Thursday, September 29, 2016

Final Draft Rhetorical Protest Paper

Kaali Roberts
Dr. Brown
English 306
29 September, 2016
Rhetorical Analysis of LA Riot
55 people dead, 2,000 injured and 7,000 people arrested; on March 3, 1991, four white LAPD officers were filmed by onlooker George Holliday, who witnessed the brutal beating of Rodney King after a high- speed chase. The four officers were acquitted of beating King in the year of 1992 (CNN).  This sparked a riot in South Central, Los Angeles which resulted in one of Rodney King’s most epic speeches that included his most memorable quote, “People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along? Can we get along? Can we stop making it horrible for the older people and kids?” (abc News, 2012). This powerful symbol is well known for attempting to create unity between African Americans and Caucasians during a very turbulent time.
In the interim of such a racially divided time in Los Angeles, where minorities began to rebel by inflicting pain upon anyone in the South Central area who was Caucasian, Rodney King decided to defy the odds and take to the podium on the third day of the riots. In doing so, King’s speech attempted to highlight the problems that we are facing today, which are still deeply rooted in the past. This involves discrimination and racial inequality. As simple as King’s statement was, his plea for racial unity during this volatile time in the United States was heard by millions of people worldwide.

The 90s was marked as “arguably the most tumultuous, controversial and racially charged decade since the 1960s” (MICD). Prior to the Rodney King event, the most markedly notorious incident of social unrest occurred after a riot that erupted in Liberty City, Florida when police officers were acquitted in the murder of an African American male who was unarmed .After the looting and burning of locally owned businesses transpired, King decided to speak out against the erratic behavior of civilians in hopes of bringing everyone together. This directly intertwines with ethos as he uses his “celebrity status” to persuade the audience; the credibility he attained from the infamous beating not only allows his audience to empathize with him, but validates his statements in his pursuit to address the social unrest. By doing this, King shows the audience his ability to overcome tribulation, forgive and heal after being brutally beaten by police and inadvertently gives the idea that violence does not solve the bigger problem at hand, which is to ultimately get along with one another.
In recognition of the issues at hand, King willingly spoke in front of press to publicly air his plea for better times. This plea sought for strength, unity and compassion toward each race and also brought attention to the problems and inequalities of the world. When Rodney King voiced his concerns in front of essentially every person in the United States, making it a point to reach out to everyone included in the racial divide, he managed to evoke pathos. When King asks, “Can we stop making it horrible for the older people and kids?” (abc News, 2012), he provokes the viewers to think about these two groups of people and their vulnerability, especially in a time like this. Stereotypically viewed as “innocent” or “fragile”, King brings light to the fact that these two groups of people are particularly susceptible to the violence surrounding them. When the children and elderly are brought to the audience’s attention, they can begin to recognize how this form of protest could affect individuals negatively. This allows room for the viewer to experience feelings of empathy, sympathy and solicitude.
In addition to the importance and impact that his speech was meant to have on viewers, King’s intonation, word choice and preceding words that helped the audience understand why he begged for peace through reason appealed to logos. As King elaborates on his quote, he says, “Can we stop making it horrible for the older people and the kids? I mean, we have enough smog here in Los Angeles, let alone to deal with setting these fires and just, these things aren’t right and are not going to change anything” (abc), by doing so, he explains in logical order, the cause and effect of rioting; that is, viewers are able to understand his logic behind why “we should all get along” (Rodney King). His first question, “Can we stop making it horrible for the older people and the kids?” allows the audience to consider the topic at hand. This question, another thing to consider amidst the events that have occurred. He then goes on to articulate all of the events that have ensued from the lack of action taken against these issues— “We already have enough smog in Los Angeles, let alone to deal with setting these fires” (abc). While it isn’t explicitly stated, King statements suggest that the rioting should not be implemented as it is not beneficial to the community or the environment.
This form of protest has resulted in the use of this quote to aid in the unification amongst one another. It is now used universally and is a term applied to calm problematic or uneasy situations. Asian American demonstrators have had marches through the streets of South Korea carrying a sign that says, “We Can Get Along- Rodney King” (abc) showing the strength and power of one quote which can not only stand for rioting, but many other troubling issues across the world. By utilizing his most powerful instrument, which is his voice, King was able to reach out to thousands of Americans. In one quote, King managed to appeal to all three rhetorical strategies, ethos, pathos and logos. King’s form of protest was very effective and timeless, as it is still relevant in many situations today and is a constant reminder that unity is still an important factor that can alter our way of living positively.









 Works Cited
ABC News I. "King: 'Can We All Get Along'" ABC News. ABC News Network, 17 June 2012. Web. 28 Sept. 2016.
MICD. "1990s: Racial Tensions Heighten and American Society Is Defined by Its Racism - Townsley Race and Racism." 1990s: Racial Tensions Heighten and American Society Is Defined by Its Racism - Townsley Race and Racism. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2016.

Rodney King Quotes." BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2016.

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