Public speeches turn out to be powerful weapons for many political leaders, rebels, and human rights supporters. It is not enough to find several appropriate words and introduce them. A good speech should have a clear purpose and credible evidence. In his speech “The Ballot or the Bullet,” Malcolm X defines his goals clearly. First, he underlines the necessity “to clarify some things that refer to me personally” (Malcolm X). His intention is to talk to the public and discuss common problems that the black population experiences the same way he does. He uses his experience, shares his past, and explains why the chosen topic is necessary to be discussed in public. In addition, he wants “to talk about the ballot or the bullet” and focus on the importance for people to make a choice (Malcolm X). The current social and political situation is not simple, and he tries to prepare the audience to act and speak.
To strengthen his purposes and words, Malcolm X uses several rhetorical concepts, and logos is one of them. His tactic is to present enough reasons for his concerns and the need to change the world. He is not afraid to tell that, “because Negroes have listened to the trickery and the lies and the false promises of the white man now for too long, and they’re fed up” (Malcolm X). This text explains why Malcolm X is bothered by inequality and injustice that exist in society. The worth of the logos is to prove why black people are concerned about the government. Another example is taken from his own life when “they attack me ’cause I’m black” (Malcolm X). This fact is hard to deny because unfair judgments based on racial inequality continue to determine society and the quality of life. Malcolm X does not introduce some new or biased information but relies on observations and public opinions.
Work Cited
“Malcolm X: The Ballot or the Bullet.” American Public Media, 2020. Web.