Rhetorical Analysis Essay On Diamonds

647 Words2 Pages

There’s Blood (Diamonds) in the Water Inherited from Indian mythology, Romans believed that diamonds had the power to ward off evil. However, during the 1990s in Sierra Leone, diamonds---conflict diamonds specifically --- possessed the power of evil. Amnesty International USA, defines conflict diamonds in as “those sold in order to fund armed conflict and civil war.” Child labor, forced labor, the loss of limbs, and death are all too customary when working in these hazardous mines. After hearing of these horrendous events, American rapper-songwriter, Kanye West raises these issues with his Grammy-winning single, “Diamonds from Sierra Leone.” West convinces his audience through the eyes to buy conflict-free diamonds by pathos. He illuminates the injustice surrounding the precious gem. He expresses the eyes of innocence (or lack thereof) taken away through the trade of diamonds, the pressure of God’s fostering eyes, and the American eyes ignorance of humanitarian crisis. In the beginning of West’s …show more content…

Americans today reside in a tiny bubble of blissful ignorance. In that bubble Americans disregard or refuse to hear/see anything not pertaining to us. If there’s not a crisis in their “bubble”, then there is no crisis. The song goes, “See, a part of me sayin’ keep shinin’ How? When I know of blood diamonds” West explains that he himself has struggled to confront his knowledge of blood diamonds and his desire of the gems. A part of him wants to keep his merriness and bling without worry, yet he’s conscience that there’s injustice going on. Americans choose not to see because we don’t need to. Satisfied with their current knowledge, why would they want to know more? While having easy access to knowledge, it’s unfortunate that many choose not to know. However, after viewing and analyzing West’s masterpiece, viewers are informed not only of Sierra Leone, but their unconscious

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