Ryan Collins

Mr. Padgett
English 101
November 9, 2015
How Times Have Changed
November 10, 1963 lived a moment in which the civil rights movement gained a great
deal of insight into what the true fight was about. On this day Malcolm X delivered his Message
to the Grassroots speech at the Northern Negro Grass Roots Leadership Conference inside of
the King Solomon Baptist Church. One might understand the concepts of which are being
presented differently now than back during the 1960s during the height of the civil rights
movement. The Civil Rights Movement was one entire effected by the culture of time and the
vision for the change of that culture.
When reading Message to the Grassroots the reader must look through the eyes of a
suffering black race that has been the scapegoat for centuries upon centuries in history. Malcolm
X delivered this speech in a way that could not be misheard because it was for all to hear. The
message to the people of color and indifferences to the white man. This was a calling to end
white supremacy in the United States of America and essentially a calling of arms against the
whites. Malcolm X questions how one can be nonviolent when innocent black people are dying
at the hands of white people. How are you going to be nonviolent in Mississippi and Alabama,
when your churches are being bombed, and your little girls are being murdered, and at the same
time you are going to get violent with Hitler, and Tojo, and somebody else you don't even
know? (Malcolm X). Malcolm X brings up in the beginning of the speech that the common man
is the blonde haired blue eyed white man, and there is that sense of irony when he brings up the

idea of Hitler as well. History itself is playing a role in the speech given to the crowd gathered at
the Conference.
In specific terms I would describe the time of the Civil Rights Movement as one of
intellectual ideologies as well as cultural shifts in what was accepted. The black civil rights
movement in the United States is sometimes seen as an NSM [New Social Movement] but is
more usually excluded or seen as a transitional movement between old and new movements
(Stammers).
Within the 1960s in the United States of America there was a great inner battle of the
civil rights movement which played a crucial role in how our country developed. When thinking
about Message to the Grassroots by Malcolm X we have to take into consideration the culture
that surrounded him and his ideological thought process as well as other influential speakers at
the time. Malcolm X portrayed the idea of fighting back against the white people who have
murder innocent black women and children. This is unlike another historical figure, Martin
Luther King Jr. who instilled the idea of non violent protesting against the whites. The only
revolution in which the goal is loving your enemy is the Negro revolution. (Malcolm X). This
happens to be an interesting meaning coming from Malcolm X because in a way they are both
fighting for the same thing but within different manners. What I find shocking about Malcolm
Xs speech specifically is how he connects every black person in the United States to having the
exact same problem, white people. The reader must keep in mind that this was during the Civil
Rights Movement which lasted from the early 1950s to the late 1960s and which many
atrocious occurrences were happening. The country was split in a racial divide the whites vs the
blacks and ultimately anyone not white. This split was in everything and anything across the
country whether it be schools, politics, sports, and everyday neighborhoods.

Comparing two men such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. is a difficult process
due to the fact that each man has a totally different perspective on the situation at hand. Malcolm
X in his speeches such as Message to the Grassroots calls this a revolution instead of a
movement such as Martin Luther King Jr. In order to fully understand the different aspects of
these men we must look at there roots and up bringings. Malcolm X was born into this culture in
a way due to his father being a minister and also an avid supporter in the Black Nationalist leader
known as Marcus Garvey.

Works Cited
Stammers, Neil. Human Rights And Social Movements. London: Pluto Press, 2009. eBook
Academic Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 4 Nov. 2015.

1.) The thesis is that the civil rights movement effected the culture of the 60s and the future
culture of the United States.
2.) The thesis is supported by stating how MLK and Malcolm X shaped the changing in the
culture.
3.) There is not a lot of summary and the thesis is supported.
How Times Have Changed
November 10, 1963 lived a moment in which the civil rights movement gained a great
deal of insight into what the true fight was about. On this day Malcolm X delivered his Message
to the Grassroots speech at the Northern Negro Grass Roots Leadership Conference inside of

the King Solomon Baptist Church. One might understand the concepts of which are being
presented differently now than back during the 1960s during the height of the civil rights
movement. The Civil Rights Movement was one entire effected by the culture of time and the
vision for the change of that culture.
When reading Message to the Grassroots the reader must look through the eyes of a
suffering black race that has been the scapegoat for centuries upon centuries in history. Malcolm
X delivered this speech in a way that could not be misheard because it was for all to hear. The
message to the people of color and indifferences to the white man. (What does this mean?)This
was a calling to end white supremacy in the United States of America and essentially a calling of
arms against the whites. Malcolm X questions how one can be nonviolent when innocent black
people are dying at the hands of white people. How are you going to be nonviolent in
Mississippi and Alabama, when your churches are being bombed, and your little girls are being
murdered, and at the same time you are going to get violent with Hitler, and Tojo, and somebody
else you don't even know? (Malcolm X). Malcolm X brings up in the beginning of the speech
that the common man (Did you mean the common enemy?) is the blonde haired blue eyed white
man, and there is that sense of irony when he brings up the idea of Hitler as well (Elaborate on
the irony of him mentioning Hitler). History itself is playing a role in the speech given to the
crowd gathered at the Conference.
In specific terms I would describe the time of the Civil Rights Movement as one of
intellectual ideologies as well as cultural shifts in what was accepted. The black civil rights
movement in the United States is sometimes seen as an NSM [New Social Movement] but is
more usually excluded or seen as a transitional movement between old and new movements

(Stammers). (Elaborate on what this exactly means in relation to your writingWhat are the old
and new movements?).
Within the 1960s in the United States of America there was a great inner battle
(awkward?) of the civil rights movement which played a crucial role in how our country
developed. When thinking about Message to the Grassroots by Malcolm X we have to take
into consideration the culture that surrounded him and his ideological thought process as well as
other influential speakers at the time. Malcolm X portrayed the idea of fighting back against the
white people who have murder innocent black women and children. This is unlike another
historical figure, Martin Luther King Jr. who instilled the idea of non violent protesting against
the whites. The only revolution in which the goal is loving your enemy is the Negro
revolution. (Malcolm X). This happens to be an interesting meaning coming from Malcolm X
because in a way they are both fighting for the same thing but within different manners. What I
find shocking about Malcolm Xs speech specifically is how he connects every black person in
the United States to having the exact same problem, white people. The reader must keep in mind
that this was during the Civil Rights Movement which lasted from the early 1950s to the late
1960s and which many atrocious occurrences were happening. The country was split in a racial
divide the whites vs the blacks and ultimately anyone not white.(Im confused by this sentence..
What about anyone thats not white?) This split was in everything and anything across the
country whether it be schools, politics, sports, and everyday neighborhoods.
Comparing two men such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. is a difficult process
due to the fact that each man has a totally different perspective on the situation at hand. Malcolm
X in his speeches such as Message to the Grassroots calls this a revolution (What does
Malcolm X say a revolution is?) instead of a movement such as Martin Luther King Jr. In order

to fully understand the different aspects of these men we must look at there roots and up
bringings. Malcolm X was born into this culture in a way due to his father being a minister and
also an avid supporter in the Black Nationalist leader known as Marcus Garvey. (I feel the
conclusion abruptly ends. Perhaps you should beef it up a little or have the paper come full
circle.)

Works Cited
Stammers, Neil. Human Rights And Social Movements. London: Pluto Press, 2009. eBook
Academic Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 4 Nov. 2015.

1. Yes, there is a thesis in this essay. The thesis states that writing during the Civil Rights
Movement was affected greatly by their creation during their specific time and place in history.
2. The paper does not simply summarize the texts covered. The author uses a fair amount of
analysis and reasoning to describe the texts he is presenting. I would say it is 60% analysis and
40% summarization.
3. The author does a good job at using research of his texts and time period throughout the text.
Perhaps he could use one more source to further legitimize his points as he only has cited one
source.
4. This paper does a good job of analyzing Malcolm Xs violent approaches to the Civil Rights
Movement. The author makes reference to the other side of the argument, being MLKs nonviolent approach, but I dont feel like he elaborates enough on the non-violent side. More
elaboration of both sides would improve this paper dramatically.