马尔科姆演讲稿：选票还是子弹 The Ballot or the Bullet.doc

马尔科姆演讲稿：选票还是子弹 The Ballot or the Bullet Mr.Moderator,BrotherLomax,brothersandsisters,friendsandenemies:Ijustcantbelieveeveryoneinhereisafriend,andIdontwanttoleaveanybodyout.Thequestiontonight,asIunderstandit,isTheNegroRevolt,andWhereDoWeGoFromHere?orWhatNext?Inmylittlehumblewayofunderstandingit,itpointstowardeithertheballotorthebullet. Beforewetryandexplainwhatismeantbytheballotorthebullet,Iwouldliketoclarifysomethingconcerningmyself.ImstillaMuslim;myreligionisstillIslam.Thatsmypersonalbelief.JustasAdamClaytonPowellisaChristianministerwhoheadstheAbyssinianBaptistChurchinNewYork,butatthesametimetakespartinthepoliticalstrugglestotryandbringaboutrightstotheblackpeopleinthiscountry;andDr.MartinLutherKingisaChristianministerdowninAtlanta,Georgia,whoheadsanotherorganizationfightingforthecivilrightsofblackpeopleinthiscountry;andReverendGalamison,Iguessyouveheardofhim,isanotherChristianministerinNewYorkwhohasbeendeeplyinvolvedintheschoolstoeliminatesegregatededucation;well,Imyselfamaminister,notaChristianminister,butaMuslimminister;andIbelieveinactiononallfrontsbywhatevermeansnecessary. AlthoughImstillaMuslim,Imnotheretonighttodiscussmyreligion.Imnotheretotryandchangeyourreligion.Imnotheretoargueordiscussanythingthatwedifferabout,becauseitstimeforustosubmergeourdifferencesandrealizethatitisbestforustofirstseethatwehavethesameproblem,amonproblem,aproblemthatwillmakeyoucatchhellwhetheryoureaBaptist,oraMethodist,oraMuslim,oranationalist.Whetheryoureeducatedorilliterate,whetheryouliveontheboulevardorinthealley,youregoingtocatchhelljustlikeIam.Wereallinthesameboatandweallaregoingtocatchthesamehellfromthesameman.Hejusthappenstobeawhiteman.Allofushavesufferedhere,inthiscountry,politicaloppressionatthehandsofthewhiteman,economicexploitationatthehandsofthewhiteman,andsocialdegradationatthehandsofthewhiteman. Nowinspeakinglikethis,itdoesntmeanthatwereanti-white,butitdoesmeanwereanti-exploitation,wereanti-degradation,wereanti-oppression.Andifthewhitemandoesntwantustobeanti-him,lethimstopoppressingandexploitinganddegradingus.WhetherweareChristiansorMuslimsornationalistsoragnosticsoratheists,wemustfirstlearntoforgetourdifferences.Ifwehavedifferences,letusdifferinthecloset;whenweeoutinfront,letusnothaveanythingtoargueaboutuntilwegetfinishedarguingwiththeman.IfthelatePresidentKennedycouldgettogetherwithKhrushchevandexchangesomewheat,wecertainlyhavemoreinmonwitheachotherthanKennedyandKhrushchevhadwitheachother. Ifwedontdosomethingrealsoon,Ithinkyoullhavetoagreethatweregoingtobeforcedeithertousetheballotorthebullet.Itsoneortheotherin1964.Itisntthattimeisrunningout-timehasrunout! 1964threatenstobethemostexplosiveyearAmericahaseverwitnessed.Themostexplosiveyear.Why?Itsalsoapoliticalyear.Itstheyearwhenallofthewhitepoliticianswillbebackintheso-calledNegromunityjivingyouandmeforsomevotes.Theyearwhenallofthewhitepoliticalcrookswillberightbackinyourandmymunitywiththeirfalsepromises,buildingupourhopesforaletdown,withtheirtrickeryandtheirtreachery,withtheirfalsepromiseswhichtheydontintendtokeep.Astheynourishthesedissatisfactions,itcanonlyleadtoonething,anexplosion;andnowwehavethetypeofblackmanonthesceneinAmericatoday-Imsorry,BrotherLomax-whojustdoesntintendtoturntheothercheekanylonger. Dontletanybodytellyouanythingabouttheoddsareagainstyou.Iftheydraftyou,theysendyoutoKoreaandmakeyouface800millionChinese.Ifyoucanbebraveoverthere,youcanbebraverighthere.Theseoddsarentasgreatasthoseodds.Andifyoufighthere,youwillatleastknowwhatyourefightingfor. Imnotapolitician,notevenastudentofpolitics;infact,Imnotastudentofmuchofanything.ImnotaDemocrat.ImnotaRepublican,andIdontevenconsidermyselfanAmerican.IfyouandIwereAmericans,theredbenoproblem.ThoseHonkiesthatjustgotofftheboat,theyrealreadyAmericans;PolacksarealreadyAmericans;theItalianrefugeesarealreadyAmericans.EverythingthatcameoutofEurope,everyblue-eyedthing,isalreadyanAmerican.AndaslongasyouandIhavebeenoverhere,wearentAmericansyet. Well,Iamonewhodoesntbelieveindeludingmyself.Imnotgoingtositatyourtableandwatchyoueat,withnothingonmyplate,andcallmyselfadiner.Sittingatthetabledoesntmakeyouadiner,unlessyoueatsomeofwhatsonthatplate.BeinghereinAmericadoesntmakeyouanAmerican.BeingbornhereinAmericadoesntmakeyouanAmerican.Why,ifbirthmadeyouAmerican,youwouldntneedanylegislation;youwouldntneedanyamendmentstotheConstitution;youwouldntbefacedwithcivil-rightsfilibusteringinWashington,D.C.,rightnow.Theydonthavetopasscivil-rightslegislationtomakeaPolackanAmerican. No,ImnotanAmerican.Imoneofthe22millionblackpeoplewhoarethevictimsofAmericanism.Oneofthe22millionblackpeoplewhoarethevictimsofdemocracy,nothingbutdisguisedhypocrisy.So,ImnotstandingherespeakingtoyouasanAmerican,orapatriot,oraflag-saluter,oraflag-waver-no,notI.ImspeakingasavictimofthisAmericansystem.AndIseeAmericathroughtheeyesofthevictim.IdontseeanyAmericandream;IseeanAmericannightmare. These22millionvictimsarewakingup.Theireyesareingopen.Theyrebeginningtoseewhattheyusedtoonlylookat.Theyrebeingpoliticallymature.Theyarerealizingthattherearenewpoliticaltrendsfromcoasttocoast.Astheyseethesenewpoliticaltrends,itspossibleforthemtoseethateverytimetheresanelectiontheracesaresoclosethattheyhavetohavearecount.TheyhadtorecountinMassachusettstoseewhowasgoingtobegovernor,itwassoclose.ItwasthesamewayinRhodeIsland,inMinnesota,andinmanyotherpartsofthecountry.AndthesamewithKennedyandNixonwhentheyranforpresident.Itwassoclosetheyhadtocountalloveragain.Well,whatdoesthismean?Itmeansthatwhenwhitepeopleareevenlydivided,andblackpeoplehaveablocofvotesoftheirown,itisleftuptothemtodeterminewhosgoingtositintheWhiteHouseandwhosgoingtobeinthedoghouse. lt.wastheblackmansvotethatputthepresentadministrationinWashington,D.C.Yourvote,yourdumbvote,yourignorantvote,yourwastedvoteputinanadministrationinWashington,D.C.,thathasseenfittopasseverykindoflegislationimaginable,savingyouuntillast,thenfilibusteringontopofthat.Andyourandmyleadershavetheaudacitytorunaroundclappingtheirhandsandtalkabouthowmuchprogressweremaking.Andwhatagoodpresidentwehave.IfhewasntgoodinTexas,hesurecantbegoodinWashington,D.C.BecauseTexasisalynchstate.ItisinthesamebreathasMississippi,nodifferent;onlytheylynchyouinTexaswithaTexasaentandlynchyouinMississippiwithaMississippiaent.AndtheseNegroleadershavetheaudacitytogoandhavesomecoffeeintheWhiteHousewithaTexan,aSoutherncracker-thatsallheis-andtheneoutandtellyouandmethathesgoingtobebetterforusbecause,sincehesfromtheSouth,heknowshowtodealwiththeSoutherners.Whatkindoflogicisthat?LetEastlandbepresident,hesfromtheSouthtoo.HeshouldbebetterabletodealwiththemthanJohnson. InthispresentadministrationtheyhaveintheHouseofRepresentatives257Democratstoonly177Republicans.Theycontroltwo-thirdsoftheHousevote.Whycanttheypasssomethingthatwillhelpyouandme?IntheSenate,thereare67senatorswhoareoftheDemocraticParty.Only33ofthemareRepublicans.Why,theDemocratshavegotthegovernmentsewedup,andyouretheonewhoseweditupforthem.Andwhathavetheygivenyouforit?Fouryearsinoffice,andjustnowgettingaroundtosomecivil-rightslegislation.Justnow,aftereverythingelseisgone,outoftheway,theyregoingtositdownnowandplaywithyouallsummerlong-thesameoldgiantcongamethattheycallfilibuster.Allthoseareincahootstogether.Dontyoueverthinktheyrenotincahootstogether,forthemanthatisheadingthecivil-rightsfilibusterisamanfromGeorgianamedRichardRussell.WhenJohnsonbecamepresident,thefirstmanheaskedforwhenhegotbacktoWashington,D.C.,wasDicky-thatshowtighttheyare.Thatshisboy,thatshispal,thatshisbuddy.Buttheyreplayingthatoldcongame.Oneofthemmakesbelievehesforyou,andhesgotitfixedwheretheotheroneissotightagainstyou,heneverhastokeephispromise. Soitstimein1964towakeup.Andwhenyouseethemingupwiththatkindofconspiracy,letthemknowyoureyesareopen.Andletthemknowyou-somethingelsethatswideopentoo.Itsgottobetheballotorthebullet.Theballotorthebullet.Ifyoureafraidtouseanexpressionlikethat,youshouldgetonoutofthecountry;youshouldgetbackinthecottonpatch;youshouldgetbackinthealley.TheygetalltheNegrovote,andaftertheygetit,theNegrogetsnothinginreturn.AlltheydidwhentheygottoWashingtonwasgiveafewbigNegroesbigjobs.ThosebigNegroesdidntneedbigjobs,theyalreadyhadjobs.Thatscamouflage,thatstrickery,thatstreachery,window-dressing.ImnottryingtoknockouttheDemocratsfortheRepublicans.Wellgettotheminaminute.Butitistrue;youputtheDemocratsfirstandtheDemocratsputyoulast. Lookatitthewayitis.Whatalibisdotheyuse,sincetheycontrolCongressandtheSenate?WhatalibidotheyusewhenyouandIask,Well,whenareyougoingtokeepyourpromise?TheyblametheDixiecrats.WhatisaDixiecrat?ADemocrat.ADixiecratisnothingbutaDemocratindisguise.ThetitularheadoftheDemocratsisalsotheheadoftheDixiecrats,becausetheDixiecratsareapartoftheDemocraticParty.TheDemocratshaveneverkickedtheDixiecratsoutoftheparty.TheDixiecratsboltedthemselvesonce,buttheDemocratsdidntputthemout.Imagine,theselowdownSouthernsegregationistsputtheNorthernDemocratsdown.ButtheNorthernDemocratshaveneverputtheDixiecratsdown.No,lookatthatthingthewayitis.Theyhavegotacongamegoingon,apoliticalcongame,andyouandIareinthemiddle.Itstimeforyouandmetowakeupandstartlookingatitlikeitis,andtryingtounderstanditlikeitis;andthenwecandealwithitlikeitis. TheDixiecratsinWashington,D.C.,controlthekeymitteesthatrunthegovernment.TheonlyreasontheDixiecratscontrolthesemitteesisbecausetheyhaveseniority.TheonlyreasontheyhaveseniorityisbecausetheyefromstateswhereNegroescantvote.Thisisnotevenagovernmentthatsbasedondemocracy.lt.isnotagovernmentthatismadeupofrepresentativesofthepeople.HalfofthepeopleintheSouthcantevenvote.EastlandisnotevensupposedtobeinWashington.HalfofthesenatorsandcongressmenwhooupythesekeypositionsinWashington,D.C.,arethereillegally,arethereunconstitutionally. IwasinWashington,D.C.,aweekagoThursday,whentheyweredebatingwhetherornottheyshouldletthebilleontothefloor.AndinthebackoftheroomwheretheSenatemeets,theresahugemapoftheUnitedStates,andonthatmapitshowsthelocationofNegroesthroughoutthecountry.AnditshowsthattheSouthernsectionofthecountry,thestatesthataremostheavilyconcentratedwithNegroes,aretheonesthathavesenatorsandcongressmenstandingupfilibusteringanddoingallotherkindsoftrickerytokeeptheNegrofrombeingabletovote.Thisispitiful.Butitsnotpitifulforusanylonger;itsactuallypitifulforthewhiteman,becausesoonnow,astheNegroawakensalittlemoreandseesthevisethathesin,seesthebagthathesin,seestherealgamethathesin,thentheNegrosgoingtodevelopanewtactic. Thesesenatorsandcongressmenactuallyviolatetheconstitutionalamendmentsthatguaranteethepeopleofthatparticularstateorcountytherighttovote.AndtheConstitutionitselfhaswithinitthemachinerytoexpelanyrepresentativefromastatewherethevotingrightsofthepeopleareviolated.Youdontevenneednewlegislation.AnypersoninCongressrightnow,whoistherefromastateoradistrictwherethevotingrightsofthepeopleareviolated,thatparticularpersonshouldbeexpelledfromCongress.Andwhenyouexpelhim,youveremovedoneoftheobstaclesinthepathofanyrealmeaningfullegislationinthiscountry.Infact,whenyouexpelthem,youdontneednewlegislation,becausetheywillbereplacedbyblackrepresentativesfromcountiesanddistrictswheretheblackmanisinthemajority,notintheminority. IftheblackmanintheseSouthernstateshadhisfullvotingrights,thekeyDixiecratsinWashington,D.C.,whichmeansthekeyDemocratsinWashington,D.C.,wouldlosetheirseats.TheDemocraticPartyitselfwouldloseitspower.Itwouldceasetobepowerfulasaparty.WhenyouseetheamountofpowerthatwouldbelostbytheDemocraticPartyifitweretolosetheDixiecratwing,orbranch,orelement,youcanseewhereitsagainsttheinterestsoftheDemocratstogivevotingrightstoNegroesinstateswheretheDemocratshavebeeninpletepowerandauthorityeversincetheCivilWar.YoujustcantbelongtothatPartywithoutanalyzingit. Isayagain,Imnotanti-Democrat,Imnotanti-Republican,Imnotanti-anything.Imjustquestioningtheirsincerity,andsomeofthestrategythattheyvebeenusingonourpeoplebypromisingthempromisesthattheydontintendtokeep.WhenyoukeeptheDemocratsinpower,yourekeepingtheDixiecratsinpower.IdoubtthatmygoodBrotherLomaxwilldenythat.AvoteforaDemocratisavoteforaDixiecrat.Thatswhy,in1964,itstimenowforyouandmetobeemorepoliticallymatureandrealizewhattheballotisfor;whatweresupposedtogetwhenwecastaballot;andthatifwedontcastaballot,itsgoingtoendupinasituationwhereweregoingtohavetocastabullet.Itseitheraballotorabullet. IntheNorth,theydoitadifferentway.Theyhaveasystemthatsknownasgerrymandering,whateverthatmeans.ItmeanswhenNegroesbeetooheavilyconcentratedinacertainarea,andbegintogaintoomuchpoliticalpower,thewhitemanesalongandchangesthedistrictlines.Youmaysay,Whydoyoukeepsayingwhiteman?Becauseitsthewhitemanwhodoesit.IhaventeverseenanyNegrochanginganylines.Theydontlethimgetneartheline.Itsthewhitemanwhodoesthis.Andusually,itsthewhitemanwhogrinsatyouthemost,andpatsyouontheback,andissupposedtobeyourfriend.Hemaybefriendly,buthesnotyourfriend. So,whatImtryingtoimpressuponyou,inessence,isthis:YouandIinAmericaarefacednotwithasegregationistconspiracy,werefacedwithagovernmentconspiracy.Everyonewhosfilibusteringisasenator-thatsthegovernment.EveryonewhosfinaglinginWashington,D.C.,isacongressman-thatsthegovernment.Youdonthaveanybodyputtingblocksinyourpathbutpeoplewhoareapartofthegovernment.Thesamegovernmentthatyougoabroadtofightforanddieforisthegovernmentthatisinaconspiracytodepriveyouofyourvotingrights,depriveyouofyoureconomicopportunities,depriveyouofdecenthousing,depriveyouofdecenteducation.Youdontneedtogototheemployeralone,itisthegovernmentitself,thegovernmentofAmerica,thatisresponsiblefortheoppressionandexploitationanddegradationofblackpeopleinthiscountry.Andyoushoulddropitintheirlap.ThisgovernmenthasfailedtheNegro.Thisso-calleddemocracyhasfailedtheNegro.AndallthesewhiteliberalshavedefinitelyfailedtheNegro. So,wheredowegofromhere?First,weneedsomefriends.Weneedsomenewallies.Theentirecivil-rightsstruggleneedsanewinterpretation,abroaderinterpretation.Weneedtolookatthiscivil-rightsthingfromanotherangle-fromtheinsideaswellasfromtheoutside.Tothoseofuswhosephilosophyisblacknationalism,theonlywayyoucangetinvolvedinthecivil-rightsstruggleisgiveitanewinterpretation.Thatoldinterpretationexcludedus.Itkeptusout.So,weregivinganewinterpretationtothecivil-rightsstruggle,aninterpretationthatwillenableustoeintoit,takepartinit.Andthesehandkerchief-headswhohavebeendillydallyingandpussyfootingandpromising-wedontintendtoletthempussyfootanddillydallyandpromiseanylonger. Howcanyouthankamanforgivingyouwhatsalreadyyours?Howthencanyouthankhimforgivingyouonlypartofwhatsalreadyyours?Youhaventevenmadeprogress,ifwhatsbeinggiventoyou,youshouldhavehadalready.Thatsnotprogress.AndIlovemyBrotherLomax,thewayhepointedoutwererightbackwherewewerein1954.Werenotevenasfarupaswewerein1954.Werebehindwherewewerein1954.Theresmoresegregationnowthantherewasin1954.Theresmoreracialanimosity,moreracialhatred,moreracialviolencetodayin1964,thantherewasin1954.Whereistheprogress? AndnowyourefacingasituationwheretheyoungNegrosingup.Theydontwanttohearthatturnthe-other-cheekstuff,no.InJacksonville,thosewereteenagers,theywerethrowingMolotovcocktails.Negroeshaveneverdonethatbefore.Butitshowsyoutheresanewdealingin.Theresnewthinkingingin.Theresnewstrategyingin.ItllbeMolotovcocktailsthismonth,handgrenadesnextmonth,andsomethingelsenextmonth.Itllbeballots,oritllbebullets.Itllbeliberty,oritwillbedeath.Theonlydifferenceaboutthiskindofdeath-itllbereciprocal.Youknowwhatismeantbyreciprocal?ThatsoneofBrotherLomaxswords.Istoleitfromhim.IdontusuallydealwiththosebigwordsbecauseIdontusuallydealwithbigpeople.Idealwithsmallpeople.Ifindyoucangetawholelotofsmallpeopleandwhiphelloutofawholelotofbigpeople.Theyhaventgotanythingtolose,andtheyvegoteverythingtogain.Andtheyllletyouknowinaminute:Ittakestwototango;whenIgo,yougo. Theblacknationalists,thosewhosephilosophyisblacknationalism,inbringingaboutthisnewinterpretationoftheentiremeaningofcivilrights,lookuponitasmeaning,asBrotherLomaxhaspointedout,equalityofopportunity.Well,werejustifiedinseekingcivilrights,ifitmeansequalityofopportunity,becauseallweredoingthereistryingtocollectforourinvestment.Ourmothersandfathersinvestedsweatandblood.Threehundredandtenyearsweworkedinthiscountrywithoutadimeinreturn-Imeanwithoutadimeinreturn.Youletthewhitemanwalkaroundheretalkingabouthowrichthiscountryis,butyouneverstoptothinkhowitgotrichsoquick.Itgotrichbecauseyoumadeitrich. Youtakethepeoplewhoareinthisaudiencerightnow.Theyrepoor.Wereallpoorasindividuals.Ourweeklysalaryindividuallyamountstohardlyanything.Butifyoutakethesalaryofeveryoneinherecollectively,itllfillupawholelotofbaskets.Itsalotofwealth.Ifyoucancollectthewagesofjustthesepeoplerighthereforayear,youllberich-richerthanrich.Whenyoulookatitlikethat,thinkhowrichUncleSamhadtobee,notwiththishandful,butmillionsofblackpeople.Yourandmymotherandfather,whodidntworkaneight-hourshift,butworkedfromcantseeinthemorninguntilcantseeatnight,andworkedfornothing,makingthewhitemanrich,makingUncleSamrich.Thisisourinvestment.Thisisourcontribution,ourblood. Notonlydidwegiveofourfreelabor,wegaveofourblood.Everytimehehadacalltoarms,wewerethefirstonesinuniform.Wediedoneverybattlefieldthewhitemanhad.WehavemadeagreatersacrificethananybodywhosstandingupinAmericatoday.Wehavemadeagreatercontributionandhavecollectedless.Civilrights,forthoseofuswhosephilosophyisblacknationalism,means:Giveittousnow.Dontwaitfornextyear.Giveittousyesterday,andthatsnotfastenough. Imightstoprightheretopointoutonething.Wheneveryouregoingaftersomethingthatbelongstoyou,anyonewhosdeprivingyouoftherighttohaveitisacriminal.Understandthat.Wheneveryouaregoingaftersomethingthatisyours,youarewithinyourlegalrightstolayclaimtoit.Andanyonewhoputsforthanyefforttodepriveyouofthatwhichisyours,isbreakingthelaw,isacriminal.AndthiswaspointedoutbytheSupremeCourtdecision.Itoutlawedsegregation. Whichmeanssegregationisagainstthelaw.Whichmeansasegregationistisbre