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Rhetorical Analysis Of Cesar Chavez's Nonviolent Resistance '

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During the 1960s and 1970s, there was significant protesting from workers and civil rights organizations to create better working conditions; despite peacefully protesting, innocent demonstrators were attacked on several occasions such as during the Selma to Montgomery marches, leading protesters to question the power of nonviolence. In “Nonviolent Resistance”–– an article published on the tenth anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination–– Cesar Chavez, a strong advocate for civil rights, contrasts the effectiveness of nonviolence compared to violence, creates a strong link chain to demonstrate the flaws in violent action, and shifts the tone of the speech in order to promote nonviolent protest as means of making a difference, ultimately …show more content…

His article commences by explaining how “nonviolence provides the opportunity to stay on the offensive, and that is of crucial importance to win any contest.” The idea of nonviolence being an offensive strategy is unconventional, but having the willpower to stay composed and civilized is what gives peaceful protesters the leverage over their opposition. Since Chavez compares the way of nonviolence to the strategy of playing offense, the audience feels the urge to act peacefully in order to “win.” In assuming the audience has an offensive mindset when it comes to a “contest,” Chavez creates the perception that, by not physically retaliating, the workers defy expectations and take the advantage in their battle for liberty. To conclude the article, Chavez transitions to the first person point of view, explaining how it would be preferable “to see victory come soon,” but “we are willing to wait” (90–91). Chavez proceeds with caution, warning the workers not to act too quickly or impulsively because rash decisions lead to fatal mistakes, and the working class has time on their

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Cesar Chavez influences poor labor workers that nonviolence is the best way to make a change. The rhetorical devices Chavez uses within the article catch the workers attention and helps make them feel as if they can make a change, and of all the devices, his militant diction influences the reader most. The sixth paragraph of his article uses military diction by stating, “But if we are committed to nonviolence only as a strategy or tactic, then if it fails our only alternative is to turn to violence.” This means that if they think of nonviolence as a type of strategy instead of making it a mindset then they will become violent.

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The plea for nonviolence echoed from various civil rights leaders during the 1960’s. The most memorable however was Dr.Martin Luther King, he inspired generations to follow the path of not expressing your aggression. Although when he was assassinated, many followers desired revenge against the massacre. Cesar Chavez disagreed with the violent outcries and argued that his fellow oppressed members of society should follow MLK’s belief by remaining nonviolent. Chavez begins by introducing MLK’s principle of nonviolence and then he brings up the other decision of violence.

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He states that if violence is used an even larger amount of violence and deaths will result, "violence will be escalated and there will be many injuries and perhaps death on both side, or there will be a total demoralization of the workers. " Chavez also explains the possible cause and effect of using non-violent methods. He explains how if every act of violence is responded to with non-violence, a large amount of support to his cause of Chicano labor rights will be attracted. The oppressed people of the United States "still yearn for justice. It is to that yearning that we appeal" will be motivated by witnessing the determination and the strength to use peaceful strategies to fight for the rights that should have been granted from the

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Cesar Chavez explained nonviolence as a form of bringing awareness to not only the wages, working conditions and treatment of farm workers, but also the overall treatment of marginalized people in the United States. However, growing up with the perspective of the farmworker’s inspired him to spread the word of resistance against the growers and the government as a whole. Cesar Chavez purpose of La Causa not only inspired people to become a part of something so great, but to inflict change individually by encouraging his brothers and sisters to become mentally and physically strong. Which I believe is the backbone to a non-violence protest. It’s also the mentality a social worker should inhibit because dealing with change, it requires many of

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Cesar Chavez, a prominent labor union organizer and civil rights leader, passionately persuades the laboring class in his article published in a religious magazine that nonviolence is the best course of action. Printed on the tenth anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s death, Chavez proposes that acting nonviolently to get better working conditions, better treatment, better pay, better rights, and higher respect is more effective than acting in a violent manner. Chavez integrates personification by expressing how the laboring class’s struggles has “grown and matured.” By humanizing an idea such as “struggle”, Chavez aids the reader into feeling a sense of connection to the struggle even though they are not directly involved in it.

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Throughout the essay, Chavez kept using words and phrases like “we are convinced,” or the word “nonviolence” to keep his opinion about nonviolence more clear and straightforward. He is trying to get the point across that you have more opportunity with nonviolence than if you take the violent path. Another way Chavez uses rhetorical strategies is though pathos.

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The audience that Chavez is addressing is very familiar with Dr. King, and the troubles he went through so it is not hard at all to relate to the audience with ideas of Martin Luther King. “ Nonviolence provides the opportunity to stay on the offensive, and that is a crucial importance to win any contest.” With subject of violent an nonviolent means is so important to almost everyone that it makes almost everyone stand on their toes. With the subject Chavez does a good job of stating “we” instead of “I” because of

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He insists on the fact that inhumane vengeance will lead to injury and death, as well as “demoralization”. This argument is greatly supported by the death of Dr. King Jr; his view of nonviolence helped to grow and mature the farm worker’s movement. Civil workers are guilted into supporting their fallen hero in order to fulfill his dying wish. Chavez instructs them to “overcome… [their] frustrations” and support their causes through methods of peaceful protests. Chavez, appealing to their sense of emotion, manages to persuade a disconnected society by desperately wanting to avenge Dr. King’s untimely

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In the speech Chavez says, “We are also convinced that nonviolence is more powerful than violence.” He then goes on to say that violence causes deaths and demoralizes the people, while nonviolence attracts people’s support and is morally just. The use of juxtaposition as a rhetorical device throughout the whole speech shows the pros of nonviolence and the cons of violence. This technique helps Chavez develop his argument because it creates a favorable bias

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Throughout history there have been people who have shown violent or nonviolent resistance to express their opinions or feelings towards controversial topics. It has become a big issue and topic due to the consequences that violent approaches may bring to people, including the loss of lives. Cesar Chavez uses logos, pathos, and backing to show the audience that a nonviolent approach is the safer and smarter way to participate in a cause. First of all, Chavez uses logos when he states the effects and the possible outcomes of violent approaches. Chavez explains that violent resistance would bring injuries, deaths, or may result in demoralizing the people.

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In the first paragraph Chavez mentions Dr. Martin Luther King Junior, stating that Dr. King’s “entire life was an example of power that nonviolence brings…” This reference to Dr. King causes those who know of his impact to realize that he lead a strong historical example of what nonviolence could achieve. By using Dr. King as an example it indicates that Chavez thinks that if nonviolence had heavily impacted the past, then it would most likely do the same in the present and future. Chavez also makes a reference to Gandhi and his nonviolent boycott in India, claiming that what he taught “is the most nearly perfect instrument of nonviolent change.” By using the word perfect to describe Gandhi’s teachings of nonviolence, it further supports Chavez’s stance for nonviolent resistance.

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