Human being are not cold blooded animal and nobody is definitely indifferent. Therefore, authors always write down words to arouse readers’ enthusiasm or fervor gradually. Pathos work as the same way, which let readers get moved by emotion weapon. We can find many pathos devices in this well-known speech. “The real hero of this struggle is the American Negro. His actions and protests, his courage to risk safety and even to risk his life, have awakened the conscience of this nation. His demonstrations have been designed to call attention to injustice, designed to provoke change, designed to stir reform. He has called upon us to make good the promise of America. And who among us can say that we would have made the same progress were it not for his persistent bravery, and his faith in American democracy.” From these great words, Johnson described the American Negro as a hero, who had awakened the conscience of this nation. There is no doubt that many people were neutral in this case. However, after that speech, after being persuaded by their president, they might turn to agree with their president. Some of them might give up their prejudices to Negroes. They would recall many Negroes who were used to live with them were also kind and gave their hands sometimes. Pathos work in that way. Authors utilize pathos to tough readers and audiences, like what I have mentioned, everyone has the milk of human kindness. Take text for example again, “This great, rich, restless country can offer opportunity and education and hope to all, all black and white, all North and South, sharecropper and city dweller. These are the enemies: poverty, ignorance, disease.” These impressed words reminded all the people of that USA belonged to everyone. They should be unity to stop poverty, ignorance, disease not discriminate not our fellow man, not our neighbor. This pathos improved this
The rhetorical effect of this poem is it emphasizes that African Americans have to wear a mask because the people around them don’t let them show their true feelings. Before the Civil Rights Movement, blacks had no voice and could not speak their opinions. The rhetorical devices do very well to help meet the rhetorical
He is taken as a lesser person because he is a black man, but he wants to be treated as if he is the same as the white family he lives with. They don't let him sit at the table because of the color of his skin but his sense of pride doesn't let him get upset “besides, They’ll see how beautiful i am And be ashamed-...”6 . He keeps his head up and still knows that he can be as great. He believes that he will overcome their judgements. With his pride he knows that he will end up at the table instead of in the kitchen one day and that is all that he hopes for, it is what he will work for. He believes that he is in America the so called land of the free, “I, too, sing America” “I, too, am America”7. He wants to be treated as every other american and not like just because he is black doesnt mean to leave him out because he will still laugh everyday and grow strong, waiting for the day that they will treat him as a man and not as a subjective object that they can tell what to do. He knows one day his pride will lead to others not having to go through the
Through his poem “Theme for English B”, Langston Hughes expresses his will to exterminate discrimination by proving that despite different skin colors, Americans all share similarities and learn from each other. Langston wrote the poem in 1900, when black Americans were not considered Americans. He talks about a black student being assigned to write a paper about himself. The audience is thus the student’s professor – the representation of the white Americans. Since the professor said: “let that page come out of you---Then, it will be true.”, the student began wondering “if it’s that simple”. He then describes himself to explain why it isn’t simple: he is “twenty-two”, “the only colored in class”, and lives in the poor community Harlem.
Walt The division between whites and blacks was clearly prevalent and the United States of America was a racially discriminatory society reinforced by its racist laws. Hughes took the initiative to speak his mind via poetry, resulting in his piece “I, Too”. In this poem, Hughes clearly signifies one thing: Just because his skin color is different from whites, does not mean that they get to sing the National Anthem louder. Arguing that all American citizens are the same, disregarding their skin color, Hughes applies in this poem a master-slave relationship. The assumed white master shows disrespect to his servant by sending him away whenever visitors come over, because he is ordered to eat secluded from the company. However he seems to not be faze by this and actually finds it funny, supported by “But I laugh” (5). Furthermore, not only does he find amusement in this unpleasant situation, but the isolation has a positive effect on him “And grow strong” (7), implying that even though he submits to his master, his spirit will not be diminished.
In the poem ,“America”, Claude McKay uses figurative language and diction to create a dark tone, a powerful empowering tone, and an optimistic tone. The theme of double consciousness of African-Americans is supported in the poem and the poem itself also connects to the purpose of the Harlem Renaissance which was to fight back racial hate and stereotypes with black empowerment.
This poem is written from the perspective of an African-American from a foreign country, who has come to America for the promise of equality,
Paul Laurence Dunbar is African-American poet who lived from in the late 1880s to the early 1900s. During his life, Dunbar wrote many poems, in both dialect and standard english. However, many of his poems are considered controversial now, due to negative racial stereotypes and dialect. Currently, some believe that Dunbar’s poetry perpetuates harmful stereotypes such as use of dialect; while others believe that it helps break racial stereotypes through the portrayed emotions. Dunbar’s dialect poetry is helpful for African-Americans, because it accurately depicts the experience of African Americans and humanizes them.
2. Vivid imagery in his speech have affected listeners because he describes how African Americans like him were inferior, how they were treated and how they were consider less than humans. For example, “Fellow-citizens, above your national, tumultuous joy, I hear
Johnson very skillfully compliments the Negro man and then tells him, he has no right to think of himself as above any other race. She describes several different ways in her poem that a Negro could be arrogant in Harlem, but he is still not respected by himself or other cultures. She also alludes in her poem that the Negros in Harlem need to accept who they are and do not have to be like white people to be considered equal.
The White House by Claude McKay Main Idea: The poet, born in Jamaica and moved to America, has to go through the day to day struggles in order to tolerate the hate he receives only because of his race. The people do not see him for who he really is, however, he can see them for who they really are. Ultimately, he sees himself as better than his haters because he never gives into his rage like the people do.
Langston Hughes is a famous poet known mostly for his contribution to the Harlem Renaissance. He wrote many inspirational poems that are still read and used for educational purposes. Many of his poems were inspired by his life and his story. One of his many poems entitled “Theme for English B” talks about how his teacher instructed him to write a page about himself and it will be true. In a “Theme for English B”, Hughes uses tone, and characterization to display a relationship between race and writing.
All three of the poems discussed in this essay relate to the struggles suffered by African Americans in the late 18th century to the early 19th century in many different ways. They had to live under harsh
In conclusion, the poem was used as a key to unlock some of the thoughts the negro had concerning Africa. The negro in this poem was a representative of all negroes during this time; their thoughts and the their feelings toward Africa. Cullen’s usage of the literary devices allow for an effective expression of the meaning of this poem. Poems are intensified language of experience, so the devices assured the connection of the reader to the poem and the experience. This applies to many issues in society today because as beautiful as our country is there are still dark clouds that cover the very essence of what the states once stood
Another poem that discusses inequality is “I, Too, Sing America”; however, this poem takes a slightly more positive perspective. This poem begins on a somber note as the narrator states that he is forced to eat in the kitchen rather than at the dining table with the white people. Still, the narrator keeps in positive spirits because he believes that he will one day be accepted. He says “tomorrow” he will sit at the table with everyone else and they (white people) will be abashed by how they treated African Americans. Though he is mistreated now, the world we eventually see his beauty (the beauty of all African Americans) and change will