Black History Month Rhetorical Analysis

The challenging component this semester was the transition from high school English reading and writing level to college level. It is mainly because High school writing did not have many expectations from students, its main focus was on the ideal five-paragraph essays. As compared to college, writing is mainly geared and focused on one’s ability to thoroughly answer the assigned prompt. Initially, I was not sure if I was capable of handling a fast-paced course, however, I quickly adjusted to the change and I am glad that I chose to stay. In English 10, I have learned many valuable elements that I can incorporate into my everyday writing. I have included my writing from project 2 a rhetorical analysis on, “Black Lives Matter”, which effectively demonstrates my growth as a reader, thinker, and writer.

Many believe that civil rights movements have completely eradicated racial injustices and inequality in the United States. Michelle alexander disprove this myth in her book “The New Jim Crow.” Alexander claims racial caste did not die with slavery. She implies that the racial caste system in America has been reformed multiple times to meet “the needs and demands of current political climates” (alexander 52). She believes that mass incarceration which she refers to as “The New Jim Crow” is the current caste system in the United States. By elaborating on the history of racial caste in America and by including quotes from politicians such as Nixon and Lyndon Johnson, Alexander effectively persuades her reader that the United States has not achieved

Former President George W. Bush gave a speech entitled "Ending Racial Inequality" in 2000. This speech is civil and effective because of his smooth transitions from one concept to another. This helps his speech to flow logically, and it's easy for his audience to follow. George Bush also has ethos because he is the Presient of the United States. His ethos gives the audience reason to listen to his solutions to racial inequality. Saying things such as "I believe in these standards" and listing statistics; "90 percent of the cost of basic health care...," brings logic to his speech, making it more effective. He alluded to Abraham Lincoln, who is, of course, a strong figure in racial equality and stirs up the desired emotions as well as his references

In the speech, “A Day To Celebrate Emancipation,” the speaker is Jonathan Gibbs; the Presbyterian minister and African-American officeholder during the Reconstruction. We could assume that the speaker wants equality for all and wants to be treated the same as everyone else.

On June 11,1963 at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, John F. Kennedy delivered “The Civil Rights Address” on this day he was trying to get the message to the people that everyone in the United States should be equal and have equal rights.

This primary source is an oration delivered by former slave Fredrick Douglass on July 5, 1852 in Rochester, N.Y. Fredrick Douglass, when “liberated” became an abolitionist, being a voice for those who could not speak. His background having been a slave significantly influences his viewpoint on the subject matter of freedom and liberty. His purpose in writing this speech was to “reveal the hypocrisy” that the United States was committing. Douglass was looking for a change in the country from being a country that proclaimed liberty and freedom to actually practicing liberty and freedom. The occasion was quite significant in that he gave the speech right after the annual Independence Day celebration. This enhances a substantial amount of pathos

Tina Dupuy is known as an award-winning writer, an investigative journalist, and a comedian. She’s written for The Atlantic, Fast Company, Los Angeles Times, Vox, and Mother Jones, which are newspapers that covers various subjects including politics. The effect of satire in her writing allows people to see these issues in a new light. Dupuy’s style, being characterized with ethical appeal, colloquial expressions and diction is expressed through wit and many rhetorical questions.

Jarriett----How does Asante describe the future of African American Rhetoric? What kinds of approaches or topics does he advocate scholars use or pursue in the future?

In “Black Men and Public Space,” Brent Staples embraces his identity as an educated black man to communicate the prevalence of racial stereotypes in society and induce contemplation regarding public behavior. Published in 1986 in both Ms. Magazine and Harper’s Magazine, the piece addresses the state of racial inequality that persisted even after the culmination of the African American civil rights movement during the mid-1900s. While maintaining a calm yet potent tone, Staples interacts with his audience: a mélange of both the whites who go to great lengths to ‘clear the public space for him’ and the fellow blacks who experience the same treatment he does. Staples effectively elicits empathy from his audience and conveys the unjustified stereotypes that black men face in public by using the rhetorical strategies of imagery, deliberate irony, and casual diction.

The Implicit Association Test is a Harvard study that measures people’s associations with certain types of things and people, one of the many tests includes race. When looking at the statistics that are exhibited by each test’s results, it shows that 68 percent of people have a preference towards white people while a measly 14 percent have a preference towards black people, the remaining 18 percent being in between. This is largely because of societal influence that sways the biases of people largely towards white people and negative associations that are wrongfully placed upon black people. Staples reflects on this issue and its causes and effects in his essay “Black Men and Public Space” Utilizing his strong of persona and ethos, he states

W.E.B Du Bois, “The Souls of Black Folks” the insight on how blacks were seen in the Twentieth Century. Leaving the white world and seeing from the black people side. The struggles and humiliation of being consider a problem because of the color of your skin. The pain and sorrow through the Negro spirituals. The purpose of this essay is to conduct a Rhetorical Analysis Color line, Veil, and Double Consciousness.

My attempt to comprehend the guiltless letters smothering the lifeless tree in my hands was of interruption as the bus flew over another speed bump. The predestined occurrence led to a sigh, Richard Wright’s autobiography, Black Boy, no longer in my hands, and the bus driver silently cursing under their breath once the rear end of the yellow mobile and a mailbox kissed. Contemplations about the book clouded my thoughts, but my hand didn’t have the audacity to pick up the autobiography and bring it to my eyes once more. Alternatively, I peered out of a dirty window and questioned the horrors previously read about Richard Wright’s childhood. ‘What exactly were his intentions?’, ‘Why were so many rhetorical devices used?’, and ‘When will racism

In Moore’s article he describes the impact of language according to racial discrimination and how our words degrate social status among other races. A strong argument pointed out by Moore is the contrast of the words “black and white”. In the argument, Moore uses words that consist of the word “black. For example: Moore uses the word “black-brow” which means to frown or scowl at, “blackhearted” which is a synonym for evil, and “blackjack” which means making an individual undertake an action using pressure. These words indicate a pessimistic look that shows people that the word “black” means “bad” or “evil”. On the other hand, Moore explains the phrase “that is very white of you” which is used to describe a positive gesture that an individual

Stokely Carmichael (aka Kwame Ture), was the first person to coin the slogan “Black Power” in reaction to a shooting of a civil rights activist provocatively on June 16th, 1966. Ture originally brandished the term in an unclear way, so both his supporters and critics can find their own interpretation of the meaning. Black Power was described as a way “for black people in this country to unite, to recognize their heritage, to build a sense of community. It is a call for black people to get to define their own goals, to lead their own organizations to resist the racist institutions and values of this society,” said by Ture and Charles V. Hamilton in a book called, “Black Power: The Politics of Liberation.” Although the term was used as a sense of power, to whites it was a sign of a revolution for violence and hatred towards white supremacy.

This movie depicts one the most successful civil rights movement in the United States of America during 1960’s. Dr. Martin L. King was the leader of this campaign. He and his followers aimed to achieve equal voting rights for all the African Americans by protesting in non-violent way. The protests were so dangerous at first that too many people were injured and some were killed by the law force. He and his followers decided to make the march happen in the Selma county. Selma was the best choice for them. The first reason was that there was unsuccessful voting registration happening in the Selma County, and the second reason was that it was the best place to make the event be broadcasted by the media through the whole United States and the world.