Rhetorical Analysis : Black Lives Matter

Is being a black man in public space a crime in America ? In today's society that question is very prevalent and seems to cause a lot of discussion. Many people often start these kinds of discussions and still do not receive the change that they are looking for. In the essay “Black Men and Public Space,” Brent Staples talks about his personal experiences of him being a black man in the presence of the public. He uses his personal accounts to give off vivid imagery that appeals to the audience in multiple different ways. His accounts are explained in his writing with a plentiful array of words and a use of a humorous style. Brent Staples successfully uses the emotional appeal of pathos and ethos to achieve his main goal of showing how racism and discrimination still exists in today's society.

America does have its own conflicts between its citizens. One group of people who have been struggling for the past hundreds of years are still struggling for acceptance to this day. Black people are still dealing with violence and hatred in the country they were born in. They use their right of free speech to publish their stories. While both Goldberg and the Alt-Right political group both make significant arguments about the "Black Lives Matter" movement, Goldberg's balanced usage of logos, ethos, and pathos makes his argument more effectively.

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

Even in modern society, the simplest of things can shift the delicate atmosphere. A black man entering a room, or any space, full of white people, can automatically transform the ambiance. This ‘ability’ may not be a desired effect, but in certain situations, it becomes inevitable. Through the use of different rhetorical devices, Brent Staples is able to demonstrate his realization of his “ability to alter public space in ugly ways” simply because of his race and stature in his essay, “Black Men and Public Space.” Staples uses the rhetorical techniques ethos, logos, and pathos in order to get on the “same side” as the reader while still presenting the essence of his argument. The author is able to sympathize with his “victims” and justify their feelings, appealing to ethos. He also analogies and details about his background, such as his doctorate in psychology, and the fact that he was a reporter to appeal to logos. Additionally, by using vivid imagery and creative diction, he engages the reader by use of pathos, evoking the emotions of the reader. With the use of rhetorical devices, Staples is able to effectively describe his experiences of being perceived as a criminal, solely based on his “unwieldy inheritance” (205), while, additionally, extending this concept to be true throughout society.

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

Men and women alike are often afraid to venture out into the streets at the dark hours of the day. It could be argued that this is a byproduct of the ever-increasing US crime rate, yet it may also be due to the natural fear that accompanies walking alone in public spaces, familiar or not. Although any shifty figures lurking on the sidewalk can be the source of this fear, it is no doubt that the gross misrepresentation of black people as perpetrators of violent crimes has given them “the ability to alter public space in ugly ways,” as so proficiently stated in “Black Men and Public Space” by Brent Staples (205). Through this short essay, Staples uses a variety of rhetorical devices, namely anecdotes, in order to present the fact that these preconceived racial notions can make certain individuals increasingly susceptible to societal scrutiny. This forces many individuals to make concentrated efforts to present themselves as less threatening because “where fear and weapons meet -- [as] they often do in urban America -- there is always the possibility of death” (206).

America is a culture that enjoys having some time away from the reality of political issues within society. Comedic entertainment has found ways to also inform its audience about important political statements that is used to “refer to any act or nonverbal form of communication that is intended to influence a decision to be made for or by a political party”( Wikipedia), or ideas through a comedic point of view. Comical news is what brings our attention with ease because listening to straight political debates can lead a person to not want to sit and become informed on latest political topics. The culture that society has developed into became accustomed to finding it better to have a laugh about serious news because through humor an audience

In reference to the 100A assignment sheet for the rhetorical analysis, a rhetorical analysis is a written work that focuses on analyzing and understanding a published article. In this assignment, students will get opportunities to develop their writing and improve deep analytic skills to identifying rhetorical strategies that writers will use to achieve the purpose of a well-written document. The audience for this analytical paper will be my classmates, professor, and the committee members of the 100A.

In his article “Black Men in Public Spaces”, journalist Brent Staples discusses how stereotyping has negatively affected him throughout his life, especially during his nightly walks to ease his insomnia. He outlines when he first noticed this occurrence and the steps he has used to minimize the degree of reactions.

The recent uprising against Planned Parenthood has sparked a backlash against them in the media, on the floor of congress, and in satire venues. Gary McCoy, a cartoonist, has also voiced his opinion as depicted in this cartoon of Cecile Richards. Richards, the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, is shown saying, “Black Lives Matter!.. They make up a good part of my car payment.”

Rhetorical analysis is a way of analyzing material. The goal of rhetorical analysis is to consider several aspects of writing in order to conclude if a specific message was shown in the way the author intended. These aspects include the materials content, the purpose of the material, the authors background, the structure of the material, where and when the material was published, and the topic. The process of rhetorical analysis is mostly based on three pasts: critical read, rhetorical strategies, and persuasive appeals. Critical reading, the first step of rhetorical analysis, is used to understand if the material successfully conveys the message the author intended. To do this you should take the material

“Lawrence Burney between the world and me soberly details what it's like to be black in America.” I wonder what it's going to be like to have to make that decision whether I should have “the talk with my child or I shouldn't have the talk. As a future black father I believe that It is with out a doubt my responsibility to have the talk with my child. The talk gives an outlook on race , it teaches one how society views them, and it could save a person from lots of pain because they are being treated differently just because they are black. The article the talk is basically about being a black in America is so unethical. There's with out a doubt that a target is out on a black persons life.

I think a cause that I would die for would be Black Lives Matter. I would like to think I would die for this cause because their is an argument on this cause that can cause a lot of tension. People argue this cause that all lives and I agree but the blacks have been racially discriminated for a long time. There's no election on choosing your race. People have remonstrated that Black Lives Matter stands for that black people matter more than other races but it’s not. Black people are being treated unfairly and since it hasn’t stopped, people have joined the cause that Black Lives Matter. I would die for this cause if it would mean that everybody, no matter what race, would be treated fairly.

Gordon B. Hinckley’s words ring true through my mind as I enter this school year: “Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds.” Entering into this AP Language and Composition class marks the beginning of my challenging school year. However, I will treat my assignments as I do my garden. Carefully, I will water the seeds of information that have been planted in my brain. As I remove the aspects of writing and reading that prove to be unbeneficial to me, it will be as if I am picking weeds. Desiring for my writing skills to blossom, I will work to be the best student I can be.

Growth, I believe, is inevitable when one is compelled to learn and apply that knowledge which has been presented to them. This semester has proved to be a time of development, change, and substantial growth. During my time in English 101 I have had the chance to really explore new genres of writing such as memoirs, rhetorical analyses, and persuasive essays. In this class I have been able to build upon old writing skills and cultivate new ones; and I have also come to recognize what I like and dislike writing about through the completion of the assignments we were charged with. Through this semester in English 101 I feel as though I have had the opportunity to enhance my ability to apply the rules of rhetoric to my work, convey my thoughts and ideas with greater clarity, and recognize the places where I can improve my work through the revising process.