Stasis Theory in "The Ballot or the Bullet"

The main point being made by Malcolm X in his 1964 speech, "The Ballot or the Bullet" is that African Americans are not being given the rights they deserve and they should take action to ensure these rights themselves whether it's through political nonviolent means or through more aggressive and potentially violent means. Equality must be achieved through either "the ballot or the bullet". Malcolm spent much of the speech defining the issue; he stated that those in power, "the white man", are conspiring against the African Americans and will continue to delay and lie instead of giving African Americans the rights they should have always had. Malcolm stated the importance of this issue by pointing out the years of hard work, blood and sweat that African Americans contributed to the success of America and were rewarded with less than nothing. Malcolm demanded action from his fellow African Americans and repeatedly emphasized that if things do not change immediately then changes will be made to end the oppression through drastic means. He proposed drawing international attention by bringing the injustices against African Americans to the U.N. as a human rights issue. Malcolm argued that no longer should the issue be handled by the whites in power, instead blacks should take things into their own hands by running and enriching their own communities independent from the whites who ran and controlled them for decades.

-Chris Burns