Malcolm X Ethos Pathos Logos
Malcolm X was born with the name Malcolm Little, in Omaha, Nebraska on May 19, 1925. Malcolm was a very bright student through grade school, graduating near the top of his class as an eight grader. When one of Malcolm's favorite teachers told him his dream of becoming a lawyer was "No realistic goal for a nigger" consequently, Malcolm lost interest in school . Malcolm then moved to Boston, Mass. working odd jobs, and having a good time. By 1942 Malcolm was participating in drugs, prostitution, and gambling in the New York area. Eventually Malcolm and his buddy, Malcolm "Shorty" Jarvis, moved back to Boston, where they were arrested and convicted on burglary charges in 1946. Malcolm refers to this time of his life as the "Detroit Red"
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years. Detroit Red was a drug dealing criminal who was a danger to himself and to the black community. During his seven years in prison Malcolm would educate himself, by studying the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Nation of Islam (NOI). Malcolm's brother Reginald would visit frequently to discuss his conversations with Muslim religious organizations. By the end of his prison term Malcolm took on the surname X too show his devotion to the NOI and to get rid of his slave name "Little". Malcolm was born into a very strong family, but it was destroyed by racism. Earl Little, Malcolm's father was a black minister and devoted supporter of black nationalistic leader Marcus Garvey. Malcolm's mother was a house mom, who stayed home to watch their eight children. Due to Earl's commitment to Black Nationalism the family had to move due to death threats on the dad. In 1929 Earl's house was burnt to the ground, the attacks are believed to have come from a white supremacist group Black Legion. Two years latter Earl's body was found across town dead. Shortly after the death of Malcolm's dad his mom had a mental breakdown and was committed to a mental help center. Since both parents were gone the eight brothers and sisters spilt up and went to different group homes and foster care institutions. Having to deal with racism, crime, street life, and jail as a child Malcolm was forced to grow up fast. By educating himself, possessing great charisma and passion for blacks Malcolm X was a perfect choice to be spokesman for the NOI. Intelligent, articulate, Malcolm was appointed a minister and national spokesman for the Nation of Islam. Being from a home where the dad was active in propelling black rights and experiencing the intensity of the conflict, Malcolm X became very active, very fast. Malcolm soon became a leader of the civil rights movement of the sixties. Malcolm X reached his greatest level of leadership in the 1960's. He was the ideological leader for the Black Radicalism.
Context
Malcolm had a hatred for evil people and in his eyes every white man was a white devil. Malcolm's views differed from those of Martin Luther King (MLK), Malcolm believed in Black Nationalism, the belief that black people shouldn't have to integrate, they should separate. Black's should have blacks as their political leaders, law enforcement, and have their own separate communities. Martin Luther King believed that we should all get along. Numerous times Martin Luther King spoke about being non-violent, turn the other cheek, and integration. On the other hand Malcolm X talked about meeting violence with violence, revolution, and how the white devils were to blame for the black people's misfortune. "I am a black man in a world dominated by white oppression, and that is my total philosophy." Malcolm X and Martin Luther King never ended up ever talking to each other. It is believed that it would have been detrimental for Martin to be caught with Malcolm X because he was radical, and militant. Malcolm often criticized Martin Luther King on many aspects of his efforts. "Any negro who teaches other negroes to turn the other cheek in the face of an attack is disarming him of his God-given right, his moral right, his natural right, his intellectual right to defend himself." Malcolm believed that civil rights were not intended to include integration. Instead civil rights are to provide equal opportunities for everyone. The obvious difference between the two philosophies paved the way for Malcolm's speech "Message to the Grassroots". There was a Northern Negro Leadership Conference being held in Detroit on November 9th and 10th and the chairman of the Detroit Council for Human Rights, Rev. C. L. Franklin refused to have Black Nationalist in attendance. This turn of events forced Rev. Albert B. Cleage to resign from the council and collaborate with Group on Advanced Leadership (GOAL) to formulate a Northern Negro Grass Roots Leadership Conference at the same time as the more conservative gathering. The two day Grass Roots Conference was climaxed by Rev. Albert Cleage and Malcolm X as the Chief speakers. The conference concluded at the King Solomon Baptist Church. "Message to the Grass Roots" marked on of Malcolm's last speech as a follower of Elijah Muhammad. During the 1960's the term "Grass Roots" gained popularity in opposition to "elite" civil rights leaders. There was building tension between Malcolm and Elijah. After Malcolm made ill-advised comments concerning President Kennedy's assignation he was silenced by Elijah. "I never foresaw that the chickens would come home to roost so soon Being an old Farm boy myself, chickens coming home to roost never made me sad; it made me glad." This statement made Elijah very upset, and the fact that Malcolm X found out that Elijah had fathered children of different mother, angered Malcolm X because he was so devoted to Islam and stayed abstinence until he married his wife. "Message to the Grass Roots" became one of the most important speeches by Malcolm X. It paved the way for the Black Liberation Movement that ultimately led to the war cry of "Black Power" in 1966.
Audience
Because of the two different conferences going on at the time Malcolm spoke to an audience that was interested in his ideas opposed to the more conservative ideas that were being presented at the Northern Negro Leadership Conference. As stated in the context section, the term "Grass Roots" was used to describe a less conservative, more conflict orientated conference. So the people that joined the Northern Negro Grass Roots Conference knew what they were getting into. The audience, almost all black and with non-Muslims in the great majority interrupted Malcolm X with applause so often that he asked it to desist because of the lateness of the hour. I speculate that the people in attendance were relatively militant and wanted to attend a conference that was in favor of conflict and opposed the common nonviolent approach that the "elite" leaders took at the other conference. The audience would have been made up of more inner-city citizens, people facing the hardships of the ghetto who are suffering from lower paying, less rewarding jobs. The more educated blacks, those who lived in the suburbs and more white people would be seen at the conference held by the "elite" leaders. Not many white people would be in attendance for "Message to the Grass Roots" because of the separatist ideas of Malcolm X. Malcolm X often ridiculed white people. "What I want to know is how the white man, with the blood of black people dripping off his fingers, can have the audacity to be asking black people do they hate them. That takes a lot of nerve." The audience that the speech reached was a lot greater then the people in attendance. This speech was delivered all over the country in late 1963. I believe more conservative people along with white people watched or listened to the speech then actually attended. This is due to the fact that Malcolm X could really get an audience behind him with his charismatic personality. It was Malcolm who redefined the discourse on race in this country. He moved the notions of prejudice, discrimination, and civil rights to racism. Moving the notions to racism would increase the emotions of the audience, making it dangerous for white spectators and conservative blacks to attend. Malcolm was believed to be very savvy with the press. He knew how to use the press; he charmed the press, and provided it with material. Malcolm distrusted the white media and refused to let white reporters in to his meetings. He believed that the media distorts what is said and project them as a racists group. "I here they are flying a Negro out from New York City just to cover this meeting, because they won't let white reporters in. Being so radical and so against white people decreased the number of people he could reach with his message.
Having such a racially charged message filled with suggestions of separation, violence, and revolt limited his audience. Many blacks stood on the platform of Martin Luther King (a non-violent approach) this approach was more likable by southern blacks, and blacks that had a higher status in the economy. Most white people were afraid of Malcolm X. He repeatedly slandered white people in his speeches, interviews, and meetings. Making it difficult for white people to respect him or value his ideas, thus making the "elite" leaders more acceptable with in the white community. I don't believe Malcolm X really cared if there were people out there that disapproved of his ideas or didn't want to listen to him. "Whenever people come out, they know in advance what I'm going to talk about, and if they show any amount of interest in it, or agreement with it, that's my reward" The particular audience that listened to the speech by one mean or another, or those who accidentally caught a little of the speech herd his ideas. He was not forcing his ideas, so the constraint pertaining to the audience doesn't affect the content of his speech.
Ethos
I am interested in how Malcolm X used dialogue, style, and his techniques to improve, his ethos. Having a solid childhood and drug filled, prostitution filled, robbery filled teen years, proved to be a constraint that could potentially hurt his ethos. Not having any formal education, past the eighth grade year, made other civil rights leaders to be more recognized and easier to accept. Facing this Malcolm has to distance himself from the "elite" leaders. Malcolm's philosophies did this. "The end justifies the means" philosophy of Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, Frantz Fanon, Malcolm X and others. When analyzing the speech "Message to the Grass Roots" I noticed that Malcolm X did an average to poor job increasing his ethos through the speech. His speech did increase the ethos of his cause and the movement he talked about. Preaching non-violence is the wrong way to go about a revolution. "Look at the American revolution in 1776. That revolution was for what? Land and how was it carried out? Bloodshed" . He propelled his ethos for the cause by pointing out the hypocrisy the government was showing its black citizens.
As long as the white man sent you to Korea, you bleed. He sent you to Germany, You bleed. He sent you to the south pacific to fight the Japanese, you bleed. You bleed for white people, but when it comes to seeing your churches being bombed and little black girls murdered, you haven't got any blood.
This made him look like a leader with a vision, someone who is smarter then the government. Some one who could see through the charades of the white government and break through their barriers to oppress the Black Americans. Acknowledging that all blacks are in agreement that there's problem added respectability to the nature of the sense of the cause. "We all agree tonight, all of the speakers have agreed, that America has a very serious problem." This increased his credibility in the notion of sense; because it is a shared belief his credibility was increased. His credibility concerning good will was not harmed or helped because of his speech. An example of his will is his undying determination to achieve freedom for the Black race throughout the world. When in prison he had the will to teach himself, study Elijah Muhammad. Having witnessed first hand how devastating racism is this also provided the will for him to change the way things are currently. Having a strong loving family by his side showed his true character.
In the best of all possible worlds Malcolm would have been a preacher and a teacher and a family man, but under the circumstances he was forced to become a public political activist, and had the enough courage to become that. It is apparent that "Message to the Grass Roots" didn't increase the credibility of Malcolm X, as a person; but the credibility of his cause was increased due to the speech. When dealing with a movement I believe it is more effective to build the credibility of the cause, instead of personal credibility. People have different personalities, and if you build up the credibility of your cause people will overlook the fact that they are not happy with a particular person. If you build the character, will, and sense of your cause people will fallow your cause and that will inevitably build your personal credibility. Followers of Malcolm X overlooked his past because they believed in what he stood for now.
Pathos
Out of Aristotle's three modes of proof, Malcolm X displayed the most efficient evidence in this category. He used the audiences' emotions to endorse his philosophies of separation, by all means necessary, and the end justifies the means. He did this by making his audience feel helpless, enslaved, and tried to get his audience to hate white people. Achieving this came through the means of historical content. "So I cite these various revolutions, brothers and sisters, to show that you don't have a peaceful revolution." While describing the American, Chinese, French, and other revolutions he painted the picture of bloodshed and violence to acquire land. "The Chinese Revolution-they wanted land. They threw out the British and the Uncle Tom Chinese." He refers to the various European-centered revolutions to point out that they wanted land, and the land was for white nationalism. They got this through the means of violence and bloodshed. "Once you see how they got theirs straight, then you can see how yours straight." Malcolm then talked about how the Black Revolution is non-violence, and history shows that you can't achieve a revolution without conflict and bloodshed. "There is no such thing as a nonviolent revolution. The only kind of revolution that is non violent, is the Negro revolution." He goes on to criticize his audience by telling them they don't know what a revolution is, and if they did they wouldn't use that word. This emotionally charged the audience because they now want to learn what a revolution is. Having all the other revolutions exposed to them made them think how they are not changing anything by being nonviolent. Malcolm X described a situation during the slave era referring to the two different groups of slaves, the house nigger and the Field nigger. He used this situation as a metaphor to oppose the conference that was being held across town and the black people that are content with life the way it is.
"The house negroes- they lived in the house with the master, they dressed pretty good, they ate pretty good They lived in the attic or the basement, they lived near the master; they loved the master more then he loved himself. They would give their life to save the masters house faster then the master would. He used this metaphor to describe the modern house Negro. Claiming the modern house Negro wants to do any thing to be close to his master, they are willing to sacrifice for what their master gave them. "This modern house negro he'll pay three times more for a house to live near his master, and then brag about being the only out there." The fields Negroes were the masses; they caught the most hell and were beaten morning till night. "The field negroes didn't get any thing but what was left inside the hog." He called some of the people listening now field Negroes during his speech. This tactic made the audience think about what they were doing, how their life is, and if they are considered a field Negro. No black person wanted to think of his/her self as a field Negro, and they didn't want to look like a house negro. This allowed the audience to be more acceptable to separation.
If someone came to the field and said "Let's separate, let's run," he didn't say "where are we going" He'd say "any place is better then here." You've got your field Negroes in America today. I'm a field Negro. The masses are field Negroes.
Malcolm X went on to argue that the modern house Negroes is put in possessions to control the masses (field Negroes) from separating or fighting back. These leaders are put in positions so you can suffer peacefully. He uses a metaphor comparing the "elite" leader to Novocain, allowing the suffering to continue peacefully. Malcolm argued that the white leaders are putting black leaders against black leaders so they lose control of the masses. Malcolm X stressed togetherness throughout his speech. "We have a common enemy. We have a common oppressor, and a common exploiter." People always take part in an activity if other people are also doing the activity. Malcolm used this to solicit his movement of separation to others. The more people that shared the ideas of Malcolm X the more realistic his goal of separation would be. Being together and staying together without integration would be the only way to solve the problem. Malcolm referred to the Bandung Conference, where leaders from counties met in 1954, and the only people not let in were white people. Malcolm X believed that was the only reason the conference went well. Malcolm also believed that blacks were stronger together with out integration. "It's just like when you have coffee that is to black, which means too strong. What do you do? You integrate it with cream, you make it weak." Malcolm used pathos to drive his ideas home. Making them feel oppressed, hated and mad at the current situation and all the hardship they faced in the past, Malcolm allowed his audience to accept his movement of separation, or at least take it into greater consideration. The emotional appeals used by Malcolm X were very persuasive. Stressing togetherness allowed the audience to feel like one, they need each other, and no one cares about them. America only uses them for her personal gain.
Logos
Malcolm relied on many examples of past revolutions to enhance his logical appeal. He told the audience of the trials and tribulations of revolutions in the past. Then he asked them "How can a revolution be nonviolent" this allowed the audience to see the difference, and what still needs to be done. He relied on the past for most of his logical appeals, referring to plantations, and making the audience feel like animals. "You didn't come here on the "Mayflower." You came here on slave ships. In chains, like a horse, or a cow, or a chicken.) Historical facts are the best rhetoric to use when dealing with this matter. People hold very strong convictions on what happened to their culture during the past. Pointing this out is a very good way to get a reaction from an audience. Most of the audience knew what happened in the past to their people but it is a lot more effective if they hear a charismatic leader telling them their hardships. He made several references about the leaders at the other conference, and how there philosophies were failing. He pointed out that while blacks are being nonviolent, they are asked to be violent in defense of America, but can't be violent against her when she is violent on them.
Themes and Style Malcolm incorporated the themes of Black Nationalists, Separation, and the theme of the Field and house Negroes in to his speech. Malcolm made several references in his speech to Black Nationalism. He supported Black Nationalism by explaining how America was founded on White Nationalism. Black Nationalism is the notion that black people would control every thing within their government and they would have their own land and freedom. Separation would be the only thing that could achieve Black Nationalism. Integration was not good enough, separation is the only answer. When talking about separation Malcolm mentioned that the only way to achieve separation would be a revolution. A standard revolution, not a nonviolent revolution, the type that was currently going on, the nonviolent revolution was doing nothing but getting us killed. His theme considering the field and house Negroes was one built on perception. No black person wanted to be seen as a field Negro or a house Negro. Both types were seen as unfavorable. House Negroes were considered worst because they often lost sight of what was really happening, and that was Malcolm's point. Even if you get out of the ghetto you are still an ex slave, and in the eyes of the white man that's all you will ever be. This point was meant to drive home the theme of separation, making the alterative (freedom) less appealing then separation. Malcolm used a plethora of stylistics devises. Malcolm started the speech by calming the audience. "We want to have an off-the-cuffs chat between you and me." He used amplification when describing the way America used black people during the wars. He did this by using an anaphora when describing the revolutions that black people participated in for America. He also used an anaphora when describing the way the slaves were shipped over here. It made them fell horrible with the situation. He used anaphora the most of any stylistic device. I speculate because Malcolm was always some one who told it like it is. An anaphora is a stylish way to drive a certain point through to the audience. This is acquired through repetition, and repetition is the best way to get an idea to stick. He used the coffee metaphor to symbolize the damage that white people can have on the strength of black people when they are a collective whole. Malcolm also used hypotyposis when describing many situations. "Revolution is bloody, revolution is hostile, revolution knows no compromise, and revolution overturns and destroys everything in its way." His style was accepted by the educated and non educated alike. Malcolm was very good in expressing his passion for separation to his audience. His style of specking was enhanced by his delivery. Broadcasting was vastly superior to the written text, in conveying his style and personality. When I listened to the speech on the computer I felt moved by hearing him talk. He seemed to be very articulate and sounded very intelligent when he spoke. He possessed the ability to stress certain aspects of his speech through his variation in the tone of his voice. Just hearing the speech I became enthused and excited. I could feel the pain he was trying to portray to the audience. I could sense his charismatic personality through his voice. I think his ability to deliver the speech, the stylistics devises he used, and his personality in front of an audience made Malcolm the speaker he was.
Conclusion
There is no arguing the fact that Malcolm X was a great speaker.
He knew what his audience would be every time he spoke, he knew they were there to see him and they mostly shared his same ideas. Malcolm was very controversial and received a lot of bad publicity during his life in the public eye. After serving his time He became the spokesman for the NOI. As Malcolm X became more popular so did the Civil Rights Movement. During "Message to the Grass Roots" Malcolm did a sub par job in increasing his ethos, but an excellent job on increasing the ethos of his movement. I believe in a case like this it is better to increase the credibility of your movement. Because it is important that the audience accepts the ideas of your movement, but they don't need to like you. The most impact this speech had was on the pathos of the audience. He continually portrayed blacks as being less then human, not wanted and disrespected by white people. He made his audience feel as if there was no hope. This helped him in achieving the goal of separation. He also used togetherness among blacks to emotionally influence their ideas. His logical appeal came through historical facts, pertaining to revolutions, and how the government consistently lied to us. His speeches were so successful due to his emotional appeals and the style of his delivery and his choice of
words.
"Biography of Malcolm X"'www.cmgww.com/historic/Malcolm/bio.html (3/13/02) "Ibid., 1. Malcolm X: A research site. "Study Guide" www.brothermalcolm.net/studyguide.html ( 3/11/02) "Biography of Malcolm X" "Study Guide" Clarke John, Malcolm X: The Man and His Times (New York: The Macmillan Company. 1969) , 13. Gallen David, Malcolm A to X (New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers. 1992) , 89. "Study Guide". Gallen David, 74. "Study Guide". Breitman George, Malcolm X Speaks (New York: Pathfinder. 1989), 3. Gallen David, 151. "Study Guide". Strickland William, Malcolm X Make it Plain (New York: Penguin Books), 3. Gallen David, 96. Ibid. Gallen David, 13. Smith Ervin, The Ethics Of Martin Luther King, Jr (New York: The Edwin Mellen Press, 1981), 90 Breiman George, 7. Ibid,. Breiman George, 4. Gallen David, 47. Breiman George, 9. Breiman George, 8. Ibib,. Breiman George, 9. Breiman George, 11. Ibid,. Ibid., Ibid,. Breiman George, 5. Breiman George, 16. Breiman George, 4. Ibid,. Breiman George, 9.
years. Detroit Red was a drug dealing criminal who was a danger to himself and to the black community. During his seven years in prison Malcolm would educate himself, by studying the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Nation of Islam (NOI). Malcolm's brother Reginald would visit frequently to discuss his conversations with Muslim religious organizations. By the end of his prison term Malcolm took on the surname X too show his devotion to the NOI and to get rid of his slave name "Little". Malcolm was born into a very strong family, but it was destroyed by racism. Earl Little, Malcolm's father was a black minister and devoted supporter of black nationalistic leader Marcus Garvey. Malcolm's mother was a house mom, who stayed home to watch their eight children. Due to Earl's commitment to Black Nationalism the family had to move due to death threats on the dad. In 1929 Earl's house was burnt to the ground, the attacks are believed to have come from a white supremacist group Black Legion. Two years latter Earl's body was found across town dead. Shortly after the death of Malcolm's dad his mom had a mental breakdown and was committed to a mental help center. Since both parents were gone the eight brothers and sisters spilt up and went to different group homes and foster care institutions. Having to deal with racism, crime, street life, and jail as a child Malcolm was forced to grow up fast. By educating himself, possessing great charisma and passion for blacks Malcolm X was a perfect choice to be spokesman for the NOI. Intelligent, articulate, Malcolm was appointed a minister and national spokesman for the Nation of Islam. Being from a home where the dad was active in propelling black rights and experiencing the intensity of the conflict, Malcolm X became very active, very fast. Malcolm soon became a leader of the civil rights movement of the sixties. Malcolm X reached his greatest level of leadership in the 1960's. He was the ideological leader for the Black Radicalism.
Context
Malcolm had a hatred for evil people and in his eyes every white man was a white devil. Malcolm's views differed from those of Martin Luther King (MLK), Malcolm believed in Black Nationalism, the belief that black people shouldn't have to integrate, they should separate. Black's should have blacks as their political leaders, law enforcement, and have their own separate communities. Martin Luther King believed that we should all get along. Numerous times Martin Luther King spoke about being non-violent, turn the other cheek, and integration. On the other hand Malcolm X talked about meeting violence with violence, revolution, and how the white devils were to blame for the black people's misfortune. "I am a black man in a world dominated by white oppression, and that is my total philosophy." Malcolm X and Martin Luther King never ended up ever talking to each other. It is believed that it would have been detrimental for Martin to be caught with Malcolm X because he was radical, and militant. Malcolm often criticized Martin Luther King on many aspects of his efforts. "Any negro who teaches other negroes to turn the other cheek in the face of an attack is disarming him of his God-given right, his moral right, his natural right, his intellectual right to defend himself." Malcolm believed that civil rights were not intended to include integration. Instead civil rights are to provide equal opportunities for everyone. The obvious difference between the two philosophies paved the way for Malcolm's speech "Message to the Grassroots". There was a Northern Negro Leadership Conference being held in Detroit on November 9th and 10th and the chairman of the Detroit Council for Human Rights, Rev. C. L. Franklin refused to have Black Nationalist in attendance. This turn of events forced Rev. Albert B. Cleage to resign from the council and collaborate with Group on Advanced Leadership (GOAL) to formulate a Northern Negro Grass Roots Leadership Conference at the same time as the more conservative gathering. The two day Grass Roots Conference was climaxed by Rev. Albert Cleage and Malcolm X as the Chief speakers. The conference concluded at the King Solomon Baptist Church. "Message to the Grass Roots" marked on of Malcolm's last speech as a follower of Elijah Muhammad. During the 1960's the term "Grass Roots" gained popularity in opposition to "elite" civil rights leaders. There was building tension between Malcolm and Elijah. After Malcolm made ill-advised comments concerning President Kennedy's assignation he was silenced by Elijah. "I never foresaw that the chickens would come home to roost so soon Being an old Farm boy myself, chickens coming home to roost never made me sad; it made me glad." This statement made Elijah very upset, and the fact that Malcolm X found out that Elijah had fathered children of different mother, angered Malcolm X because he was so devoted to Islam and stayed abstinence until he married his wife. "Message to the Grass Roots" became one of the most important speeches by Malcolm X. It paved the way for the Black Liberation Movement that ultimately led to the war cry of "Black Power" in 1966.
Audience
Because of the two different conferences going on at the time Malcolm spoke to an audience that was interested in his ideas opposed to the more conservative ideas that were being presented at the Northern Negro Leadership Conference. As stated in the context section, the term "Grass Roots" was used to describe a less conservative, more conflict orientated conference. So the people that joined the Northern Negro Grass Roots Conference knew what they were getting into. The audience, almost all black and with non-Muslims in the great majority interrupted Malcolm X with applause so often that he asked it to desist because of the lateness of the hour. I speculate that the people in attendance were relatively militant and wanted to attend a conference that was in favor of conflict and opposed the common nonviolent approach that the "elite" leaders took at the other conference. The audience would have been made up of more inner-city citizens, people facing the hardships of the ghetto who are suffering from lower paying, less rewarding jobs. The more educated blacks, those who lived in the suburbs and more white people would be seen at the conference held by the "elite" leaders. Not many white people would be in attendance for "Message to the Grass Roots" because of the separatist ideas of Malcolm X. Malcolm X often ridiculed white people. "What I want to know is how the white man, with the blood of black people dripping off his fingers, can have the audacity to be asking black people do they hate them. That takes a lot of nerve." The audience that the speech reached was a lot greater then the people in attendance. This speech was delivered all over the country in late 1963. I believe more conservative people along with white people watched or listened to the speech then actually attended. This is due to the fact that Malcolm X could really get an audience behind him with his charismatic personality. It was Malcolm who redefined the discourse on race in this country. He moved the notions of prejudice, discrimination, and civil rights to racism. Moving the notions to racism would increase the emotions of the audience, making it dangerous for white spectators and conservative blacks to attend. Malcolm was believed to be very savvy with the press. He knew how to use the press; he charmed the press, and provided it with material. Malcolm distrusted the white media and refused to let white reporters in to his meetings. He believed that the media distorts what is said and project them as a racists group. "I here they are flying a Negro out from New York City just to cover this meeting, because they won't let white reporters in. Being so radical and so against white people decreased the number of people he could reach with his message.
Having such a racially charged message filled with suggestions of separation, violence, and revolt limited his audience. Many blacks stood on the platform of Martin Luther King (a non-violent approach) this approach was more likable by southern blacks, and blacks that had a higher status in the economy. Most white people were afraid of Malcolm X. He repeatedly slandered white people in his speeches, interviews, and meetings. Making it difficult for white people to respect him or value his ideas, thus making the "elite" leaders more acceptable with in the white community. I don't believe Malcolm X really cared if there were people out there that disapproved of his ideas or didn't want to listen to him. "Whenever people come out, they know in advance what I'm going to talk about, and if they show any amount of interest in it, or agreement with it, that's my reward" The particular audience that listened to the speech by one mean or another, or those who accidentally caught a little of the speech herd his ideas. He was not forcing his ideas, so the constraint pertaining to the audience doesn't affect the content of his speech.
Ethos
I am interested in how Malcolm X used dialogue, style, and his techniques to improve, his ethos. Having a solid childhood and drug filled, prostitution filled, robbery filled teen years, proved to be a constraint that could potentially hurt his ethos. Not having any formal education, past the eighth grade year, made other civil rights leaders to be more recognized and easier to accept. Facing this Malcolm has to distance himself from the "elite" leaders. Malcolm's philosophies did this. "The end justifies the means" philosophy of Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, Frantz Fanon, Malcolm X and others. When analyzing the speech "Message to the Grass Roots" I noticed that Malcolm X did an average to poor job increasing his ethos through the speech. His speech did increase the ethos of his cause and the movement he talked about. Preaching non-violence is the wrong way to go about a revolution. "Look at the American revolution in 1776. That revolution was for what? Land and how was it carried out? Bloodshed" . He propelled his ethos for the cause by pointing out the hypocrisy the government was showing its black citizens.
As long as the white man sent you to Korea, you bleed. He sent you to Germany, You bleed. He sent you to the south pacific to fight the Japanese, you bleed. You bleed for white people, but when it comes to seeing your churches being bombed and little black girls murdered, you haven't got any blood.
This made him look like a leader with a vision, someone who is smarter then the government. Some one who could see through the charades of the white government and break through their barriers to oppress the Black Americans. Acknowledging that all blacks are in agreement that there's problem added respectability to the nature of the sense of the cause. "We all agree tonight, all of the speakers have agreed, that America has a very serious problem." This increased his credibility in the notion of sense; because it is a shared belief his credibility was increased. His credibility concerning good will was not harmed or helped because of his speech. An example of his will is his undying determination to achieve freedom for the Black race throughout the world. When in prison he had the will to teach himself, study Elijah Muhammad. Having witnessed first hand how devastating racism is this also provided the will for him to change the way things are currently. Having a strong loving family by his side showed his true character.
In the best of all possible worlds Malcolm would have been a preacher and a teacher and a family man, but under the circumstances he was forced to become a public political activist, and had the enough courage to become that. It is apparent that "Message to the Grass Roots" didn't increase the credibility of Malcolm X, as a person; but the credibility of his cause was increased due to the speech. When dealing with a movement I believe it is more effective to build the credibility of the cause, instead of personal credibility. People have different personalities, and if you build up the credibility of your cause people will overlook the fact that they are not happy with a particular person. If you build the character, will, and sense of your cause people will fallow your cause and that will inevitably build your personal credibility. Followers of Malcolm X overlooked his past because they believed in what he stood for now.
Pathos
Out of Aristotle's three modes of proof, Malcolm X displayed the most efficient evidence in this category. He used the audiences' emotions to endorse his philosophies of separation, by all means necessary, and the end justifies the means. He did this by making his audience feel helpless, enslaved, and tried to get his audience to hate white people. Achieving this came through the means of historical content. "So I cite these various revolutions, brothers and sisters, to show that you don't have a peaceful revolution." While describing the American, Chinese, French, and other revolutions he painted the picture of bloodshed and violence to acquire land. "The Chinese Revolution-they wanted land. They threw out the British and the Uncle Tom Chinese." He refers to the various European-centered revolutions to point out that they wanted land, and the land was for white nationalism. They got this through the means of violence and bloodshed. "Once you see how they got theirs straight, then you can see how yours straight." Malcolm then talked about how the Black Revolution is non-violence, and history shows that you can't achieve a revolution without conflict and bloodshed. "There is no such thing as a nonviolent revolution. The only kind of revolution that is non violent, is the Negro revolution." He goes on to criticize his audience by telling them they don't know what a revolution is, and if they did they wouldn't use that word. This emotionally charged the audience because they now want to learn what a revolution is. Having all the other revolutions exposed to them made them think how they are not changing anything by being nonviolent. Malcolm X described a situation during the slave era referring to the two different groups of slaves, the house nigger and the Field nigger. He used this situation as a metaphor to oppose the conference that was being held across town and the black people that are content with life the way it is.
"The house negroes- they lived in the house with the master, they dressed pretty good, they ate pretty good They lived in the attic or the basement, they lived near the master; they loved the master more then he loved himself. They would give their life to save the masters house faster then the master would. He used this metaphor to describe the modern house Negro. Claiming the modern house Negro wants to do any thing to be close to his master, they are willing to sacrifice for what their master gave them. "This modern house negro he'll pay three times more for a house to live near his master, and then brag about being the only out there." The fields Negroes were the masses; they caught the most hell and were beaten morning till night. "The field negroes didn't get any thing but what was left inside the hog." He called some of the people listening now field Negroes during his speech. This tactic made the audience think about what they were doing, how their life is, and if they are considered a field Negro. No black person wanted to think of his/her self as a field Negro, and they didn't want to look like a house negro. This allowed the audience to be more acceptable to separation.
If someone came to the field and said "Let's separate, let's run," he didn't say "where are we going" He'd say "any place is better then here." You've got your field Negroes in America today. I'm a field Negro. The masses are field Negroes.
Malcolm X went on to argue that the modern house Negroes is put in possessions to control the masses (field Negroes) from separating or fighting back. These leaders are put in positions so you can suffer peacefully. He uses a metaphor comparing the "elite" leader to Novocain, allowing the suffering to continue peacefully. Malcolm argued that the white leaders are putting black leaders against black leaders so they lose control of the masses. Malcolm X stressed togetherness throughout his speech. "We have a common enemy. We have a common oppressor, and a common exploiter." People always take part in an activity if other people are also doing the activity. Malcolm used this to solicit his movement of separation to others. The more people that shared the ideas of Malcolm X the more realistic his goal of separation would be. Being together and staying together without integration would be the only way to solve the problem. Malcolm referred to the Bandung Conference, where leaders from counties met in 1954, and the only people not let in were white people. Malcolm X believed that was the only reason the conference went well. Malcolm also believed that blacks were stronger together with out integration. "It's just like when you have coffee that is to black, which means too strong. What do you do? You integrate it with cream, you make it weak." Malcolm used pathos to drive his ideas home. Making them feel oppressed, hated and mad at the current situation and all the hardship they faced in the past, Malcolm allowed his audience to accept his movement of separation, or at least take it into greater consideration. The emotional appeals used by Malcolm X were very persuasive. Stressing togetherness allowed the audience to feel like one, they need each other, and no one cares about them. America only uses them for her personal gain.
Logos
Malcolm relied on many examples of past revolutions to enhance his logical appeal. He told the audience of the trials and tribulations of revolutions in the past. Then he asked them "How can a revolution be nonviolent" this allowed the audience to see the difference, and what still needs to be done. He relied on the past for most of his logical appeals, referring to plantations, and making the audience feel like animals. "You didn't come here on the "Mayflower." You came here on slave ships. In chains, like a horse, or a cow, or a chicken.) Historical facts are the best rhetoric to use when dealing with this matter. People hold very strong convictions on what happened to their culture during the past. Pointing this out is a very good way to get a reaction from an audience. Most of the audience knew what happened in the past to their people but it is a lot more effective if they hear a charismatic leader telling them their hardships. He made several references about the leaders at the other conference, and how there philosophies were failing. He pointed out that while blacks are being nonviolent, they are asked to be violent in defense of America, but can't be violent against her when she is violent on them.
Themes and Style Malcolm incorporated the themes of Black Nationalists, Separation, and the theme of the Field and house Negroes in to his speech. Malcolm made several references in his speech to Black Nationalism. He supported Black Nationalism by explaining how America was founded on White Nationalism. Black Nationalism is the notion that black people would control every thing within their government and they would have their own land and freedom. Separation would be the only thing that could achieve Black Nationalism. Integration was not good enough, separation is the only answer. When talking about separation Malcolm mentioned that the only way to achieve separation would be a revolution. A standard revolution, not a nonviolent revolution, the type that was currently going on, the nonviolent revolution was doing nothing but getting us killed. His theme considering the field and house Negroes was one built on perception. No black person wanted to be seen as a field Negro or a house Negro. Both types were seen as unfavorable. House Negroes were considered worst because they often lost sight of what was really happening, and that was Malcolm's point. Even if you get out of the ghetto you are still an ex slave, and in the eyes of the white man that's all you will ever be. This point was meant to drive home the theme of separation, making the alterative (freedom) less appealing then separation. Malcolm used a plethora of stylistics devises. Malcolm started the speech by calming the audience. "We want to have an off-the-cuffs chat between you and me." He used amplification when describing the way America used black people during the wars. He did this by using an anaphora when describing the revolutions that black people participated in for America. He also used an anaphora when describing the way the slaves were shipped over here. It made them fell horrible with the situation. He used anaphora the most of any stylistic device. I speculate because Malcolm was always some one who told it like it is. An anaphora is a stylish way to drive a certain point through to the audience. This is acquired through repetition, and repetition is the best way to get an idea to stick. He used the coffee metaphor to symbolize the damage that white people can have on the strength of black people when they are a collective whole. Malcolm also used hypotyposis when describing many situations. "Revolution is bloody, revolution is hostile, revolution knows no compromise, and revolution overturns and destroys everything in its way." His style was accepted by the educated and non educated alike. Malcolm was very good in expressing his passion for separation to his audience. His style of specking was enhanced by his delivery. Broadcasting was vastly superior to the written text, in conveying his style and personality. When I listened to the speech on the computer I felt moved by hearing him talk. He seemed to be very articulate and sounded very intelligent when he spoke. He possessed the ability to stress certain aspects of his speech through his variation in the tone of his voice. Just hearing the speech I became enthused and excited. I could feel the pain he was trying to portray to the audience. I could sense his charismatic personality through his voice. I think his ability to deliver the speech, the stylistics devises he used, and his personality in front of an audience made Malcolm the speaker he was.
Conclusion
There is no arguing the fact that Malcolm X was a great speaker.
He knew what his audience would be every time he spoke, he knew they were there to see him and they mostly shared his same ideas. Malcolm was very controversial and received a lot of bad publicity during his life in the public eye. After serving his time He became the spokesman for the NOI. As Malcolm X became more popular so did the Civil Rights Movement. During "Message to the Grass Roots" Malcolm did a sub par job in increasing his ethos, but an excellent job on increasing the ethos of his movement. I believe in a case like this it is better to increase the credibility of your movement. Because it is important that the audience accepts the ideas of your movement, but they don't need to like you. The most impact this speech had was on the pathos of the audience. He continually portrayed blacks as being less then human, not wanted and disrespected by white people. He made his audience feel as if there was no hope. This helped him in achieving the goal of separation. He also used togetherness among blacks to emotionally influence their ideas. His logical appeal came through historical facts, pertaining to revolutions, and how the government consistently lied to us. His speeches were so successful due to his emotional appeals and the style of his delivery and his choice of
words.
"Biography of Malcolm X"'www.cmgww.com/historic/Malcolm/bio.html (3/13/02) "Ibid., 1. Malcolm X: A research site. "Study Guide" www.brothermalcolm.net/studyguide.html ( 3/11/02) "Biography of Malcolm X" "Study Guide" Clarke John, Malcolm X: The Man and His Times (New York: The Macmillan Company. 1969) , 13. Gallen David, Malcolm A to X (New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers. 1992) , 89. "Study Guide". Gallen David, 74. "Study Guide". Breitman George, Malcolm X Speaks (New York: Pathfinder. 1989), 3. Gallen David, 151. "Study Guide". Strickland William, Malcolm X Make it Plain (New York: Penguin Books), 3. Gallen David, 96. Ibid. Gallen David, 13. Smith Ervin, The Ethics Of Martin Luther King, Jr (New York: The Edwin Mellen Press, 1981), 90 Breiman George, 7. Ibid,. Breiman George, 4. Gallen David, 47. Breiman George, 9. Breiman George, 8. Ibib,. Breiman George, 9. Breiman George, 11. Ibid,. Ibid., Ibid,. Breiman George, 5. Breiman George, 16. Breiman George, 4. Ibid,. Breiman George, 9.