Wangari Maathai’s Call for a Shift in Thinking
In decades past, Africa has flourished with culture, livelihood, and personality. This highly populated continent was once a refuge. It was a harbor for travelers. It was a haven of security. Ravaged by slave trades and devastating wars, Africa has departed from its once peaceful state. In her Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Wangari Maathai augments these sensitive issues that have pervaded African culture for decades. Her audience consists of royalty, majesties, members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and other various news reporters and members of the general public. She has labored diligently to improve regional environmental conditions, spread democracy throughout her country, improve
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As a recipient of the highly acclaimed Nobel Peace Prize, her diversified audience is aware of her positive impact in the world. Regardless of the means and methods she used to attain success, she is a credible person. She already has established ethos. This is advantageous because instead of building her credibility from the ground up, she can pinpoint why her argument is relative, timely, and pivotal.
Maathai begins her speech by capitalizing on advocates of change who have promoted “seeds of peace” alongside her (53). Her ranks of supporters automatically signify to her audience that she is trustworthy, effective, and driven. There is strength in numbers. Although not intentionally rhetorical, she has inadvertently broadened her credibility.
In addition to quickly establishing her credibility, Maathai uses personal anecdotes to relate to her audience. She said she “Witnessed forests being cleared and replaced by commercial plantations,” which is tied to the reality that, “Women do not realize that meeting their needs depended on their environment being healthy and well managed.” Maathai implies that as vegetation disappears, so does the African women’s sense of empowerment. She tells what needs be done, and why it is important—through her lens. This puts a name and face to her issue. Instead of another impersonal “Go Fund Me” project on Facebook, the subject becomes tangible for her