Goodman 1

Chayse Goodman

Professor Massie

ENGL-1301.IN1

15 June 2020

The Argument on Racism

Blacks must make it to survive in a white man’s world. The Talk: After Ferguson, A

Shaded Conversation About Race by Dana Canedy, puts out the argument that it might be safer

to be white than it is to be black. For years, the norm was that only white people have privilege

in this world, we have to embrace our rights and make it known that black people have the same

opportunity and receive the same amount of respect. The fact that one race is seen as superior to

others, that black boys wearing hoodies or sagging pants is seen as a threat, and that even the

justice system is not giving equal treatment, shows that racism still exists in the world. The

author uses imagery, logos, and personal experiences to demonstrate how being black is still

discriminated against and racially profiled against, even today.

The author uses imagery by describing the characteristics of her son, Jordan. Jordan was

born to African American parents, he was given the fair skin and his pale blue eyes(Canedy 1).

Yet, when the author is with her son, she is seen as the nanny because he looks white. This is an

example commonly known as colorism, where someone with lighter skin is seen as more

successful than someone with darker skin. It means that darker skin is seen as ugly and

unattractive but lighter skin means you automatically will make it in life. Colorism happens to

anyone, even kids. The author uses her son’s second-grade class as an example. Jordan was the

only kid whose picture was not hanging because the brown crayon he had used to color in his
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face was several shades darker than his real tone. The teacher wanted him to “lighten it up” to

reflect his complexion more accurately. Experiencing this moment, Jordan still says “why can’t I

just pretend to be white?”(Canedy 1). Skin tone bias only occurs among people of color, where

having darker skin means having a more negative cultural stereotype. The use of the rhetorical

device imagery is used to persuade the audience that this type of discrimination, colorism, still

goes on today and that it is being taught through kids as well.

The element logos is used to represent how African Americans are racially profiled in the

world. The names to remember are: Michael Brown, who was grabbed by the neck, threatened

and fatally shot; Eric Garner, who was put in a chokehold for not resisting and yelled “I can’t

breathe”; Breonna Taylor, fired at least eight times in the comfort of her own home; and, Tamir

Rice, who was playing with a toy gun at a playground and was gunned down. No matter if they

are grown men, women, or little boys, these are still African Americans who were fatally shot or

killed by police, white men, for existing. The author did not want to tell her son about these men,

to delay the moment he finds out they were racially profiled and killed. Canedy knew that the

moment her son needed to know about his race and his rights was the moment he was not seen as

cute anymore but only as a threat (Canedy 1). Logos is the most effective tool to persuade the

reader by informing them, with proof, that this is how African Americans are racially profiled.

Having to take accountability for someone else’s actions, when they are entirely wrong, sets the

problem. African Americans are born with the same rights as anyone else in this world, yet, they

are not respected. Having the feeling that their rights are being taken away because of race and

stereotypes makes it harder to live a normal and healthy life.

Personal experience is used to make a connection with the audience. The way Canedy

uses the moment she has to talk to her son about being black and proud represents what the
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problem about race is. Canedy describes how, after seeing police officers killing an unarmed

black man, she had to lay out some rules of her own. To address police officers as “sir” or

“ma’am.” Never make any sudden moves, even to reach for identification. Do not raise your

voice, resist, or run. Because at the end of the day, we are seen as a threat (Canedy 1). Like for

any other African-American parent, for Canedy having the talk, where “I needed to have with

my son” about how to survive in the presence of the police was horrifying (Canedy 1). Canedy

knew it was terrible to be taught at a young age to, at all times, keep one hand out the window

and one on the dashboard, because no matter if we have our rights memorized, someone will get

threatened enough to the point of being strangled or even killed. The moment she had with her

son, talking about what happens to African Americans in this world and how it could also

happen to him is heartbreaking. This feeling of heartbreak is what the audience is supposed to

feel to connect with the author’s life. Canedy’s son does not know the racial indignity of having

jobs and promotions denied. He does not understand the humiliation of being stopped, followed,

and frisked because to others, he looks suspicious and thief like. He has never heard the words “I

can’t breathe” (Canedy 1). No one wants their child to experience anything negative because of

their race. It is about being prepared because it could happen to them.

Overall, it may be said that things are changing. To confirm, but this world has a long way

to go. People have beliefs, but those people are not respectful of their views. Hearing statements

like “Go back where you came from,” “This is a white man’s world,” and “You are not wanted

here” shows how black people are still being discriminated against. The use of imagery, personal

experience, and logos gives the author a powerfully persuasive argument on how discrimination

and racial profiling needs to be put to a stop. The examples not only tell, but show precisely what

is happening. Ranging from public events to her own family, it has become a norm in life for
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Canedy and other black people to always be on your toes, because it is a need to survive. To

make sure coming back home to their own families in one piece and not with one scratch. Not

having any parent worry if their child will be dead because of their race. Inspiration and

motivation scream through her message to be a voice to those who do not have one. It will take

months, years, or even decades, but never stop fighting to make a change. The author brings

hope to persuade the audience that the world needs love and acceptance. Every person and body

in this life bleeds the same color, walks the same earth, and shares the same breath. The only

difference is religion. As people, we should be taught to love, not to hate. At the end of the day,

the truth will always be told, and justice will always be served. Everyone should feel safe no

matter where they go. No one is born with racism in their blood. Racism has always been taught.
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Works Cited

Canedy, Dana. “The Talk: After Ferguson, a Shaded Conversation About Race.” The New York

Times, 13 Dec. 2014, www.nytimes.com/2014/12/14/sunday-review/dana-canedy-the-talk-

after-ferguson-a-shaded-conversation-about-race.html.