Sophia Macias

Mrs. Niles Period 3

AP Language & Composition
18 September 2016
Word count: 705
Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Alfred M. Greens speech for African Americans encourages them to engage in the fight
of the era that could be the turning point of their history. Even though some African Americans
may die in the process it would not go to waste as it is all for their freedom. Alfred begins with
the use of parallelism, which upon hearing this, African Americans gain the need to show off that
yes they are Americans because they can fight just as good for great causes. He then segues over
to an emotional appeal which serves to persuade the audience not only to do this for America, but
do it for African Americans who dream of the day that they may roam as free as the average
white man without the fear of getting beat and abused by the passing society that is full of angst
toward their race. Green then leads off with and ethical appeal, with a small alliteration, by
motivating African Americans to take up the sword, trusting in God and drive back the
advance guard of civil and religious freedom which evokes a sense of pride and perseverance
to their abilities.
Alfred extols the view on the civil war and how it is in their best interest to fight for what
Africans have always wanted, freedom. Alfred begins with making the counterargument known
by making concessions early on in the speech about how he knows that there are some

misgivings and some doubts about giving loyalty to the Union army by saying the history of the
great republic when we may again give evidence to the world of bravery and patriotism of a race
in whose hearts burn the love of country, of freedom, and of civil and religious tolerance.
This causes the audience to feel the dignity and integrity about what assets they bring to a
country and without fail they stand tall together to fuel the flame of passion to unite two battling
sides together. With the refreshed sense of righteousness, the audience will show his true
purpose.
Green then acquiesces that even though men like Jackson and Washington were great
men in giving accolades the African Americans duty to the great country, but they did not give
show any means of change toward being treated as a citizen and having equal rights. He then
states the immortal Washington of the revolution of 1776 and by Jackson and others on the war
of 1812, have failed to bring us into recognition as citizens, enjoining those rights so dearly
bought by those noble and patriotic sires. The quote drives the audience to desire the attention
of high power to show they have fought with so many lives on the line and theres still no
compensation. By this point the audience will be persuaded to join in the war and fight again and
show the government what they truly stand for.
The tone of Alfreds speech then turns to an ethical appeal by mention the truth and trust
of god and how the world today is changing right before our eyes and its time we take the
warnings and take action. Green shows his ethical approach by slipping it in to an alliteration
such as that these are other days that those of yore; that the world today is on the side of
freedom and universal political equality. This may move the audience emotionally and
compel them to feel as if they have god on their side of freedom and equality. By highlighting

God and his trust in African Americans, the audience can now fight for their rights and for their
god off which has faith in them as the go off into war.
Being an African American as well shows the audience he knows of their anger and
bitterness at being treated so terribly, so he makes an effort to try and convey that anger should
be geared to fighting the war to stand against the southerners. By using alterations, parallelism,
and ethical appeals he is able to convince them to fight even if they may find the circumstances
to be less than ideal.