New York Times Opinion Column Comparison

Article 1: How Blackface Feeds White Supremacy I studied this article 🠟🠟🠟

Main Idea and Purpose (thesis)

The practice of Blackface in America degrades black people and shouts white supremacy.
Although it seems like a long ago issue it still happens in America today.

Evidence & Commentary

News host Megyn Kelly supported costumes that contained Blackface last fall. Gucci and Katy
Perry were forced to withdraw from the market after designing racist outfits. Blackface has a
history of specifically being used to mock black people and write plays degrading them. In
some cases it is used as a marketing tactic.

Style & Language (choices, appeals, tone)

I feel this text was purely informational and the tone was very professional. I liked how they
chose to mention popular celebrities because it emphasized how Blackface is a bigger
problem than we think.

Article 2: The Racist Trope That Won’t Die

Main Idea and Purpose (thesis)

Some people are extremely racist to the point were they are willing to murder. They
disrespect black people all because of their skin tone.

Evidence & Commentary

Studies show that white men perceive black people to be years older than they actually are.
This tends to be a problem with law enforcement because they see them as more of a threat
than they are.

Style & Language (choices, appeals, tone)

Like the others, it is professional and informational. The author cites his sources and the
stories that he talks about. Provides ample evidence and even mentions a study.

Article 3: African-Americans and the Strains of the National Anthem

Main Idea and Purpose (thesis)

Black people should be allowed to stay seated during the National Anthem because they
don’t feel the civic system allows them to be treated as a citizen.

Evidence & Commentary

Staples recounts his experience in college where he witnessed athletes stay seated for the
anthem. Explained why black people prefered the song Lift Every Voice and Sing” over our
anthem.

Style & Language (choices, appeals, tone)

In this passage he mentions his own experience in college. I find this text to be a little more
opinionated than the others. However he did cite all of his sources and provide links.

Article 4: How the Suffrage Movement Betrayed Black Women

Main Idea and Purpose (thesis)

Black women are not talked about enough for their impact in the Women's Suffrage
movement.

Evidence & Commentary

White Women were neglecting black women and weren’t necessarily fighting for black
women to get the right to vote. Historians warn that the 19th amendment only supports
middle class white women.

Style & Language (choices, appeals, tone)

In this passage he doesn’t cite as many sources as the other 3 documents. He also quotes
Douglass who gives a harsh slap in the face with reality.

Finally, Assessing the language, which do you find most persuasive despite your
personal point of view? Why? Put your opinions on the shelf and analyze these articles
for elements of effective writing.

I find that the writing strategies that were most effective in persuading me
would be in the last article when Brent Staples quotes Frederick Douglass about the
constant danger that black women in America had to face. Even though Staples admits
it was a little dramatic, it creates a vivid image in my head that made me sympathize
with the victims and want to stand up and make a change.
Another form that seemed to hit hard was in the first article when he mentions
popular celebrities and brands that participated in the extremely racist black face
practice. Honestly, I hadn’t heard about any of this happening but after fact checking
his cited articles I learned that I was uninformed.