DuBois’ context of writing during this time would be advantageous to himself and to those readers that also agree with his point of view. Since his work could be seen as dense with references and allusions to esoteric texts, DuBois has to be able to convey his message in a particular way to benefit him and make a point to his readers. It would be useful to those readers that had the same morals and values as DuBois, but would be troubling to those who do not. It is helpful in the way he expresses his message though, in such a perplex method that it could possibly result in not a strong opposing audience. It would also cause his audience to think and be able to gain their own opinions, beliefs and ideas in result to him providing his message in a somewhat confusing and difficult way.

Rhetorical Appeal

I believe that DuBois uses emotion to target the audience’s emotions. He uses his emotions and ideas, expressing them to the readers to cause them to use their emotions and ideas to come up with their own beliefs. DuBois does this in such a way, hoping that his readers will feel his emotion and possibly end up sharing similar ideas and beliefs. He finishes with a result to what could be done to support his claim.

The Strivings of the Negro People

Rhetorical Triangle

1. The writer is W.E.B. DuBois, an educated black scholar and author that had gone to Harvard.
2. The issue DuBois elaborated on how it felt to be a “problem” of society and how members of the black race were viewed in the past and then viewed during his time.
3. The gap would be that the intended audience would have opposing views, and DuBois is attempting to have this audience see from his perspective.
4. The intended readers would be whites that do not hold similar values to him, which is why DuBois writes in a “soft” way, so he does not force his beliefs on others but hopefully uses his emotions in a reasonable way to hopefully persuade those readers to see from his point of view.

Toulmin Method

Claim – DuBois elaborates on how blacks were viewed as a “problem” and he is attempting to show how they are not a threat and can fit into society in a positive way. He also claims that if blacks were ever viewed as equals to the white race, their voting rights shall be protected.

Reasons – DuBois details on how even if members of the black race were well-educated, they were still viewed differently due to the one reason of being black.

Evidence – DuBois describes the time of the Reconstruction movement, where all blacks were denied equality and blacks were seen as a “problem” to society. DuBois is hopeful that blacks can be seen as equals one day to whites and can be beneficial to society.

Warrant – DuBois currently believes during this time that the majority of people believed blacks were still inferior to whites, even if well-educated. He attempts to show them that they can be very intellectual and beneficial to society, even if black.

Counterargument – Those that believe that blacks will always be seen as inferior.

Rebuttal – DuBois attempts to show these readers that blacks can be useful to society, even if given the rights to vote and given equality.

Rhetorical Appeal – DuBois uses a strong sense of emotion, considering he talks about a lot of past experiences and how they personally affected him. He uses these experiences and emotions to hopefully persuade his readers to share his ideas and beliefs of blacks not being useless to society. This is very different to Frederick L. Hoffman, who spread the idea of scientific racism. He attempted to use reason and evidence to get his point across to his readers.