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Richard Rodriguez's Essay: An Open Letter To Black Parents

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Richard Rodriguez's Essay: An Open Letter To Black Parents
Ms. Nelson

English 100

21 August 13 Summary: An Open Letter to Black Parents In renowned sports figure, Arthur Ashe’s, “An Open Letter to Black Parents: Send Your Children to Libraries,” he talks about the fact that a college education is more important than the perks of becoming a professional athlete. While attending UCLA, Ashe came to the conclusion that African Americans were more caught up in the hype of one day becoming a professional athlete, rather than obtaining a lasting college education/diploma. Ashe believes that African Americans should “re-write” their persona into one of profoundness and professionalism. Arthur Ashe states that the role models of the African American society are primarily composed of athletes.
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In Richard Rodriguez’s “Complexion” he talks about the racism he experienced as a child. Rodriguez places a lot of emphasis on rhetorical devices throughout his essay. The rhetorical devices that Rodriguez primarily uses is, description and symbolism. Through using these two rhetorical devices, Rodriguez is able to relate to the reader in a more personal level, in my opinion. Through description, Rodriguez is able to elaborate on certain details. Through using symbolism, he expresses the emotions and feelings that he feels. Richard Rodriguez writes this essay in order to inform people of the racism that he has experienced. Since Rodriguez was the one experiencing the racism, his essay coincides nicely with the rhetorical devices that he chose. Rodriguez is of the Mexican culture and he recalls times when he was a kid where he was being discriminated. Rodriguez writes that as a young child he was insulted and name called for being of the Mexican culture. He writes how he would never retaliate with another insult back because he would be so embarrassed. The reason as to why Rodriguez was being discriminated was because of his

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