his perception and beliefs. The Nation of Islam has been depicted as anti-white, anti-Cristian, and anti-American in the media. For a white Christian American, they may have reservations on receiving Malcolm X's message whether they agree or not. He uses the rhetorical device to connect with the audience and establish credibility with the listener. These prevents a Red Herring; a fallacy that may mislead or distract the listener from the real issues at hand.  He uses this opening to lead into a joke, sending the crowd into laughter and using his charisma to ease the tension of the listeners. Malcolm's speeches are usually a mix of Epideictic and Deliberate rhetoric, getting his point across with the conviction of a politician and the passion of a reverend.

Malcolm X also uses examples of his alliance with White Muslims from the Mecca he encountered. He describes them as "blue eyed and blonde haired" and acknowledges them as 'brother'. This further establishes his argument from the introduction as he further proclaims his non-bias towards whites. This message must be reiterated for his rhetoric to not be simply dismissed as radical propaganda.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsuaFmN2O98

Speech 2

Malcolm X - A Message to the Grassroots - November 10, 1963

Malcolm X gives a passionate speech in his "message to the grassroots". In King Solomon's Baptist Church in Detroit Malcolm X charismatically captivated an excited audience. He associates himself with the crowd and creates a sense of solidarity and unity amongst the audience. He does this by saying, " You don't catch hell because you're Methodist or Baptist. You don't catch hell because you're democrat or republican...You catch hell because you're a black man". He uses his rhetoric to educate and inspire the people on fighting for justice. His form is similar to what Wayne Booth spoke on in which he says, "the art of probing what we believe we ought to believe, rather than proving what is the accordance to abstract methods". Malcolm X was not about abstract ideals at all. He was a realist in his approach and believed in black people soul searching to know the right path. His style and delivery are dynamic as uses epideictic and deliberative rhetoric to persuade the audience to his perspective.

Malcolm X speaks on the dichotomy of the negro past; The 'house' negro and the 'field' negro. He speaks on the differences of the two types and the detrimental affect the 'house' negro has on the black race. He speaks about the hypocritical standpoints white America has on black nationalism. He speaks on how the American Revolution was white nationalism, the french revolution was white nationalism and so forth. They only  have a problem with Revolution when it is against the. He uses mostly logical perspectives to point out the flaws of the American ethos. He does this by attacking the principles of the argument; One of the laws of rebuttal.

Malcolm X's powerful rhetoric is rooted in his truth and rawness. He is a man who is transparent about his character and past transgressions as a man. His moral standpoint is never in question as he walks the words he speaks, giving him more clout as an orator. He speaks confidently, sometimes cocky at times but always holds an air of humbleness. His audience can relate to him because they are just like him, he has seen what they see, and he is a man who has made mistakes. That is why this is a 'message for the grass roots'. It is a message for the common man, the everyday man.