Caidi Shubat PSC218 3/8/12 Professor Johnson Malcome X and Rustin Analytical Summary Section I: In The Ballot or the

Bullet, Malcolm Xs main point is that the part they have been voting for continuously has not been paying back the black community. The only way to make a change is by way of the ballot or the bullet. Malcolm X urges African Americans to exercise their right to vote to incite change. The ballot to Malcolm X equated freedom. The alternative to that is taking up arms to incite change. In Protest to Politics, Rustin discusses how it was the lower-middle class college students to brought down the structure of Jim Crow and destroyed the racist legal foundations in America. He recognizes that pockets of racism are still in existence, but also recognizes the desegregation of public facilities as an instrumental achievement. Rustin also recognizes that social and economic conditions as issues for African Americans, as well as highlights the importance of their unity with the Democratic Party in 1964. Section II: Point 1: Malcolm X discusses the Dixicrats, a topic familiar to this class. He defines a Dixicrat as nothing more but a Democrat in disguise. He said that the head of the Democrats is the head of the Dixicrats. He claims that a political con game is taking place and that he and African Americans are in the middle of it. The Dixicrats control key committees that run the government because of the seniority that the segment of the

Democratic Party hold. Malcolm X stated that he feels that this government is not a democracy, it is a representation and half of the South cannot even vote. Point 2: Malcolm X stated that it was the black mans vote that put the present (present at his time) administration in office. He criticized African Americans for making dumb and ignorant votes; the votes were a waste. He felt that the government was putting on a show when talking about all the progress that has been made and how great Johnson was. This is why he encourages African Americans to become more politically mature and realize what the ballot is for. Point 3: Ruskin pointed out the turning point that occurred in the 1964 elections. The Democratic landslide was not only a result of the negative reaction to Goldwaterism, but was also a result of the unanimity of African American voters. Johnsons popular majority was so large that he did not even need the overwhelming support of African Americans. It was responsible for his victories in Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Goldwater took states that contained fewer than 45% of states that had registered African American voting rights. 1.6 million African Americans voted in the election which changed the composition of the Southern congressional delegation. Ruskin notes that while the black vote was not decisive in the Presidential election, it was largely effective. It served as a more dramatic and historical element. Section III: I felt that the Malcolm X reading, though discussed interesting points, was very intense in terms of urging African Americans to take up arms against the government in

order to incite change. I think it was right of Malcolm X to encourage African Americans to take their concerns and anger to the voting booth, but a bit extreme in listing the alternative as bullets. Ruskins reading delivered an interesting out look, particularly on the 1964 presidential election. I always felt that the black vote was largely responsible for Johnsons win. It was interesting to read his perspective that it was not the main reason for Johnsons win and that it was more dramatic than decisive.