Racial Criticism Of Malcolm X

The best possible method of criticism for this speech is Race Criticism, as Malcolm X spoke directly about the race relations of the 1960’s and preceding decades. Not only did he discuss the problems that everyone knew was present in the early 1960’s but he provided a blue print in which blacks could follow to gain their freedom from racism. What made Malcolm X’s speech so powerful was that he used all three main forms of rhetoric in his speech to get his points across.
His speech was emotional enough to tug at the heartstrings of even the most hardened souls in the audience. Speaking to a crowd of blacks who had (presumably) all experienced some form of racism in their life was key to the success of the speech. Malcolm X was well respected in the black community, especially amongst members of the Nation of Islam. People, although they may not like what he said, respected what he said because of his leadership position, his intelligence, and skills as an orator. Malcolm X used many references to prior revolutions in his speech. He used history as a means to get his frame of logic, and back up his ideas.
As I mentioned previously “Message to the Grass Roots” addressed many problems he believed existed within the African-American community: the common enemy, the Black revolution and the Negro revolution, the house Nero and the field Negro, and the “March on Washington”. I will do a rhetorical criticism of the speech by analyzing each of these themes within the speech separately. Racism is a multifaceted thing, and no two speeches about it will ever be the same; even by the same person. Therefore it’s best to break down the speech by these individual themes rather than just the theme of racism as a whole.
Malcolm X didn’t waste m...

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...alcolm X starts off the speech stating that blacks need to unite against the common enemy but then goes on to call out some blacks as Uncle Toms. If he really wanted to present his speech as one about unity, and not about religion he should have discuss that theme in a different light. Present a way for blacks to unite, without putting down one another. Exactly what he’s speaking against, he was a bit guilty of doing as well.
Overall the speech was well done, and certainly one of the best speeches I’ve read in my lifetime. What little Malcolm X may have lacked in his approach, he more than made up for it in his oration and presentation of his ideas. I doubt there was not one person who left that conference without a different way to think about the Civil Rights Movement. I am also certain, that this speech also helped to draw some followers to the Nation of Islam.