preview

Crispus Attucks Argumentative Essay

Decent Essays

A hero has many characteristics, but who should be the judge of what makes a person fit for that role? This is a question that is commonly brought up when debating whether Crispus Attucks should be considered a hero or a disruptor. Crispus Attucks played an important role in events leading up to the American Revolution and because of his courageous acts at these events, Crispus Attucks should be viewed as a hero. To begin, Crispus Attucks was the first African American to die at the Boston Massacre. He was the one that initiated the confrontation and with this courage Attucks began his story as a hero. In the articleCrispus Attucks by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar he states, ".it was a black man who ignited the confrontation that led to the war. Here was the first American martyr, and …show more content…

This furthermore supports the idea that Crispus Attucks is an American hero. Another reason Attucks is a hero is his courageous, selfless acts that ultimately led to him sacrificing his life for a greater good. This is illustrated in the article when he states, "Fortunately for him, it was thuggery for the right side. Also, and this is important: Here was an escaped slave with no education and very little at stake in anything... and yet he was the first to risk his skin for a way of life,and maybe for a better life." This shows how Attucks' actions were seen as positive because of the impact that they had on our lives, but it also reveals how these efforts demonstrate the kind of person Attucks was. By sacrificing his life for a bigger cause, he portrays himself as a hero that has brought a new opportunity to us for change. Now, some may argue that Attucks' actions didn't have the motive to start change and that, "... he was down there agitating; it was a riot, not a peaceful demonstration." It could be argued that his actions were negatively rooted, but it's the events that followed that shaped Attucks as a heroic figure that brought

Get Access