Rhetorical Appeals and Ethical Argument Analysis

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Rhetorical Appeals and Ethical Argument

“The Word “Nigga” Is Only for Slaves and Sambos” was written by Rob Nelson and first published in a university newspaper in North Carolina. Later on, the article was so meaningful that it was re-published in the academic journal, the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. In the article “The Word “Nigga” is only for Slaves and Sambos”, Rob Nelson uses ethos, logos, and especially skillful pathos appeals based on the history of slavery and the illustration about the future of African American, to prove why he thinks the “N-word” is not acceptable. By using ethical argument and those clever appeals, Rob Nelson definitely persuades his young African American audience.

“The Word “Nigga” Is Only for Slaves and Sambos” is an ethical argument. The author doesn’t paint the picture that he wants his audience to see. He also explains how the word change and become in detail. He makes sure that his audience understands the history and the negative meaning of the word before he argues about why they should use it. The author does respect his audience as much as he respects himself. None of the words in his writing says that “I’m right”, or “You’re wrong”, “You should be shame about it”, but he says that it’s “a sad contradiction” (Nelson, 1998). When Nelson tells a specific scene that evokes a slavery image, he carefully asks the audience to grant his exaggeration right after that. As an African American, Rob Nelson of course understands other opponent situation. He understands that those African Americans did not use the N-word to put down each other, but they use it among close friend. He did not mean to criticize them. In general, the author just wants his audience to see that the overall affecti...

... middle of paper ...

... understandings of the writer are implicit in the story and conveyed imaginatively to the reader. Pathos thus refers to both the emotional and the imaginative impact of the message on the audience, the power with which the writer's message moves the audience to decision or action.

Rob Nelson was successful in persuade his audience. He uses power tools of ethos, logos, and pathos appeals to address the value that a Black should keep in their heart, and they should not step on their own value by calling themselves as a Nigger.

Works Cited

Nelson, R. (1998). The Word "Nigga" Is Only for Slaves and Sambos. The Journal of Black in

Higher Education, 1(21), 117.

Daily Tar Heel Media (DTH Medial). (n.d.). The History of Daily Tar Heel. The Daily Tar Heel:

Serving UNC students and the community since 1893. Retrieved February 27, 2011, from http://DailytarHeel.com

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