MALCOM X

Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little in 1925, was a prominent African American leader and a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement. He joined the Nation of Islam while serving a prison sentence in the 1940s and became a minister and spokesperson for the organization. Malcolm X was known for his fiery rhetoric and uncompromising stance on racial justice, advocating for black self-defense and self-determination. He became a national figure in the 1960s through his public speeches, which often criticized white supremacy and called for black separatism. Malcolm X's views and tactics were controversial, and he was often seen as a polarizing figure within the Civil Rights Movement.

POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE RHETORICAL ACTION

Frequency of Acts by Malcolm X Ballot or Bullet Grassroots 25% 50% 75% 100%

These results seem surprising considering that Malcolm X is known as a rather straightforward speaker who advocated direct action, but the histogram analyzing his two speeches point to X referring to nonviolence more than direct action. As you can see with the Grassroots speech, there is a higher percentage of active resistance shown. This speech was given in 1963, and it was one of Malcolm’s final speeches given before leaving the Nation of Islam. The Ballot or the Bullet speech has less active resistance mentioned, and this speech was given in 1964 after Malcolm split from the NOI and was pursuing his own activism. This speech was also given after Malcolm’s trip to Mecca where his ideas about the racial problem in the United States changed drastically.

"MESSAGE TO THE GRASSROOTS"

In "Message to the Grassroots," Malcolm X delivered a powerful speech to a Black nationalist organization in Detroit. He emphasized the importance of Black people uniting and organizing themselves to fight for their rights. Malcolm X argued that the Black community needed to become self-sufficient and self-reliant, rather than relying on the government or other groups for support. He encouraged Black people to embrace their heritage and culture and reject the assimilation into white American society.  

NETWORK GRAPH

This graph from Malcolm X’s Grassroots speech indicates the references from the speaker (X), to the various orgs and sets from his speech. The larger the arrow = the more references the speaker made about said group/org. From this graph, Malcolm X referred to Europeans, Blacks, and a phrase X used a lot, “uncle toms”.

"THE BALLOT OR THE BULLET"

In "The Ballot or the Bullet," Malcolm X urged Black people to use their voting power to demand change and to hold politicians accountable for their actions. He argued that the Black community should not be beholden to one political party and should instead use their vote strategically to support candidates who will work towards their interests. Malcolm X also warned that if the government continued to ignore the demands of the Black community, they would have to resort to more drastic measures to achieve their goals.

NETWORK GRAPH

This graph shows how Malcolm’s references changed over time from his last speech. In the Ballot or Bullet speech, Malcolm again refers heavily to Europeans and Blacks, but another term that pops up frequently is Black Nationalism. This makes sense considering that this speech was after X left the NOI and when he was pursuing his own philosophy of Black Nationalism.