Malcolm X Speaks

After reading a few of Malcolm X's speeches about the injustices of African Americans in the United States and how he felt about it, I learned that he had a completely different view than most of the other African American civil rights leaders. He believes that there is no such thing as a "non-violent revolution". X gives examples of how he believes that there is no such thing as non-violent protest by recalling other revolutions in our history. he states, "Look at the American Revolution in 1776. That revolution was for what? for land. Why did they want land? Independence. How was it carried out? Bloodshed. The French Revolution- what was it based on? The landless against the landlord. What was it for? Land. How did they get it? Bloodshed.[...]" (pg. 7). He believes that to make a change in America, violence is the answer. In my opinion, I agree with Malcolm X to a certain extent. When he talks about African Americans being drafted to fight for our country, he says "If violence is wrong in America, violence is wrong abroad. If it is wrong to be violent defending black women and black children and black babies and black men, then it is wrong for America to draft us and make us violent abroad in defense of her. And if it is right for America to draft us, and teach us how to be violent in defense of her, then it is right for you and me to do whatever is necessary to defend our own people right here in this country" (pg. 8). This is a statement that I agree with because if black people are being forced to be violent while fighting for our country, then they should be able to be violent while fighting for their people and themselves. I enjoyed reading these speeches because it is something that I was not taught when I was in high school. It was also interesting reading Malcolm X talk badly about Martin Luther King, and other leaders because it gave me a different outlook on ways to change the injustice of African Americans in the United States.

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