How Does Frederick Douglass Use Ethos In The Church And Prejudice

Historically, people of color have been targeted by society and treated with extreme violence, which has forced them to live a very demanding life. As people began to generate talk about this horrifying reality, American abolitionist Frederick Douglas took matters into his own hands. With the goal to sway his audience’s prejudice, Douglas argued to change the social norms regarding the treatment of African Americans by connecting to the listeners on a personal level. In Frederick Douglas’ popular speech, “The Church & Prejudice '', he uses rhetorical strategies, such as logos and pathos, to effectively prove the need for change surrounding African Americans' treatment.

In his speech, Douglas uses logos to exhibit several inhumane ways people

For you know God is no respecter of persons!” This made this young man feel unwanted, which caused other African Americans treated this way to avoid church overall. The audience is drawn in by this undesirable feeling they are familiar with. People believed African Americans were not important, claiming they were undeserving of respect from their peers. Douglas appeals to the audience by using the concrete fact that people want to feel respected, yet this is something African Americans did not experience. A young woman had once fallen into a spiritual trance and insisted she had gone to heaven. She was asked “if she saw any black folks in heaven? After some hesitation, the reply was, ‘Oh! I didn't go into the kitchen!’” implying people of color were only for cooking, cleaning, and doing the work. They had to stay in the kitchen just because their skin tone was different. Douglas viewed this as irrational. Hearing the disrespect people of color were receiving will persuade the audience to make a change. A young African American woman was in church and she decided to “partake of the same sacramental elements with the others'' conversely, “when the

An awful image of people of color was implemented throughout the world, nevertheless they were seen as monsters. Children were taught "When they behave wrong, they are told, 'Black man come catch you!'” leaving them afraid. Children of a young age were not even allowed to think for themselves or make their own choices. Kids were immediately taught that people of color were scary and they were to “come catch you” if a mistake was made. Douglas knew people needed to understand what it was like to be a person of color. They experienced horrible treatment everyday. The fact children were being affected by this takes an emotional toll on the audience. It was said white people were wiser, more hardworking, and more capable. They were the superior race and that was made clear when a minister “proceeded until all the white members had been served” before moving on to the people of color. African Americans were treated as if they were unwanted, something nobody wants to feel. By introducing the effects this had on their everyday life, Douglas is creating a connection between him and his listeners. For this reason, a push for change is secured. It was said that “God made one portion of men to do the working, and another to do the thinking.” They were needed for one thing only, doing the hard work. People of color weren’t even given a chance to “do the thinking” or prove their worth. They were to do the work