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Rhetorical Analysis Of Mary Ann Shadd Cary

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How was it like to be an African American writer in the 1800s? Mary Ann Shadd Cary reveals just how hard it was to get her words out. On March 25, 1854, an editorial of hers appeared on the “Provincial Freeman” called “Why Establish This Paper?”. Mary Ann discusses the necessity of her newspaper by using rhetorical strategies such as personification, alliteration, and appealing to the readers pathos to establish her claim of freedom of speech Mary Ann uses personification and establishes her ethos to support her claim of freedom of speech. Within the first paragraph, she states, " As the great country grows we grow with it ; as it improves and progresses, we are carried forward on the bosom of its onward tide."(6-7) In this statement we can conclude that country is being personified as bosom. This technique enhances the topic by allowing people to relate to the idea or statement being proposed. Mary Ann Shadd Cary includes her credentials such as an educator, lawyer, and abolitionist. At this time, African Americans were not on the same educational level than other Americans. Listing her credentials is essential for her to appeal to her audience with the diction she is using. …show more content…

As she says, “It is due to our Constitution and Government, that we should train ourselves as to fit us for being discharge of the duties of freeman, in full” (17-19) The tone Shadd portrays in this sentence that she knows she is correct. Her tone is serious and persuades me to believe in her opinion. Another example is when she claims about America, “ They either pass us by, in cold contempt, ignore us altogether, keep themselves or their readers, or both ignorant of what Canada is.” (43-45) She evokes the negativity and gives a critical point of view on how the Americans view African Americans. She gives us her reason on why we should believe what she believes or the way she

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