African-American Media Rhetoric
From DigitalRhetoricCollaborative
Contents |
Introduction
The representation of racial minorities, especially African-Americans, has held a negative or positive bias since the creation of modern media. Whether obvious or subtle, racism has sometimes interjected its way into the production of images and other portrayals of African-American individuals. Societal hierarchical norms have contributed to the use of powerful entertainment tools to configure the message they would like their audience to feel. This concept can be dissected through the view of rhetorical canons, utilizing images, text and news broadcasts to understand the motives behind race representations in media.
The cultural artifact I am analyzing is an article from The Detroit Free Press, a newspaper founded in 1831. On the front page from May 4th, 1963, bold letters spell out the reality of the Civil Rights Movement- "DOGS, FIRE HOSES QUELL HUGE NEW RACE MARCH". In the accompanying image, African-American youth are seen hosting a sit-in in Birmingham, Alabama.
Artifact Analysis
This article touches on different rhetorical approaches to make its point about the demonstrations that were held by young people in Birmingham as a result of segregation. One which is particularly interesting is the use of questionable wording to describe the marches- for example, the quoting of the words "freedom marchers" a few times in the article and the insertion of a quote from a young African-American man who claimed to believe that there was little to be concerned about on the issue of "the phenomenon of integration and segregation". Overall, however, the article seems to have an overwhelmingly positive view towards those fighting for their human, social, and civil rights- a surprising approach to the representation of blacks in the US, especially in this time period. The placement of the image and title obviously draw attention to the story, but also to the article right underneath- "MARTIAL LAW DECREED IN TERROR-TORN HAITI". This parallel drawn through arrangement and style here are apparent even subconsciously. Wording, however, has been the most useful form of pathos in this article- the fact pointed out that "many of those participating in the demonstrations were children", "An injured, maimed, or dead child is a price that none of us can afford to pay.", and the call on the Kennedy Administration to intervene are all examples of appeals to ethos and desperation within the people affected by this movement. When turning to image-based rhetoric, the use of a picture of sit-in protestors being attacked with high-pressure hoses by police offered a grave reality to those around the state who may have been unaware or ignorant of the magnitude of police brutality, offering an image that was undeniably emotional to see. Overall, the utilization of this form of media (print) allowed for a integration of logical (logos) themes through writing as well as emotion-provoking (pathos) themes with pictures and style of word arrangement within the article itself.
Additional Resources
1) Scholar, Shannon T. Isaacs Mcnair, The Pennsylvania State University, Mcnair Faculty Research Advisor:, and Ph.d. Julie Horney. Portrayal of African Americans in the Media: An Examination of Law and Order (n.d.): n. pag. Web.
2) "Segregation in America & Slavery......not Any More." Pinterest. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.
3) "Rhetorical Analysis: Compare and Contrast Four Speeches on Civil Rights | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed." Rhetorical Analysis: Compare and Contrast Four Speeches on Civil Rights | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.
References
1) Scholar, Shannon T. Isaacs Mcnair, The Pennsylvania State University, Mcnair Faculty Research Advisor:, and Ph.d. Julie Horney. Portrayal of African Americans in the Media: An Examination of Law and Order (n.d.): n. pag. Web.
2) "Segregation in America & Slavery......not Any More." Pinterest. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.
3) "Rhetorical Analysis: Compare and Contrast Four Speeches on Civil Rights | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed." Rhetorical Analysis: Compare and Contrast Four Speeches on Civil Rights | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.
