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Rhetorical Analysis Essay (Rhetorical Situation (Historical Context (Trump…
Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Introduction
Thesis
Ta-Nehisi Coates' essay for
The Atlantic
highlights the important events that happened during the infamous Trump presidency in comparison to Obama's presidency to denote the idea of whiteness being the driving force to Trump's winning election.
Hook
Black and White crayons (?)
Black crayons are often overused and abused to be used against a pure white background. White crayons could be seen as "useless," but they are always remained untouched and perfect.
White is always considered a color of purity and has been used as such in multiple literary works. Black is seen as a symbol of darkness and corruption.
Heart of Darkness
, for example, uses white as a symbol of purity. For a black woman to be seen as good, she is shown to be wearing white.
Rhetorical Situation
Author
Ta-Nehisi Coates
http://ta-nehisicoates.com/
has written Marvel's Black Panther comic books, which has become a movie recently this year.
Historical Context
Trump was in office for a year when this essay was published.
Trump is accused of sexual assault.
Opioids taken by the white population has increased significantly; Trump considers it a national emergency.
Charlottesville Riots have occurred; white supremacists have gathered together in the effort of "Unite the Right." They were protesting against the removal of national landmarks for the Confederacy.
Trump endorses Filipino president's violent "war on drugs" movement.
Audience
Readers of the Atlantic
Older white males that make almost $100k
Anyone that has access on the internet.
Message
Trump was elected because of the ever growing appeal of "whiteness" in America, rather than his freshness as an unconventional candidate.
Cultural Context
Black culture
national correspondent for
The Atlantic
Medium
Magazine/Multimodal Essay
Internet
Analysis
Michelle Obama's fight against obesity in comparison to President Bush's
HealthInitiative.
Trump's sexual assault allegations in comparison to a "what if" situation with Obama.
Obama losing to a white felon in a popularity(?) vote.
Trump asking for Obama's birth certificate.
Trump vs Obama: education, achievements, attributes; how did Trump become president when he has never been in the political scene officially.
Conclusion
Introduce the idea that Trump won the candidacy because he is able to relate to the audience that he wants to see. "Whiteness" is what gathers them together. It "unites the right."
So-called liberal candidates have contributed to the "whiteness" they say they deny.
He is not unlike the rhetors we have encountered throughout the course. He uses connections with his audience and he does have an audience; if he didn't, he wouldn't have won. His speech
sells.
