“The Ballot or The Bullet” Speech (1964)

Fri Apr 03, 1964

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On this day in 1964, Malcolm X delivered a speech at Cory Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, discussing the strategies of electoralism and armed defense, stating “In 1964, it’s the ballot or the bullet”.

The speech took place less than a month after Malcolm X announced his split with the Nation of Islam, and in it he signaled a willingness to cooperate with civil rights leaders. In the speech, Malcolm X did not abandon electoralism entirely, but stated “Don’t be throwing out any ballots. A ballot is like a bullet. You don’t throw your ballots until you see a target, and if that target is not within your reach, keep your ballot in your pocket”.

Here is a brief excerpt from the speech:

"I went to a white school over here in Mason, Michigan. The white man made the mistake of letting me read his history books. He made the mistake of teaching me that Patrick Henry was a patriot, and George Washington - wasn’t nothing non-violent about ol’ Pat, or George Washington. ‘Liberty or death’ is was what brought about the freedom of whites in this country from the English.

This is why I say it’s the ballot or the bullet. It’s liberty or it’s death. It’s freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody.

…

A revolution is bloody, but America is in a unique position. She’s the only country in history in the position actually to become involved in a bloodless revolution. All she’s got to do is give the Black man in this country everything that’s due him. Everything."