Strivings of the Negro People
- The references and allusions in DuBois’s text give give him and advantage with readers because they prove that he is intelligent and well-read. His references aid him in proving that African-Americans aren’t unintelligent, even though they are portrayed that way in the media. These references are a way to connect with the audience. He is referencing books that the audience would have also read, and he references the Bible, which will appeal the audience’s religion.
- I believe that Dubois is using both emotional and personal appeals. Dubois’s text is full of allusions and metaphors that evoke sympathy/sorrow from the readers. This use of metaphors and allusions turns into personal appeal because they prove that DuBois is knowledgable and well-read. This helps him to establish some sense of credibility because they prove that even though he might be African-American, he is also an intelligent man.
- DuBois is most likely targeting influential white people. The rhetorical appeals being used in this text prove this because he is referencing books he knows these people would have read, such as “Macbeth” and the Bible. In this time period, whites had a significant advantage over people of color as far as education goes, and DuBois is appealing to their higher education.
- In this time period, communities of law and science were saying that African-Americans were less than whites. DuBois is writing the way that he is to challenge these beliefs. He is writing in a way that shows him as being knowledgeable and well-read because at this time no one believed that an African-American could be that way.
English 2089 