Malcolm X Speaks: Selected Speeches and Statements (1965). Content and Description

This work was published immediately after Malcolm X’s assassination in 1965. This collection of speeches and interviews represents the major tenets of his political and social beliefs in the last years of his life. Chief among the writings in this book are the speeches “Message to the Grassroots,” which advocates unity among progressive people, especially their leadership, in pursuing their goal; “The Ballot or the Bullet,” which is a response to the Congress’s hesitation in passing the civil rights bill; and “The Black Revolution,” which defends the use of violence in achieving political ends.

The poignancy of these speeches is most apparent when they are seen or heard. As did the West African griots, Malcolm X made significant contributions to oral literature and rarely wrote for publication. His wit and humor readily made his ideas appealing to his audience. Even though it often appeared that he was speaking ad hoc, he was not. He prepared extensive notes for his speeches yet used them only as guides as he read the crowd and adjusted accordingly, using the call-and-response style commonly used among African-American orators, as well as Judeo-Christian liturgies heard across the world (you can listen to many Malcolm X speeches on the Web at such sites as http://www.brothermalcolm. net/mxwords/whathesaidarchive.html).

For Discussion or Writing:
1. Commenting on religion and resistance, Malcolm X argues: There is nothing in our book, the Koran, that teaches us to suffer peacefully. Our religion teaches us to be intelligent. Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery. That’s a good religion. In fact, that’s that old time religion. That’s the one that Ma and Pa used to talk about: an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, and a head for a head, and a life for a life. That’s a good religion. And nobody resents that kind of religion being taught but a wolf, who intends to make you his meal. . . . No, preserve your life, it’s the best thing you’ve got. And if you’ve got to give it up, let it be even-steven. (Malcolm XSpeaks 12-13)

What does Malcolm X mean by “a wolf”? Is he serious when he encourages blacks to make things “even-steven”? On the basis of your reading of Malcolm X’s essays, argue whether Malcolm X is justifying violence.

2. Consider the following passage from Malcolm X’s “Message to the Grassroots”:

I would like to make a few comments concerning the difference between the black revolution and the Negro revolution. There’s a difference. Are they both the same? And if they’re not, what is the difference? What is the difference between a black revolution and a Negro revolution?

First, what is a revolution? Sometimes I’m inclined to believe that many of our people are using this word “revolution” loosely, without taking careful consideration [of] what this word actually means, and what its historic characteristics are. When you study the historic nature of revolutions, the motive of a revolution, the objective of a revolution, and the result of a revolution, and the methods used in a revolution, you may change words. You may devise another program. You may change your goal and you may change your mind.

Look at the American Revolution in 1776. That revolution was for what? For land. Why did they want land? Independence. How was it carried out? Bloodshed. Number one, it was based on land, the basis of independence. And the only way they could get it was bloodshed. The French Revolution—what was it based on? The land-less against the landlord.

What was it for? Land. How did they get it? Bloodshed. Was no love lost; was no compromise; was no negotiation. I’m telling you, you don’t know what a revolution is. ‘Cause when you find out what it is, you’ll get back in the alley; you’ll get out of the way. The Russian Revolution— what was it based on? Land. The land-less against the landlord. How did they bring it about? Bloodshed. You haven’t got a revolution that doesn’t involve bloodshed. And you’re afraid to bleed. I said, you’re afraid to bleed.

With Malcolm X’s thoughts in mind, write a well-developed essay on the nature of revolution, arguing whether you think Malcolm X was right. If so, what are the consequences? If not, why not? Are the idealistic reasons that people hold for revolt wrong? Is what Malcolm says about land correct?