Kingston 1

Jenny Kingston
Professor Briggs
English 1050
7/1/2015
Othering

Part 1
In our society the word othering is referred to the way we treat other people that are
different from us. People are referred to this word because we dont consider them as one of us
or the same race as us. In other words, the people that we dont want to associate with.
Discrimination and racism has been around for hundreds of years all over the world. And
probably wont go away any time soon. That doesnt mean it wont get better. Racism has been
in our country ever since it started. If we compare our country from its starting point and the
present day. We have come a long way. When our country first started the blacks were slaves.
The word slave, in my mind, summed up how they were treated. They had no rights at all, and
were treated as livestock. Every other race that wasnt white was also looked down upon, and did
not have rights, such as the people from Aisha. The only people that had rights was white men.
Over the years and much effort put forth by good people, our country started to change.
First the blacks were freed and they slowly gained rights along with the other races and women
of this country. Even though African Americans and the Asians now had rights they still werent
treated equally. The blacks and whites had separate schools, shops, and even drinking fountains
and benches.

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In todays world we arent separated in schools, and we all have the same rights. It is like
this because of the people that fought and even gave their lives for freedom and equality. One of
those many people is Frederick Douglass. A part of his speech stood out to me. We have to do
with the past only as we can make it useful to the future. He also said I am glad fellow citizens
that your nation is so young (460-475). When he said this I think he knew he couldnt change
what happed to him and his race, and he didnt want to get back at the whites for the way they
treated them. He also saw that America can change in the future. All he was focused on was the
progress we have made and could make. That we shouldnt focus in the past, but learn from it
then make the future brighter. I really admire him for seeing the bright side of the situation he
was in.
America really has come a long way. Our government has done a lot to have equality. We
even have an African American president. Along the lines of our president. In Barack Obamas
speech, a more perfect union, there was a line that stood out to me. But what we know- what we
have seen- is that American can change. That is the true genius of this nation. What we have
already achieved gives us hope- the audacity to hope- for what we can and must achieve
tomorrow. (481) I couldnt say it better myself. I recently got back from Turkey and they are
still trying to somewhat modernize their country so it can continue to move forward, but is
having a very hard time. The ability to change is a huge advantage to America. We just need to
make sure we are changing for the better.
Although we do have the same rights discrimination and racism is still a problem.
Children are bullied on play grounds, and there have been several police incidents that are
claimed to be race related. Discrimination does not only happen between races. Although it is not

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as violent as it was in the past, but it is everywhere. An example is women boxers. The book
describes woman boxers as malcriadas. A malcriadas is a woman who will not behave and is
determined to do what she wants regardless of what society rules(367). The word malcriadas is
actually the Portuguese word for naughty. Dalilah Montoya the author, explains how most of the
women boxers are middle class working mothers. Their reason for boxing is for work, exercise,
self-defense, or to carry on a tradition of a loved one. The exact same reasons why we all make
any decision in our lives. Yet they are often looked down upon.
Another example of this is a comic by Marjane Strapi called the veil. The comic is about
a little girl who is Islamic. After a revolution she was forced to live a different way. There
schools were split up between boys and girls, and the girls had to where veils which they didnt
like. The little girl wanted to be a prophet, so there maid could eat with them and, because her
grandmothers knees always hurt. When she told her class what she wanted to be she was laughed
at. Her teacher talked to her parents and said your child is disturbed, she wants to be a profit
(211-212). These two examples falls in the category of othering. Women boxers and the little girl
was considered different, looked down upon, and didnt fit in.
This isnt in just books. It is happening every day, for example right now. I am currently
at the park righting this essay, watching the sun go down with a cool breeze going buy with some
beautiful instrumental music playing. Although it is my favorite time to be outside, and I finally
got some time to do my homework the people around me are judging me. They look at me and
whisper something to their friend or point at me as if I was not normal. They are judging me
without even knowing what I am doing. I honestly dont care, because I know there not in
college and there not going to be graduating with their degree at seventeen years old, like me.
Not everyone looked at me as if I was different, but I am just shocked that so many peoples first

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instinct is to judge me. They didnt stop to think, hey maybe she is doing something important.
I think the ultimate goal is to assume good intent. If everyone assumed the people around them
were trying their best to do make a difference in their own life or someone elses there would be
a lot less discrimination and racism. Of course we cant change everyone in the world, but
everyone can do something to make a difference.

Part 2

Rhetorical Analysis
In my rhetorical analysis I will be focusing on the speech a more perfect union given
by Barack Obama. I will give examples of how Obama used pathos, ethos, and logos to
strengthen his speech. As well as my ideas from the speech.
Obama opened with his credibility. He presented his educational background. As well as
some of his family history. He tells us he was born from a black father from Kenya and a white
mother from Kansas. He also says he was partially raised by his white gran father who served in
World War II. As well as his white grandmother who worked at fort Leavenworth during the war.
He mentions that he went to some of the best schools, as well as lived in one of the poorest
countries in the world. He married an African American woman with the blood of slaves as well
as slave owners. The fact that he has roots that come from both sides helps show readers that he
is very credible. It was very important to start with his credibility because it show everyone that
he is qualified to speak on this topic.

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There was a lot of emotion in his speech. He uses his pastor making racial comments as
an example. When he says, did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American
domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be
considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes. Did I strongly disagree with many of his
political views? Absolutely (477). Obama acknowledge the difference of opinion and belief and
used it to his advantage. In doing this he has gained many life skills that was a great benefit to
his career.
During this speech Obama was able to take the topic of racism and turn it around to the
topic of unity. When he referred to historical issues as well as recent issues they were accurate.
No one could deny the experiences that our country had and his own personal experiences. He
also presents an outline of steps that we have already taken in solving the problem and becoming
a more perfect union. The fact that this is realistic and that we have already started taking steps to
reach our goal makes this speech very powerful.

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Work cited
George, Diana, and John Trimbur. "Frederick Dolass. What to the Slave Is the Fourth of
July." Reading Culture: Contexts for Critical Reading and Writing. 8th ed. Boston:
Pearson, 2011. 460-475. Print.
George, Diana, and John Trimbur. "Barack Obama. A More Perfect Union."Reading Culture:
Contexts for Critical Reading and Writing. 8th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2011. 481. Print.
George, Diana, and John Trimbur. Reading Culture: Contexts for Critical Reading and Writing.
8th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2011. 477. Print.
George, Diana, and John Trimbur. Reading Culture: Contexts for Critical Reading and Writing.
Boston: Pearson, 2011. 477. Print.

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George, Diana, and John Trimbur. "The Veil Marjane Satrapi." Reading Culture: Contexts for
Critical Reading and Writing. 8th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2011. 367. Print.
George, Diana, and John Trimbur. "Women Boxers: The New Warriors Delilah
Montoya." Reading Culture: Contexts for Critical Reading and Writing. Boston: Pearson,
2011. 211-12. Print.