Rhetorical Analysis: Sonia Sotomayor

Cali Nguyen Mrs. Jurica AP English Language 30 August 2024 Sonia Sotomayor - Rhetorical Analysis Social identity has always played an important role in society, especially considering how incredibly diverse the world is. However, with so many different perspectives on what one’s identity should be, many questions arise about what truly defines a person’s identity. This question was answered by Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, through her 2001 speech “A Latina Judge’s Voice”. Throughout her speech, she specifically answers the question of what makes a person Latina. Sotomayor emphasizes the idea that there are many different layers that could possibly define a person as a Latina rather than just one through

Sotomayor makes it clear that she has “particularly adventurous taste buds” which allows her to indulge in unusual foods like “pigs’ tongue and ears” (20-24). With this, she also stated that being a Latina meant “playing loteria” with her cousins while her grandmother called out the numbers (Sotomayor 37-39). She highlights these certain traditions because she places important value on them. She vaguely says that some might consider those dishes weird, but its distinctiveness somewhat makes up who she is as a Latina. When Sotomayor expresses that she used to play loteria with her family, there is a sense of emotion present. She wants to create this sense of emotion so others can relate as well, whether that be spending time with their family or simply partaking in hispanic games. These traditions help build up her cultural identity because she is able to connect back to her roots through them. Her audience may value similar or different traditions compared to Sotomayor, but generally they should impact everyone differently. Having traditions helps people belong in groups or as

This continuous tone throughout the speech creates an imagery of who Sotomayor is as a person. Her words are validated by her tone, therefore making the audience view her as someone who is firm in her words and stance. She made this decision to enchant her audience to feel influenced, and possibly the same way she does. Through being prideful of who they are as an individual, the reader can understand that making up one’s identity requires being prideful of being who they are. Being proud can be considered either positive or negative, but Sotomayor wants to convey the idea that simply being proud of one’s cultural identity can create their identity as a whole. Sonia Sotomayor discusses the history of her parents and the academic history of what it means to be Latina. With her parents’ history, she highlights that they immigrated “to the states during World War II” (Sotomayor 4-5). Contrastingly, she claims that the academic description defined “Latinos as those peoples and cultures populated or colonized by Spain who maintained or adopted Spanish. as their language of communication”