Sacoya Pedersen

English 1050
Othering and Rhetorical Analysis
06/27/2014
Essay 1: Othering and Rhetorical Analysis
Part 1: Othering
Othering is a term that is used to describe the individuals that are considered
minorities because they are treated differently by the majority of population. This can be
caused from race, ethnicity, and sometimes even gender. The majorities most often
dominate the minorities in the history and still to this present day, especially in the
United States.
Michael Foucault further states, "Othering is strongly connected with power and
knowledge. When we 'other' another group, we point out their perceived weakness to
make ourselves look stronger or better." I strongly believe Michaels statement is correct
for the most part. By discriminating others by their behavior, looks, and background we
are trying to make ourselves look like the so called better ones.
The behavior of few individuals leads us to believe an entire population is that
way. Such as when few people commit the crime, but we judge their entire race and
every single person who was apart of their culture, even when they had absolutely
nothing to do with it. Othering is a form of discrimination because it leads to things such
as racism. Minorities will continue to be treated differently because of the majority of
population. Often the minorities tend to learn how to adapt to be like the majorities to
better fit in. This is something that history continually repeats itself. Its something that
we often dont even realize we are doing, such as discriminating someone for their
behavior.
President Obama is one example of how the discrimination has changed. If you
would have asked anyone in America back in the 1850s, they would have said there
will never be a black President. Now before us, President Obama stands and he stands
with pride. That was one of the biggest types of discrimination painted. The huge
difference between the black and the white people and with the way they were treated
by the white society.
Ellis Island is another point of view. A large population of Chinese immigrants
who were trying to come to America came through Ellis Island. On the Island every
individual was given a physical exam to see if they were even fit to be in America.
Who is to say who can and cant come to America? Jan Barba stated, The American
citizens werent very pleased with the Chinese as they believed that they were taking
jobs away from them. (Week 1, June 16-20 discussion) She made a very valid point
and took a look at the Americans side as to who can come into America vs who cant.
They were discriminating simply for the fact that they felt very threatened with jobs. This
process took a few days with little food and poor medical care. The space that they
were kept in was very little. Sadly, Ellis Island wasnt the worst. The counterpart, Angel
Island would keep people on the Island for months with these types of conditions.
In 1891 the Congress had to make laws regarding immigration because more
than twelve million people came through Ellis Island. These laws contained things such
as deporting the illegal immigrants and exclusion of immigrants. Several people who
immigrated to America could not find jobs because the Natives would get the job
anyday over someone who was not born there. That right there is a form of
discrimination within itself, without businesses realizing it.
Today, I strongly believe that type of discrimination has flipped. Often you see
colored individuals taking the good paying jobs that Natives refuse to do for the wage,
such as construction and farming. The jobs that immigrants would kill to have in Mexico,
we take for granted here in America. There arent many job opportunities like that, such
as we have here in America. The majorities would now be the colored people in that
type of workforce, instead of the other way around. This is one example of how a group
of minorities adapted to the majorities.
One of the biggest issues today is the immigrants coming in that have a hard
time speaking English. They must learn English through the school system. To many
Americans they get quite angry and see this as a waste because we are Americans who
speak English. Gloria Anzaldua shared one comment made by a white teacher when
she was in school, If you want to be American, speak American. If you dont like it, go
back to Mexico where you belong. (521) This type of comment is very unnecessary,
especially coming from a teacher to a student. Gloria tried to correct the teacher on how
her name was pronounced and this was the response she received. The whole purpose
of teachers is to teach students and help them learn to succeed in life.
There is discrimination based on several different things. We have overcome a
lot of things, but then new discriminations start to arise. Its a continually ongoing topic
of discussion. The majority of people will rule over the minorities. I strongly believe
discrimination will never entirely disappear, but rather we will overcome certain
obstacles.


Part 2: Rhetorical Analysis - What to the Slaves, is the Fourth of July?
Frederick Douglass was born in 1808 on Marylands Eastern Shore and was the
son of a slave woman. He was one of the most important black leaders in history.
Douglass was a new surname after escaping slavery at the age of 20 years old. After
his escape of slavery, he published three autobiographies expressing the horrific
experience it was. That is when he became to be idolized by many individuals in the
South and especially when he married a white woman. The purpose to this speech was
to propose why black individuals should be free and especially to celebrate the Fourth
of July.
On July 5, 1852 Douglass gave his What to the Slaves, is the Fourth of July?
speech to the audience. This seemed to be ironic coming from a black man who had
escaped slavery, but he felt this was the perfect time to prompt his argument. He was
able to have credibility because he was a past slave. Using his knowledge about the
audience, he gave supporting details using ethos, logos, and pathos. Those three sub-
categories are ethical appeals that give the author his character and give credibility to
his speech.This made the connection to his audience.
Ethos were used by the experience of he, himself, being a slave. This made his
messages and words much more powerful. It give it an entire new meaning because the
crowd saw just exactly what type of things he had went through. Because he spoke
through experience, it was a much more effective speech. The fact that also he kept in
mind the crowds feelings.
Logos was the argument of slavery. There were already given points that did not
need to be argued, but Douglass did so anyway. Society knew that it was not right, but
no one stood up because all the white men were doing it. Douglass did not need to
persuade anyone that slavery wasnt right because they all knew, but he simply stated
instead, "There is not a man beneath the canopy of heaven that does not know that
slavery is wrong for him" (467)
Pathos were used by stating such a horrific and emotional event that children
should never experience because of their innocence. The in depth and graphic detail
was given about what the slaves had went through. Douglass makes the comment,
"Suddenly you hear a quick snap... your ears are saluted with a scream, that seems to
have torn its way to the centre of your soul" (470) This related to the audience because
everyone has gone through an emotional event at one point in their lives. The point was
to revoke those feelings and remember how bad it felt. The comment made that slavery
is fixable left the audience with that thought in their head because he simply states for
hope nothing more, nothing less.









Works Cited
Altmaier, Dawn. "Commentary - Embracing Diversity Is the Cure to "Othering""Commentary -
Embracing Diversity Is the Cure to "Othering" N.p., 11 Dec. 2013. Web. 02 July 2014.

Frederick Douglass. Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2014. 05 July 2014.

Douglass, Frederick. What to the Slaves, Is the Fourth of July?. Reading Culture. 460-475

Anzaldua, Gloria. How to Take a Wild Tongue. Readling Culture. 521-528

Godron. More Than Just a Shrine: Paying Homage to the Ghosts of Ellis Island. Reading
Culture. 430-435