Brian Wu

Mrs. Wheatley
Senior English Rhetoric of Nonfiction
Columnist Analysis 1: Leonard Pitts, Jr.
a. A concerned African-American citizen that is worried about the negative
images that African (Americans) are portrayed as in the media and how it has
affected other peoples (especially American citizens) attitude and perception
towards them.
b. Pitts speaks in a sympathetic and considerate tone when discussing the
pressing issue of misguided perception of African people in the media. For
example, Pitts claims Groubert probably isnt, at least not in the way they
understand the term regarding his seemingly racist actions. Pitts believes that
often times racism is interpreted to be deliberate, when in reality subconscious
levels may be the cause of such racist actions. As such, Pitts sympathizes with
Groubert even though he himself is African-American, by understanding that
Groubert did not purposely let his inner racist come to surface.
Pitts also outlines the underlying problem that Groubert and American citizens
face. It means hes watched television, seen a movie, used a computer, read a
newspaper or magazine. It means he is alive and aware in a nation where one
is taught from birth that thug equals black, suspect equals black, danger equals
black. By mentioning various media outlets, Pitts suggests and understands
that modern culture is the driving force to this unexplainable but definitely
racist fear. He does not shove the blame to Groubert, rather Pitts
acknowledges that American society constantly feeds this unjustified fear.
c.

But let us also spare some empathy for Jones, for Trayvon Martin, for Oscar
Grant, for Amadou Diallo, for all the other African-American men who have
died because of or who struggle to live through this nations
unreasoning fear of them and their sons. It is evident through this closing
paragraph that Pitts is directly addressing all American citizens. He is issuing
a plea to American citizens to consider factors contributing to their inner
racism and consider what it means to be an African American having to live in
this unintentional oppression.

d. Pitts informs his American audience that American media, as well as media in
general, constantly associate Africans with crime and danger. This has led to a
constant feeding of a subconscious fear towards Africans, which can be
attributed to misunderstandings that have led to the concerning issue of
misguided shooting of African Americans. Most recently, this can be seen in
the subject: South Carolina state trooper Sean Grouberts shooting of Levar
Jones.
e. I thought that the column illustrated an often-understated influence of media
towards American citizens attitudes toward African Americans. It was
interesting that, although Pitts himself is African American, that rather than be
voicing his message in outrage, was actually sympathetic. This led me to
consider all the factors that may subconsciously affect my actions towards

African Americans, and maybe even Africans in general. After reading the
article, I questioned my own inner racism, and how I would react given the
same situation as Sean Groubert. Am I really as good as I make myself out to
be?
f. rhetorical strategies
a. rhetorical question a question that is asked solely to produce an
effect and not to elicit a response
i. Consider that video and answer honestly: Just who should be
frightened of whom?
ii. By closing the column with this powerful question, Pitts
effectively sends the reader to a self-reflective mode. The
whole purpose of the article was to show the racial divide
between African Americans vs. the rest of the American
population. People often have a negative perception of
Africans, intentional or not, and are unwittingly influenced by
the media. Reactions are natural, and so it really is difficult to
determine how one would react. Will the reaction be rational,
or will it reveal the primal inner racist? Whatever the case, both
reactions are undoubtedly human.
b. epiphora a device of repetition in which the same expression is
repeated at the end of several clauses
i. It means he is alive and aware in a nation where one is taught
from birth that thug equals black, suspect equals black, danger
equals black.
ii. Pitts use of epiphora simply outlines how black people are
negatively portrayed in media. They are constantly equated as
bad, thus creating the mindset that in reality, it is the same. It is
completely unjustified, and there is no real reasoning as to why
Africans are often portrayed as criminals. Yet, media continues
to ingrain this image into peoples heads, thus creating this
unintentional racism.
g. It is the water we drink and the air we breathe, a perception out of all
proportion to any objective reality, yet it infiltrates the collective subconscious
to such an unholy degree that even black men fear black men.
Whether it be in movies, video games, or tv shows, media is creating an
environment where African people are made out to be criminals that surfaces
the primal reaction of fear and racism.
No, he is reacting to a primal fear of what Jones is, to outsized expectations
of what Jones might do, to terrors buried so deep in his breast, he probably
doesnt even know theyre there.
Speaking from my own experience, I feel an unexplainable tension when I see
a black person during the night, not out of fear, but a natural reaction probably
from the inner racist I have nurtured through pop culture and media.