"The Ballot or the Bullet?"

Malcolm X adamantly opposed MLK’s strategies to bring about change. Which sentence from the text DOES NOT prove this statement to be true.

• Today it’s time to stop singing and start swinging.

• Once you change your attitude, it changes your behavior pattern and then you go on into some action.

• It’s not so good to refer to what you’re going to do as a “sit-in”. That right there castrates you.

• They’re not getting it by singing “We Shall Overcome.”

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What is his primary purpose in beginning this section of the speech with this line: “This is part of what’s wrong with you--you do too much singing?”

• To gain the attention of those who have been following the nonviolent movement by disproving their views.

• To make the African Americans who have been fighting to feel bad that their fight has not worked.

• The black ministers who are leading their African American congregations.

• To gain the attention of President Johnson so they get the right to vote.

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What does Malcolm mean when he says, “You can’t sing up on freedom, but you can swing up on some freedom?”

• Singing about freedom is one way African Americans can help themselves achieve the rights they want.

• Swing for freedom means to hold a rally at a park by swings and not just sing songs about freedom.

• African Americans need to ride the swing of freedom into a new decade.

• Black people need to fight for their rights not just simply talk about them and wish for them.

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Who is Malcolm X addressing in this excerpt of his speech, “The Ballot or the Bullet?”

• White people who have been actively using segregation and racism to hold African Americans back from obtaining their freedoms.

• All African Americans, but especially those who have been following MLK’s nonviolent approaches.

• The secret members of the KKK.

• The African Americans who are elderly and who have been waiting to vote.

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The definition for nationalism is the identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.

Knowing this, what does Malcolm X mean when he says, “Black Nationalism is a self-help philosophy?”

• Black people need to take pride in their blackness and fight for the interests of their own race.

• Black people need to come together and work towards becoming better American citizens.

• White people who are supporting the black people with their fight for rights.

• Black people need to create their own nation such as the Nation of Islam.

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Which example below is the BEST evidence X provides to support his idea of Black Nationalism being the way to bring about change?

• “Black nationalism--that to bring about the freedom of 22 million Afro-Americans here in this country.”

• “You can be an atheist and still take Black Nationalism as your philosophy.”

• “Every nation in Asia gained its independence through the philosophy of nationalism.”

• “They’re not getting it by singing ‘We Shall Overcome.’ No, they’re getting it through nationalism.”

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The title of this speech, “The Ballot or the Bullet?,” asks a question of the audience. What does this question imply X wants his audience to do?

• Black people need to willing to fight for their right to vote, even if that means using deadly force, such as a gun.

• Black people need to be willing to die for their right to vote, even if it means shooting themselves in protest.

• Black people need to ask politely for the right to vote, and wait patiently until the laws are changed.

• None of these options.

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Which BEST describes how the speech is organized as a whole?

• Cause and effect

• Spatial

• Chronological

• Problem and Solution

What type of speech is this MOST LIKELY an example of?

• Motivational

• Persuasive

• Oral Interpretation

• Argumentative

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Read the selection from the passage: “Think of the image of someone sitting. An old woman can sit. An old man can sit. A chump can sit. A coward can sit.”

Which of the following can be inferred from this selection?

• That Malcolm X wants the white people to get up and start fighting for the African Americans also.

• Malcolm X wants all people to do “sit-ins” because all types of people can do that activity, no matter their age.

• Malcolm X is really into fitness and does not believe that people should just sit around being lazy.

• Malcolm X does not believe non-violent protests are the way to get any lasting changes to happen.

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