How To Write A Rhetorical Analysis Of Shaka Seghor's Speech

Shaka Senghor speaks from the perspective of a former violent criminal who chose to turn his life around. As he goes through the details of his transformation, he reaches out to an audience that might feel trapped in their current situation. He doesn’t shy away from the facts as he is speaking, but chooses to mainly focus on telling the story as it happens while also appealing to the ethics of the audience by highlighting the inadequacy of our prison system. This is quite an emotional story, and he spoke about the feelings he experienced during his ordeal in order to increase his relatability. Although Shaka Senghor spoke about a relatively emotional topic, he displayed an extensive use of logical reasoning in his speech. Rather than making excuses for his former behavior, he factually recounted the events leading up to his crime when he said, “At the age of …show more content…
When he said, “Doctors pulled the bullets out, patched me up, and sent me to the same neighborhood where I got shot.” he placed emphasis on the healing of his body while his mental state was abandoned. Shaka recalled the lack of support he received once he got sent home, and a similar lack of support in prison once he got convicted of his crime. Throughout his stay in prison, he dealt with anger management issues that landed him in solitary confinement. Although this experience was negative, this, and a letter from his son, became the catalyst for change as it forced him to introspect and understand his anger. Although it was difficult to find support within the system, he was able to get his life back on track. Throughout his speech, he encouraged the audience to consider the importance of providing adequate psychiatric facilities and support systems within prison and on the