马尔科姆演讲稿选票还是子弹TheBallotortheBullet1.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,isanotherChristianministerinNewYorkwhohasbeendeeplyinvolvedintheschoolstoeliminatesegregatededucation;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,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.,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,itsgoingtoendupinasituationwhereweregoingtohavetocastabullet.Itseitheraballotorabullet.IntheNorth,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.Asegregationistisacrimina