HW 3/3

Assignment One: Rough Draft

At this time, ‘blacks’ were treated poorly, and were trying to push for suffrage, and equality, and to diminish the racial tensions between themselves, and the whites. Several white supremacists were still trying to demean ‘blacks’ and say how they were lesser humans due to the color of their skin. However in an attempt to educate not only whites, but those who don’t truly understand what struggles ‘blacks’ were facing at the time, one author stands out in his writings. In the specific writing of ‘The Strivings of the Negro People’, the author, W. E. B. Du Bois, illustrates the struggles and everyday challenges that African-Americans must face due primarily thanks to the color of their skin. He explains how a vast majority of ‘blacks’ in America long for the time where they will be accepted not as ‘blacks’ but as Americans, and given the same suffrage, equality, and ability to explore their lives as a white man in America. To make his writing such a strong piece, Du Bois utilizes both a trustworthy and emotional approach (ethos), in his writing to make a sort of plea to his readers, to not only help humanize his essay, but to also provide this view on both himself, and his race. If you really look into this essay by Du Boiis, it is easy to tell that Du Boise gives off his honest opions based off of where he has come from, and who his family was. By doing this, Du Boise will come off as a more down-to-earth writer, and as an author looking for help, rather than an author demanding a change. In this essay, Du Bois brings forth several valid reasons, as well as solid reasoning behind his thoughts. In a specific instance, Du Bois says “The freedman has not yet found in freedom his promised land” (145). This one quote has a huge meaning for Du Bois, and the ‘blacks’ that he is also speaking for. Although some African-Americans are free, those who are ‘free’ are still locked away by the society that they are supposed to be free in. Speaking directly about the white supremacists, and their culture that is solely made to diminish and demean those of color.