Pathos in the Malcolm X speech

In Malcolm X's speech about police brutality, he uses powerful diction, a confident voice, and deliberate hand gestures to invoke feelings of unrest and discomfort in the audience. By referring to the policemen's tactics as "Gestapo tactics," X relates the policemen's actions to actions taken by Nazis and successfully paints a picture of the cruelty and injustice of police brutality. Conversely, by referring to the black people who are targeted by police officers as "unarmed [and] innocent," he highlights the unwarranted nature of police officers' actions against the black community. In the audience's mind, X has painted a narrative of the oppressive policemen abusing undeserving black people. The tone of his voice drives his point forward, as he enunciates each word with precision and does not stutter or falter. This makes it easy for the audience to listen to him and to have confidence in the things he is saying. Finally, his hand gestures draw the audience's attention at the moments in which he feels that he is saying something important. The audience's attention is drawn by his hand gestures, and he successfully delivers his messages in an effective and powerful way.