John H.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Prisoners of Hope; Changing the View on Black America

In 1997 author, activist and Democratic Socialist, Cornel West wrote the book, Restoring Hope:
Conversations on the Future of Black America. The essay Prisoners of Hope was adapted from
this book as well as portions of Wests comments in Breaking Bread. West has been the author
of many published works dating from 1979 to now. Wests essay delves into the socioeconomic
and political problems facing America today. His writing focuses on racial injustices, the lethal
power of global corporate elites, (pg 343) and the fallible political and moral standing of our
nation. West also delves into the rage existing in the black community, the problems it can
cause and possible solutions such as finding ways to channel this rage.
In Prisoners of Hope, West engages the reader helping them understand the injustices
happening to Black America and the poor. He hopes to sway the reader to become more
impassioned to change the racial and class injustices still existing today. He utilizes many
rhetorical methods to form a relationship with the reader, get their emotions and mind
working, and hopefully inspires and encourages the reader to take action in correcting the
injustices he points out.
Prisoners of Hopes use of strong emotional imagery, well reasoned logical deduction and
pressing urgency pulls the reader deeper into the information and plants the seed of change in
their mind. Wests use of a pressingly urgent tone, easy to follow organization and the way he
connects with the reader on a logical and emotional plane makes this essay very effective in
changing the readers views toward the struggles facing Black America.
West jumps between logos and pathos throughout his essay to maximize his intended effect.
Think of the 49% of white Americans who believed George Zimmermans acquittal for shooting

the unarmed Trayvon Martin was justified. (pg 344) This mix of logos and pathos is a very
effective method in creating a logical and emotional response due to the passionate way
people feel about this situation. Some portions of this text could be found offensive by many
people, yet Wests decision to utilize these phrasings shows dedication to his cause.
West uses strong phrasing such as the besieged black poor struggle to survive, (pg 343) and
a blood-drenched hope that sustains us, (pg 346) to emotionally move the reader and help
them more fully understand the direness of the situation, he uses phrases like this country is in
deep trouble (pg 345) to solidify he is speaking to all Americans. He then follows with weve
forgotten that a rich life consists fundamentally of serving others, trying to leave the world a
little better than you found it, (pg 345) solidifying to the larger public of his audience, with oldfashioned values, how this moral issue pertains to them. The inclusive use of we, us and our
West uses throughout the text helps solidify the reader/writer relationship and makes the
reader feel like these issues have an impact on them and their community.
West solidifies his credibility with reference to other notable philosophers and activists who
share the same standpoint on this issue. He notes Artists like Harry Belafonte and John
Coltrane and Toni Morrison and others have been asking the same question. (pg 344) When
giving credibility to his solution, West states, Malcolm wasnt the only one who pointed this
out; he learned it from Elijah Muhammad and Marcus Garvey and others. We also get it from
other traditions, from King and A. Philip Randolph. (pg 345) This list of supportive names is a
great use of ethos. He also uses passages from the bible such as For what shall it profit a man,
if he shall gain the whole world but lose his own soul? (pg 344) to establish credibility with
religious members of his intended audience. When building credibility for his claims about black
rage and needing to be an example to young people, West takes a quote from Malcolm X
stating, Look, were going to have to deal with black rage one way or another. Lets at least try
to channel it. (pg 345)

West uses open ended questions to stimulate the readers mind. He starts them thinking more
seriously about the issues presented and more possible solutions. How do we keep it real?
(pg 344) and How do you channel rage? (pg 345) are a couple questions used to help the
reader start making their own logical deductions about the problem and helps them see the
writers solutions are viable and practical.
The organization of this text is very effective. West starts by establishing a problem, pulling the
reader in from the first phrase. A specter of despair haunts America. (pg 343) He continues by
solidifying the problem and showing the reader how they are a part in it. Yet most of our
fellow citizens deny this black despair. (pg 344) We prisoners of hope in desperate times, (pg
344) He then concludes with what the reader can do to remedy the problem. We need a moral
prophetic minority of all colors who muster the courage to question the powers that be. (pg
346) He then ends with an encouragement to the reader, To live is to wrestle with despair yet
never to allow despair to have the last word. (pg 346)
All in all this essay is a very effective vehicle for conveying Cornel Wests message. The use of
rhetorical sensitivity to Americans and Black America, specifically, throughout this entire essay
proves West an accomplished author. The choices he made while writing this piece proved to
be very powerful. This has truly proven to be an essay that will go down in history.

Work Cited:
West, Cornel. Restoring Hope: Conversations on the Future of Black America. Beacon Press,
1997. Print.

West, Cornel. Breaking Bread: Insurgent Black Intellectual Life. South End Press, 1991. Print
Rogat Loeb, Paul. The Impossible Will Take a While. Chapter Forty. Basic Books, 2014