马尔科姆演讲稿选票还是子弹TheBallotortheBullet.doc

马尔科姆演讲稿：选票还是子弹TheBallotortheBullettheballotorthebulletbymalcolmxapril3,1964cleveland,ohiomr.moderator,brotherlomax,brothersandsisters,friendsandenemies:ijustcantbelieveeveryoneinhereisafriend,andidontwanttoleaveanybodyout.thequestiontonight,asiunderstandit,is“thenegrorevolt,andwheredowegofromhere?”orwhatnext?”inmylittlehumblewayofunderstandingit,itpointstowardeithertheballotorthebullet.beforewetryandexplainwhatismeantbytheballotorthebullet,iwouldliketoclarifysomethingconcerningmyself.imstillamuslim;myreligionisstillislam.thatsmypersonalbelief.justasadamclaytonpowellisachristianministerwhoheadstheabyssinianbaptistchurchinnewyork,butatthesametimetakespartinthepoliticalstrugglestotryandbringaboutrightstotheblackpeopleinthiscountry;anddr.martinlutherkingisachristianministerdowninatlanta,georgia,whoheadsanotherorganizationfightingforthecivilrightsofblackpeopleinthiscountry;andreverendgalamison,iguessyouveheardofhim,isanotherchristianministerinnewyorkwhohasbeendeeplyinvolvedintheschoolboycottstoeliminatesegregatededucation;well,imyselfamaminister,notachristianminister,butamuslimminister;andibelieveinactiononallfrontsbywhatevermeansnecessary.althoughimstillamuslim,imnotheretonighttodiscussmyreligion.imnotheretotryandchangeyourreligion.imnotheretoargueordiscussanythingthatwedifferabout,becauseitstimeforustosubmergeourdifferencesandrealizethatitisbestforustofirstseethatwehavethesameproblem,acommonproblem,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;whenwecomeoutinfront,letusnothaveanythingtoargueaboutuntilwegetfinishedarguingwiththeman.ifthelatepresidentkennedycouldgettogetherwithkhrushchevandexchangesomewheat,wecertainlyhavemoreincommonwitheachotherthankennedyandkhrushchevhadwitheachother.ifwedontdosomethingrealsoon,ithinkyoullhavetoagreethatweregoingtobeforcedeithertousetheballotorthebullet.itsoneortheotherin1964.itisntthattimeisrunningout-timehasrunout!1964threatenstobethemostexplosiveyearamericahaseverwitnessed.themostexplosiveyear.why?itsalsoapoliticalyear.itstheyearwhenallofthewhitepoliticianswillbebackintheso-callednegrocommunityjivingyouandmeforsomevotes.theyearwhenallofthewhitepoliticalcrookswillberightbackinyourandmycommunitywiththeirfalsepromises,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.theireyesarecomingopen.theyrebeginningtoseewhattheyusedtoonlylookat.theyrebecomingpoliticallymature.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;onlytheylynchyouintexaswithatexasaccentandlynchyouinmississippiwithamississippiaccent.andthesenegroleadershavetheaudacitytogoandhavesomecoffeeinthewhitehousewithatexan,asoutherncracker-thatsallheis-andthencomeoutandtellyouandmethathesgoingtobebetterforusbecause,sincehesfromthesouth,heknowshowtodealwiththesoutherners.whatkindoflogicisthat?leteastlandbepresident,hispresentadministrationtheyhaveinthehouseofrepresentatives257democratstoonly177republicans.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.,was“dicky”-thatshowtighttheyare.thatshisboy,thatshispal,thatshisbuddy.buttheyreplayingthatoldcongame.oneofthemmakesbelievehesforyou,andhesgotitfixedwheretheotheroneissotightagainstyou,heneverhastokeephispromise.soitstimein1964towakeup.andwhenyouseethemcomingupwiththatkindofconspiracy,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.,controlthekeycommitteesthatrunthegovernment.theonlyreasonthedixiecratscontrolthesecommitteesisbecausetheyhaveseniority.theonlyreasontheyhaveseniorityisbecausetheycomefromstateswherenegroescantvote.thisisnotevenagovernmentthatsbasedondemocracy.lt.isnotagovernmentthatismadeupofrepresentativesofthepeople.halfofthepeopleinthesouthcantevenvote.eastlandisnotevensupposedtobeinwashington.halfofthesenatorsandcongressmenwhooccupythesekeypositionsinwashington,d.c.,arethereillegally,arethereunconstitutionally.iwasinwashington,d.c.,aweekagothursday,whentheyweredebatingwhetherornottheyshouldletthebillcomeontothefloor.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,youcanseewhereitsagainsttheinterestsofthedemocratstogivevotingrightstonegroesinstateswherethedemocratshavebeenincompletepowerandauthorityeversincethecivilwar.youjustcantbelongtothatpartywithoutanalyzingit.isayagain,imnotanti-democrat,imnotanti-republican,imnotanti-anything.imjustquestioningtheirsincerity,andsomeofthestrategythattheyvebeenusingonourpeoplebypromisingthempromisesthattheydontintendtokeep.whenyoukeepthedemocratsinpower,yourekeepingthedixiecratsinpower.idoubtthatmygoodbrotherlomaxwilldenythat.avoteforademocratisavoteforadixiecrat.thatswhy,in1964,itstimenowforyouandmetobecomemorepoliticallymatureandrealizewhattheballotisfor;whatweresupposedtogetwhenwecastaballot;andthatifwedontcastaballot,henorth,theydoitadifferentway.theyhaveasystemthatsknownasgerrymandering,whateverthatmeans.itmeanswhennegroesbecometooheavilyconcentratedinacertainarea,andbegintogaintoomuchpoliticalpower,thewhitemancomesalongandchangesthedistrictlines.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,aninterpretationthatwillenableustocomeintoit,takepartinit.andthesehandkerchief-headswhohavebeendillydallyingandpussyfootingandcompromising-wedontintendtoletthempussyfootanddillydallyandcompromiseanylonger.howcanyouthankamanforgivingyouwhatsalreadyyours?howthencanyouthankhimforgivingyouonlypartofwhatsalreadyyours?youhaventevenmadeprogress,ifwhatsbeinggiventoyou,youshouldhavehadalready.thatsnotprogress.andilovemybrotherlomax,thewayhepointedoutwererightbackwherewewerein1954.werenotevenasfarupaswewerein1954.werebehindwherewewerein1954.theresmoresegregationnowthantherewasin1954.theresmoreracialanimosity,moreracialhatred,moreracialviolencetodayin1964,thantherewasin1954.whereistheprogress?andnowyourefacingasituationwheretheyoungnegroscomingup.theydontwanttohearthat“turnthe-other-cheek”stuff,no.injacksonville,thosewereteenagers,theywerethrowingmolotovcocktails.negroeshaveneverdonethatbefore.butitshowsyoutheresanewdealcomingin.theresnewthinkingcomingin.theresnewstrategycomingin.itllbemolotovcocktailsthismonth,handgrenadesnextmonth,andsomethingelsenextmonth.itllbeballots,oritllbebullets.itllbeliberty,oritwillbedeath.theonlydifferenceaboutthiskindofdeath-itllbereciprocal.youknowwhatismeantby“reciprocal”?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,thinkhowrichunclesamhadtobecome,notwiththishandful,butmillionsofblackpeople.yourandmymotherandfather,whodidntworkaneight-hourshift,butworkedfrom“cantsee”inthemorninguntil“cantsee”atnight,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.whichmeansasegregationistisbreakingthelaw.asegregationistisa