Paris is Burning is a film that takes place in New York city during the 80’s. It documents the underground balls, drag scenes and its contestants. Although the common race we see in the film in African American we also see other different races such as, White’s and Latino’s. Therefore, I will analyze this documentary from the perspective of African American rhetoric. The film first starts off with showing how the ball competitions are held. It shows a variety of contestants showing of their looks for the crowd. Some do a regular runway walk while others improvise their moves based on the categories they choose to model for. They are judge based on uniqueness, beauty and how they present themselves in the competition. We see many of the
Brent Staples is an African American male, who was born in 1951 in Pennsylvania. Brent Staples’ Just Walk on By: Black Men and Public Space is about how he, a black male is perceived in public. One night he was walking down an empty street in a poor section of Chicago and sees a young white woman in front of him. They peacefully walk for a while until the woman turns around and sees Brent, a tall, broad black male behind her. Brent then notices that “picked up her pace and was soon running in earnest”. He then wondered why the woman ran and thought they she probably assumed that he could have been a mugger, rapist, or worse. He then became embarrassed and felt as if he was a criminal. He soon became accustomed to hearing the “click” of a car
To what extent does Michelle alexander depict the corruption of the current justice system through rhetorical techniques? The new American justice system was believed to be a refined version of the previous Jim crow that promised equality and liberty to all races; the term “Jim crow” referring to the practice of segregating people in the Us. The New Jim Crow was published during the year 2010, it is a book written by Michelle alexander, a credible well known American rights litigator and legal scholar. Michelle Alexander is best known for the book (The New Jim Crow). She is a professor of law at Ohio state university Mortez college of law and a civil rights advocate. Through her book, she confesses and examines race-related issues that specifically
In today’s American society, being born black is often life threatening and comes with many struggles and fears. The author Brent Staples visibly demonstrates the presence of black men, in his article “Black Men and Public Spaces”. Staples illustrates to the readers how black men attempt to live their lives as normal as possible, but are unable to because of the fear society has of them. Brent Staples attests to the turbulent lives black men face in society, from their childhood to an adult age. Staples is able to demonstrate the various issues black men face in society with the use of logos, ethos, and pathos.
In “Hip Hop’s Betrayal of Black Women”, McLune addresses the influence of hip hop’s choice of words towards African American women and females. McLune’s article is written in response to Powell’s opinions in “Notes of a Hip Hop Head”, along with various other hip hop artists, that black females are the leading cause of poverty and racism why black men undertake racism and poverty, as if women do not face these struggles from day to day. McLune disagrees with this remark and states that this is just one of many excuses that men use. McLune addresses an audience that is well educated along with informed with the
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.
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
In Harlem Runs Wild, Claude McKay depicts the Harlem Riot of 1935 as merely "…a gesture of despair of a bewildered, baffled, and disillusioned people." (McKay 224) The Harlem Riot of 1935 was spontaneous and unpremeditated. It was not a race riot in the sense of physical conflict between white and non-white groups as there was little direct violence to white persons. McKay states, "The mass riot in Harlem was not a race riot." (McKay 221) Its distinguishing feature was the persons' attack upon property rather than persons, and resentment against whites that, while exploiting Negroes, denied them an opportunity to work. Communists did not instigate the riot, though they
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.
Fredrick Douglas wrote and presented his What the Black Man Wants speech during the post civil war time period to demonstrate his straightforward views on the fact that even though the black race had just acquired freedom, they remained without equality and civil rights which gave their current freedom no meaning. Throughout his entire speech, Douglas rules over his audience with his parallel and emotional diction choice along with his assertive tone shifting towards anger and the answering of his own questions multiple times to emphasize his seriousness.
The events that took place in Greenwood, Oklahoma on the 31 of May 1921, was a holocaust in Black American history. Present day African Americans still cannot get past this horrible memory that their ancestors experienced because there was no atonement nor acknowledgement by the American government. The suburb of Tulsa christened “Little Africa” was an advanced economically empowered black community. It could be described as the golden black community of the twentieth century. The holistic economic empowerment of this community ranged from classic business ventures such as grocery stores, barber shops and brothels; to new businesses such as banking, aviation and transit systems. It is logical to argue that this community would have preferred peace to maintain and sustain their wealth for future generations. What trigged the unfortunate fate that befell this community has been left out of history books. However, the lasting memories have lingered in the minds of the thousands of descendants of the unfortunate victims of the incident. What was it that lead to the bombing of Greenwood? Chris Messner argues "that the groups involved in the Tulsa riot held conflicting ideologies that both shaped, and were influenced by, their own surrounding social structures, environments, and lived experiences" (Messner 1). The systemic and institutionalized racism that led to the Embargo Act of 1807 on Haiti is analogous to the the aerial bombing
In the beginning Locke tells us about “the tide of Negro migration”. During this time in a movement known as the Great Migration, thousand of African Americans also known as Negros left their homes in the South and moved North toward the beach line of big cities in search of employment and a new beginning. They left the South because of racial violence such as the Ku Klux Klan and economic discrimination not able to obtain work. Their migration was an expression of their changing attitudes toward themselves as Locke said best From The New Negro, and has been described as "something like a spiritual emancipation." Many African Americans moved to Harlem, a neighborhood located in
During the 1920’s a new movement began to arise. This movement known as the Harlem Renaissance expressed the new African American culture. The new African American culture was expressed through the writing of books, poetry, essays, the playing of music, and through sculptures and paintings. Three poems and their poets express the new African American culture with ease. (Jordan 848-891) The poems also express the position of themselves and other African Americans during this time. “You and Your Whole Race”, “Yet Do I Marvel”, and “The Lynching” are the three poems whose themes are the same. The poets of these poems are, as in order, Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Claude Mckay.
Between 1910 and 1920, in a movement known as the Great Migration, hundreds of thousands of African Americans uprooted from their homes in the South and moved North to the big cities in search of jobs. They left the South because of racial violence and economic discrimination. Their migration was an expression of their changing attitudes toward themselves, and has been described as "something like a spiritual emancipation." Many migrants moved to Harlem, a neighborhood on the upper west side of Manhattan. In the 1920's, Harlem became the worlds largest black community; also home to a highly diverse mix of cultures. This unprecedented outburst of creative activity exposed their unique culture and encouraged
We are affected in many ways based on race and social status. It is how we over come these challenges, that makes us who we are. The question is what is wrong with black? I read an essay by Langston Hughes in which he breaks down the use of the word black. This essay provides the idea of how the word black creates a negative impression of African Americans. I found this essay rather interesting and biased in some cases, but it is an essay I feel everyone should read. In this essay he uses explains what the word black really means and the negative connotation that is sometimes attached to it. He stated how(709-710)”white folks have done used that word to mean something bad so often until now when the N.A.A.C.P. asks for civil rights for
Film is one of the most influential means of communication and a powerful medium of