Britney S.

Francis
SPCM 2180
Quiz One
Intro to Rhetorical Criticism

1. The commonality of the articles by Banks and Understanding African American Rhetoric is

the fact that African Americans come from tradition and have cultural meaning. Both articles

discuss tradition as a way to provide a sense of freedom against the racism that is still very much

alive today in America. Rhetoric, whether it is a public speech or private day-to-day talk, is a

feature of African American history and culture. Banks describes African American rhetoric as

the “study of the pursuit of life, love, and liberation for Black people and the whole society.”

What this means is that rhetoric is a tool to put Blacks in a place where they can acquire freedom

in an unfair and unjust world filled with societal setbacks. Thurman and Calloway-Thomas

however explore rhetoric as an “oral-based culture.” This culture is the reliance that African

Americans placed on oral traditions throughout the generations.

2. Banks uses the word persuasion is his definition of rhetoric and its uses in African American

rhetoric. It becomes evident that the “freedom struggle” goes way beyond marching in

Washington and signing petition. Instead, it is a tool used to achieve liberation in American

society. “Living the American Dream” is not necessarily a dream that included African

Americans. One use is to establish our own freedom by fully understanding African American

rhetoric and its uses. Persuasion is the driving force behind these texts. Foss says that

communication is the purpose of rhetoric. African American rhetoric’s sole purpose it to

communicate and persuade.

3. Two features of African American rhetoric, according to Thurman and Calloway-Thomas, are

indirection and verbal play. These sectors of rhetoric are used in our everyday lives as African

Americans. Verbal play refers to symbolic exchange of words. Verbal play has two functions:

expressive and instrumentally. Examples of indirection are rappers and spoken word poets. Both

of these orators use words that stand for something else. For example, in Ice Cube’s song

“AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted,” he says “I put heads to bed and fled the scene wit’ all the green”

which means he knocks people out and leaves with large amounts of money. Verbal play could

either influence by drawing attention or manipulating.

4. Symbols are a substantial part of African American rhetoric. Foss says that symbols are the

medium for rhetoric and that particular medium is communication. Symbolic words have been

embedding in the speech patterns of African Americans from the very beginning. It was a way of

expressing themselves without outwardly saying what it is they truly meant for they were not

allowed to express themselves fully due to mental and physical oppression. This is why Thurman

and Calloway-Thomas mentions in their article that there is a noticeable difference between the

way that African American engage in “daily verbal struggles, influenced by orality” than White

Americans. Examples of this would be when African Americans refer to the Black race as “us,”

when saying things like “they know how hard it is for us to make it in corporate America.”

Another example would be “when we will stop letting the media portray as in a negative light?”

when referring to Black people as a whole. Martin Luther King also used this in his infamous I

Have A Dream Speech, “I may not make it to the mountain top…” When referring to a mountain

top or an upward climb usually symbolizes a fight or struggle for freedom.

5. Neoaristotelian criticism is credited by Foss as being the beginning of rhetorical criticism.

However, neoaristotelian criticism has its benefits as well as limitations. Aside from being one of

the original platforms for criticism, Neoaristotelian criticism is useful as it can show the critic the

effects of the speaker’s rhetor. A critic can take notice to the response from the intended

audience is also a benefit. Not only can one see or hear the emotions evoked, a critic can easily

pinpoint persuasion techniques in a speech as well as determine if whether or not the speaker’s

goals were met through the rhetoric. One limitation about neoaristotelian criticism is that it is not

intended for written speeches. Critics have to take into account the canons, or units of analysis,

of the speaker which include: invention, organization, style, delivery, and memory. With written

speeches, it is difficult to analyze the speaker’s style and delivery because you cannot hear how

the words are being spoken. Some words and phrases may have to be read more than once to

actually grasp the message. Also, if you are not visually viewing the speech, it’s hard to notice

facial expressions. Language use plays an important role on how to determine if the speaker met

his or her goals. Memory is only used for memorized speeches so at times, all canons may not be

used while critiquing a speech.