Rhetorical Analysis Of Alfred M Green Speech

Zealous, inspiring, and faithful. Although African Americans could not join the Union army during the first month of the Civil War, Alfred M. Green gives a heartening speech that encourages them to serve in the Union army when possible. Aware of the fact that the audience can be reluctant in joining the army because of previous and similar experiences with the Revolutionary war, Green uses several methods to help overcome these distressing moments that occurred in the past. First, Green starts off his speech by acknowledging that the heroes in America, such as Washington in the Revolutionary war, have not recognized African Americans as equal citizens, even though they risked their life to fight for America’s freedom. Green does this because as an African American himself, he too shares his frustration with the audience by using “we” and “us.” This is quite important for an orator like Green because his understanding of the audience’s problem …show more content…
Green appeals to the audience during the end of his speech by letting the audience know that their “oppressed brethren” in the South are also going through similar struggles. Green describes the Confederacy as “howling leaders” for imagery, in order to evoke hungry, thirsty and greedy wolves. This makes the African American crowd motivated to fight because their “brothers” are under tyrannical control. Wouldn’t people stand up for their siblings if they have gone through bullying? Green uses this method because if African Americans would not fight for the freedom of their “family” in the South, then they would surely feel remorseful and guilty for not trying to help. Green also states that fighting in the Union army will also influence the slaves in the South to revolt. This would put fear into the slave owners which would eventually lead to the emancipation of slaves throughout the