Morgan Valeri

Ms. Michko

AP Language & Composition

Sonia Rhetorical Analysis Essay

In her speech “A Latina Judge’s Voice” (2001), Sonia Sotomayor preaches that America

needs to value and recognize the importance of ethnic diversity, and that society has to stop

feeding into any assumptions upon certain cultures around our nation. Sotomayor supports her

claim about this desire for America’s prosperity by sharing her own experiences as both a

woman, and a Latina. This can challenge the stereotypical beliefs that uneducated Americans

may hold. Her use of personal anecdotes, combined with sharing similarities and differences

between cultures, and by switching between personal pronouns can symbolize the strive for unity

as a nation in order to all connect in hopes for an improved future. She appeals to an audience

who may not be as familiar with her culture, developing an optimistic tone that can easily engage

her listeners to follow along with her own vulnerability.

Sotomayor unfolds her speech by explaining who she is as a citizen in America. For

instance, she states that she is Puerto Rican, a New Yorker, and a woman. As well, she shares her

own anecdote of the foods and traditions her family cherishes. She explains “a very special part

of my being Latina is the mucho platos de arroz, gandules y pernil” (Sotomayor 16). Going

further into this, she invites her audience into knowing that she still enjoys her own culture while

at the same time living in one of the biggest cities in the US. This can indicate the message that

people around our nation from other cultures can happily experience two different worlds.

Another example of this is when she discusses her own academic education. She exemplifies

“You can tell that I have been very well educated” (Sotomayor 58). Here, this can engage the

audience from learning her own background and what she has experienced educationally. By
Morgan Valeri

Ms. Michko

AP Language & Composition

giving the audience a chance to tap into her own life as a Latina, this can present the realization

that outside cultures can all connect even if it is in different ways or traditions.

In addition to her personal anecdotes, Sotomayor has the ability to share the similarities

and differences between the common assumptions society has on specific cultures. As proof, she

announces “I only learned about tacos in college from my Mexican-American roommate”

(Sotomayor 46). This can further prove these common stereotypes, and can help many

understand that all Latinos certainly do not all share the same food or traditions. As well, she

introduces the idea that people tend to carry the misconception that all Latinos speak Spanish.

Developing this, she states “But my brother, only three years younger, like too many of us

educated here, barely speaks it” (Sotomayor 50). By reflecting upon the many stereotypes

Americans have on Latinos, this will most definitely open the eyes of many to come to the

realization that all cultures are different in their own individual ways. By combining her own

experiences with the misconceptions, this can enhance her listener’s beliefs that there isn’t just

one certain piece that can make up one’s true identity.

Another major piece Sotomayor incorporates in her speech is switching between personal

pronouns. For example, switching between pronouns such as I, me, you, and we can blend

together hopes for her audience to feel connected and just as included in her statement. As she

explains “For those of you on the West Coast” (Sotomayor 2), this can capture her audience's

attention immediately. She also wraps up with the concept “We are a nation that takes pride in

our ethnic diversity” (Sotomayor 69). By incorporating these personal pronouns to her speech,

this can instantly increase the audience’s awareness and attention towards what she is

conceptualizing. If she did not input any of these, her listeners most likely wouldn’t feel as
Morgan Valeri

Ms. Michko

AP Language & Composition

involved or would take her speechless seriously. But, when it comes from her own personal

experience at the same time as including her audience, this is what captures the audience’s full

focus.

By developing personal anecdotes, sharing the similarities and differences, and

incorporating personal pronouns, these can symbolize the fact that our nation needs to recognize

the values and true identities of other cultures around our union. By including her own personal

experience, this will engage her audience into learning and being more vulnerable with other

cultures that one may be less educated about. She presents these tactics in a way to compel her

belief that no one is truly “one” identity, and that our nation needs to admire its diversity

instantly.