•
..• (I)t' tim now for you and me to b come more politically mature and realize
what th ballot I for; wh t w 're uppo d to get when we.ca t a ballot; and
. th t If w don't ca t ballot, It' going to nd up In a situation where we're
going to hay to eta bullet. It' 'either a ballot or a bullet.
a.colm, ·111e a8110 or the aull t·e v lanc.. ohio· April 3, IBM
. Ten Reasons Blacks Should Choose the Ballot Over the Bullet
by Spencer A. Overton and Brian Mathia
Malcolm X's words are as relevant today as when they were first spoken. However I today when we fail to cast a ballot, the
only victims we cast out are own BlaCk men, women and children. Therefore, while few of us individually have the greatness
to bend history, each of us who does not cast a ballot on November 3 will bear some responsibility for the bullets that are cast
in our community.
We should cast the ballot over the bullet because:
1. We shall overcome by any meansnecessery, and we have not yet exhausted this means;
2. We live with the threat of another Clarence Thom�s casting votes on the Supreme Court;
3. ·We must take affirmative actions �o Improve ou� lives;
, 4. A Simi V lIey jury voted for the use of brutal force in apprehending those who look like us,
and Ju�le are made up of regls�ered voters;
5. A.I.D.S.;
<,
6. Our ancestor died for us, to vote; and our youth die for nothing;
7. One vote do count when. we think collectively rather ·than selfishly; ,
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8. The les er of two evil I as positive as the greater of two goods;
9. While the tutur make no promises, our present course promise no future; and
. .
10. I . II t