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Rhetorical Analysis Of Alfred M. Green's Address

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Black political activist, Alfred M. Green, in his speech speaks to his African American “Brethren,” during the civil war, regarding African-American enlistment in the union army. His purpose in his address is to inspire the African Americans, his audience, in the North to take up arms and prepare themselves to enlist in the already strong union army. Green uses a predominantly inspirational and direct tone to enlighten and motivate his audience to enlist. Through his address he utilizes the use of biblical allusions and imagery to inspire his fellow African Americans to enroll in the union army.
First, Green induces feelings of inspiration to take up arms in his audience by advocating for their dire need to take a leap of faith and fight for what they believe is morally correct. Green appeals towards the religious views of his audience by employing the use of biblical allusions. He utilizes this strategy to relate towards the beliefs of his audience to evokes a need for action amongst them. Furthermore, he demonstrates that African Americans …show more content…

He appeals to the concerns of the African Americans by depicting the South’s desires and representing it in a negative connotation through use of imagery. The South, as depicted, wants “the war cry of the howling leaders of Secession and treason is: ‘let us drive back the advance guard of civil and religious freedom; let us have more slave territory; let us build stronger the tyrant system in the great American Republic.’” Green utilizes the use of imagery to portray the South as warmongers who seek only to “have more slave territory,” in the “great American Republic.” By giving the South a cynical representation, Green would appeal towards the African American concerns on the hypothetical victory of the South and motivate them to

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Repetition of the words “let us” signify Green’s attempt to appeal to his audience by establishing the idea of unification. By doing so, it supports his purpose in creating the essence of heroism and honor endowed from joining the Union forces. This phrase goes on to make the African Americans believe in their capability to overthrow the tyrant system, thus enabling them to sign up and enlist. Similarly, his allusions to Washington’s Revolution and Jackson’s War of 1812 enhance his idea of assembling a greater army to obtain victory against the slaves states through alliances. As Green states, “It is true, the brave deeds of our fathers, sworn and subscribed to by the immortal Washington...”

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African Americans, not able to yet fight in the union army, are being motivated by Alfred M. Green to join when the opportunity arises. Using the Revolutionary war as a reference Green relates the possible freedoms of post Civil War to the freedoms of post Revolution. Using rhetoric the author attempts to motivate his audience to join the fight. The first paragraph of the speech is probably the most moving and inspiring because the author begins by talking about how African Americans need to finally get rewarded for all the work that their people have done.

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The methods that Green uses are biblical persuasion and inclusive phrases. Green, on multiple occasions, used biblical persuasion. He states “Let us, then, take up our sword, trusting in God, who will defend the right, remembering that these are other days than those of yore”. The point that he is intending to get across is guilt.

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