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  1. The Ballot or the Bullet - Wikipedia

    • "The Ballot or the Bullet" is the title of a public speech by human rights activist Malcolm X. In the speech, which was delivered on two occasions the first being April 3, 1964, at the Cory Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and the second being on April 12, 1964, at the King Solomon Baptist Church, in Detroit, Michigan, Malcolm X advised African Americans … See more

    Background

    On March 8, 1964, Malcolm X announced his separation from the Nation of Islam, a black nationalist religious … See more

    The speech

    Malcolm X began his speech by acknowledging that he was still a Muslim, but he quickly added that he didn't intend to discuss religion or any other issues that divide African Americans. Instead, he was going to e… See more

    Analysis

    "The Ballot or the Bullet" served several purposes at a critical point in Malcolm X's life: it was part of his effort to distance himself from the Nation of Islam, and it was intended to reach out to moderate civil rights leade… See more

     
  1. Detroit, Michigan

    On April 12, 1964, civil rights leader Malcolm X delivered a speech to an audience of about 2,000 at King Solomon Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan (“Malcolm X | The Ballot or the Bullet”). 1964 was an election year; Democratic president Lyndon B. Johnson was running for re-election against Republican candidate Barry Goldwater.
    cmsw.mit.edu/angles/2021/the-ballot-or-the-bullet/
    cmsw.mit.edu/angles/2021/the-ballot-or-the-bullet/
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  2. “The Ballot or the Bullet”: Malcolm X’s Ultimatum for …

    The title of Malcolm X’s speech, “The Ballot or the Bullet,” suggests an ultimatum between voting or violence, an attempt by the speaker to convince the audience that one action or the other is absolutely necessary depending on the actions …

  3. The Making of Malcolm X’s “The Ballot or the Bullet”

    Jul 22, 2024 · First delivered in Cleveland on April 3, 1964, and then in Detroit on April 12, “The Ballot or the Bullet” is one of Malcolm X’s most iconic speeches and is considered seventh among the top 100 American political speeches of the …

  4. Malcolm X | The Ballot or the Bullet - APM Reports

    Three black men, all members of the NOI, were convicted and sent to prison for the murder. In an editorial after his death, The New York Times described Malcolm X as "an extraordinary and twisted man, turning many true gifts to …

  5. Why Malcolm X’s ‘The Ballot or the Bullet’ still …

    Apr 1, 2022 · Columnist Justice B. Hill reflects on the powerful message of Malcolm X's 1964 speech in Cleveland, known as "The Ballot or The Bullet," and what it means for Black Americans today.

  6. Malcolm X: A Research Site

  7. Malcolm X, “The Ballot or the Bullet,” April 12, 1964

    On April 12, 1964, a presidential election year, Malcolm X delivered a speech to a large audience gathered at King Solomon Baptist Church, in Detroit, Michigan. His speech became known for a phrase he repeated throughout: “the ballot or …

  8. The Ballot or the Bullet (1964) | Constitution Center

    Just as it took nationalism to remove colonialism from Asia and Africa, it’ll take black nationalism today to remove colonialism from the backs and the minds of twenty-two million Afro-Americans here in this country. And 1964 looks like it …

  9. The Ballot or the Bullet - Teaching American History

  10. “The Ballot or the Bullet” - Cleveland Public Library