Henry Louis Gates Jr., Delusion of Grandeur
Henry Louis Gates Jr., PhD, distinguished educator, writer, and editor, wrote “Delusion of Grandeur,” an article for Sports Illustrated explaining the limited professional athletic career choices available to African American youth. Gates uses two of the three rhetorical appeals, pathos and ethos, to provoke the audience to bring about change in the public school system along with the community. His interpretation of the appeal is presented in a purposeful and compelling manner; Young African American children are encouraged to pursue athletics over academics. Can the emotional appeal to the parent’s in the audience influence a change in the public school system policy and practice of promoting children to the next grade due to athletic success by provoking a change in the mindset of society? This context presented is an ineffective way to persuade change, the promote change a collective group must be motived to begin the movement to change the mindset of society. The argument is targeting the emotions of the parents in the audience to effectively change the mindset of society, all members of the audience need to become a united group to change society.
The ides presented by Dr. Gates is that young African American children are encouraged to pursue athletics over academics. He is basing this argument on social and cultural issues. The social issue is addressed by the idea professional African American athletes should promote