Between The World And Me: Summative Rhetorical Analysis

Between The World And Mesummative Rhetorical Analysisthe Following Pa

Between the World and Me: Summative Rhetorical Analysis The following passage is an excerpt from Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (p.7). Read the passage carefully. Compose a thesis statement analyzing the rhetorical choices Coates makes to accomplish his purpose. Then draft an essay (including an intro and conclusion) supporting your thesis. In your response you should do the following: · Respond to the prompt with a claim that establishes a line of reasoning. · Select and use evidence to develop and support your line of reasoning. · Explain the relationship between the evidence and your thesis. · Demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical situation · Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

Ta-Nehisi Coates employs a combination of historical references, vivid imagery, and analytical language to critically examine the foundations of American racial ideology and its implications. His rhetorical choices serve to confront the reader with uncomfortable truths about America's history of racism and its continuing influence, aiming to foster awareness and challenge complacency regarding racial injustice. Through historical allusions, Coates underscores the deeply rooted nature of racial constructs, while his vivid imagery and assertive tone evoke emotional responses that compel the audience to reconsider the myth of American idealism. His strategic use of language highlights the contrast between America's proclaimed values and its actual practices, ultimately emphasizing the need for a collective reevaluation of racial identity and justice in America.

Paper For Above instruction

Ta-Nehisi Coates's excerpt from Between the World and Me reveals a powerful rhetorical strategy aimed at exposing the deep contradictions embedded within American society. His purpose is to challenge the myth of American innocence regarding racial justice and to confront the audience with the uncomfortable history and ongoing legacy of racism. Coates’s rhetorical choices—particularly his historical references, vivid language, and analytical tone—work synergistically to achieve this purpose.

Firstly, Coates’s use of historical references provides a foundation for his critique. He points to Lincoln’s declaration during the Civil War era, emphasizing the disparity between the lofty ideal of “government of the people” and the actual exclusion of marginalized groups from this ideal. By referencing key moments such as the Battle of Gettysburg and Lincoln’s speech, Coates invites the reader to reconsider America’s self-perception as a nation founded on equality. This historical framing underscores the persistent contradictions between American rhetoric and reality, thereby reinforcing his argument that the nation’s fabric is fundamentally riddled with racial hierarchies.

Secondly, Coates’s vivid imagery and emotionally charged language serve to evoke a visceral response from the reader. Phrases such as “the flaying of backs,” “chaining of limbs,” and “sale of children” paint a brutal picture of the brutality inflicted upon Black Americans throughout history. These images leave little room for detachment, compelling the audience to confront the violence masquerading behind the guise of national glory and progress. This rhetorical strategy heightens the emotional stakes of his argument, making the historical injustices tangible and impossible to dismiss as distant or irrelevant.

Furthermore, Coates’s analytical tone exposes the ideological foundations that sustain racial hierarchies. He argues that race is not a natural or biological reality but a constructed hierarchy rooted in power and hierarchy. His assertion that “race is the child of racism,” highlights that racial classifications are manufactured to legitimize and perpetuate systemic inequalities. This critical analysis serves to deconstruct the myth of race as an inherent trait, shifting the focus to the societal mechanisms that sustain racial division. By doing so, Coates emphasizes that these divisions are not inevitable but created through deliberate political and social actions.

Coates also employs strategic language to critique the notion of whiteness. He describes “the belief in the preeminence of hue and hair” as a fabricated construct that has been imbued with societal significance. His language suggests that whiteness is an invention—an identity that has been historically manufactured and reinforced through violence and exploitation. This framing is designed to undermine the perceived naturalness of racial categories, thus challenging the audience to view race as a potent but ultimately artificial construct used to uphold unjust social hierarchies.

The effectiveness of Coates’s rhetorical choices lies in their capacity to alternate between intellectual analysis and visceral imagery. This dual approach appeals both to reason and emotion, fostering a comprehensive understanding of racial injustice. His critique of America’s historical and ongoing complicity in racial violence aims to provoke self-reflection among readers, urging acknowledgment of the nation’s failure to live up to its professed ideals. Ultimately, Coates’s language and rhetorical strategy serve to dismantle illusions of racial progress and call for a vital reckoning with America’s racial history.

Conclusion

In summation, Ta-Nehisi Coates’s rhetorical choices—his historical references, vivid imagery, and analytical tone—are deliberately crafted to expose the contradictions at the heart of American identity. His purpose is to awaken the audience to the pervasive legacy of racism and to challenge the myth that America has genuinely upheld its ideals of equality and justice. Through these strategic choices, Coates successfully compels viewers to confront uncomfortable truths and to recognize the urgent need for racial reckoning in America.

References

• Coates, T.-N. (2015). Between the World and Me. Spiegel & Grau.
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