Maki Okubo
Professor
English 1050
September 23, 2013
Othering
Fat, short, skinny, tall. It is no secret that the human race comes in all shapes and
sizes. From our outer appearance it is easy to differentiate the differences that divide our
human race. We often see similarities and differences in the people around us. Our
differences often divide us as a whole, while our similarities bring us together as separate
entities. We see this frequently throughout our existence. From records though out the
bible to our own American history. This exertion can be referred to the term othering.
Othering is the way we view and threat those of other races and ethnicities; an
unavoidable predicament that we see in our history and the world around us today.We see
proof of this practice with our own eyes on a daily basis. We are also privileged to study
through the written works ranging from famous American icons, like Barrack Obama and
Frederick Douglass, to everyday citizens who are no different than you and me.
Our country was founded at time where slavery was an acceptable practice and
plays a large role in part of our history. Slavery is an extreme form of othering. At that
time, othering was a very strong and used in a negative way. Basically, suggesting that
certain minorities and ethnicities were not even considered to be of the human species.
Frederick Douglass, an African-American slave, wrote a speech titled, "What to a Slave
is the Fourth of July?" This speech really shows how he was exactly like you and me but
he was treated so differently because of the mere difference in skin color. He also
discusses how our founding fathers felt unjustly treated by their government, how they
were othered so they left and created a new one. They stood up for what they believed
was right and that was the foundation of our country. Douglass is trying to convey the
message of hypocricy due to othering. In hind sight, we have come a very far way from
this form othering.
It has taken many years and generations to lessen othering. African Americans
amongst other races and ethnicities have experienced othering by European Americans in
some way or another throughout history. The massacre and relocation of Native
Americans is a prime example. Asian Americans have also suffered from other ranging
from anti-Chinese legislation to the internment camps of Japanese Americans. The roots
of many of these people come from immigration opposed to slavery, but still forms of
othering were experienced.
Immigration has shaped this nations identity and plays a large role in why we
have so many different cultures in america and why it’s called "the melting pot." Mary
Gordan author of an article titled, "More Than Just a Shrine: Paying Homage to the Ghost
of Ellis Island." Her roots come from immigrants that traveled through Ellis Island, an
Island that had a processing center that accepted of rejected immigrants. She states, "I
suppose it is part of being an American to be engaged in a somewhat tiresome but always
self-absorbing process of national definition" (434). No matter where are roots are from
we are a part of this country thus we should be granted our rights.
Our culture is constantly changing and each generation has something new to
bring to the table. Slowly racial othering has become less and less, generation by
generation. An American author, Margaret Mead stated in an essay titled, "We are all
Third Generation," She describes to us how each generation has impacted each other.
"This odd blending of the future and the past, in which another man's great-grandfather
becomes the symbol of one's grandson's future, is an essential part of American Culture"
(100). We learn from the generations before us therefore having a large impact on our
future.
Practices of discrimination toward certain minority groups were protected by the
law. However, our culture accepts that most forms of racial othering is no longer
protected by the law. That it is indeed a working progress to rid othering all together. In
Obama's speech, "A More Perfect Union", he discusses that our past changes our future.
He states, "This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown
that it can always be perfected"(482). I agree with Obama's quote. We have implemented
and then removed many laws that practice othering, and have learned valuable lessons
from each one. Practice makes perfect and we still have a lot of room to grow.
Othering does still exist today however as racism continues to plauge our country.
Certain events can also trigger othering. A more recent example after 9/11, MuslimAmericans experienced extreme racism. Many people were deported forcing to leave
their jobs, homes, and family without even a single charge of terrorism, mostly for minor
immigration infractions. With our wars over seas, muslims still experience discrimination
to this day from racial profiling at airports to job discrimination.
We also continue to see hate crimes on a regular basis as a result of othering in
our present day. Hate crimes are a crime motivated by racial, sexual, or other prejudice,
typically one involving violence. For an example, a man by the name of Micheal Enright
from New York City was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly stabbing a
cab driver because he was muslim. This is considered a racial hate crime.
Within a society and country being made up of so many different cultures and
skin colors, othering is difficult to avoid. In our generation othering presents itself not
only in race and ethnicity now but other difference such as heterosexual vs homosexual.
Each generation faces a different forms or issues with othering.
We as a culture are making great progress to rid othering all together. We have
gone from practicing slavery to accepting a president thats ancestry may have come from
slaves. We have made an effort to continue to keep othering a practice of the past by
learning from the generations before us. We are delivering a message to the generations
ahead of us that we are all one kind. We are all animals of the human species. As a
culture, we are establishing that we are more similar then different. Fat, short, skinny, tall
is no different then white, black, yellow, red.
Works Cited
Buettner, Russ. "Man Sentenced to 9 1/2 Years in '10 Attack on Cabdriver." New York
Times, 25 June
2013. Web. 23 Sep. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/nyregion/mansentenced-to-9years-in-10-attack-on-cabdriver.html>
Douglass, Frederick. "What to a Slave is the Fourth of July?" 1852. Reading Culture, pp
460-475
Gordon, Mary. "More Than Just a Shrine: Paying Homage to the Ghost of Ellis Island."
Reading Culture,
pp 430-435.
Mead, Margaret. “We are All Third Generation.” Reading Culture, pp 94-101.
Obama, Barack “A More Perfect Union.” 2008. Reading Culture, pp 476-483.
Smith, Sharon. "Which Side Are You On?." Socialist Worker, 24 Sep. 2004. Web. 23
Sep 2013.
<http://socialistworker.org/2004-2/513/513_04_Scapegoating.shtml>.
Maki Okubo
Professor Bown
English 1050
September 23, 2013
Rhetorical Analysis
In 2008, during the presidential election Barak Obama delivered a speech titled,
"A More Perfect Union." It was delivered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to all of the
American people. It was a response to a sermon his pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright of
the Trinity United Church of Christ, gave that was considered to be offensive and
unpatriotic. Obama unravels his viewpoints in hopes that someday we can all see the
same picture. The use of rhetorical techniques and images are relatable to every citizen of
this country and are used throughout all parts of his speech. Obama's speech illustrates
how our past is our foundation, the present is the change, and our future is the answer.
The past, good or bad, is a part of us. In the speech Obama discusses how it is our
foundation and original image of a perfect union. Although slavery and injustice
contradict a perfect union we cannot disown or ignore that slavery was a part of this
country. Instead, we can continue to grow from our mistakes. Obama believes that the
main reason we are divided is because the past continues to lingers and our anger toward
it has not been let go. The story of his own past and upcoming is discussed, showing why
this country is unique unto any other. It also reveals to us how relatable he is to many
people in this country who have a unique mix of cultures that are a part of their identity.
He uses ethos as a way to connect to us, to show that he is no different than you and I. He
overcame the obstacles presented to him and becomes a credible example.
The present is in our control now. Obama uses logos throughout his whole
speech, but particularly this section where he instructs us on the course of action we can
take in present day America to overcome issues of the past for the greater good and
outcome of this country. One of his main logical appeals he presents is that there are
larger problems then our past to focus on, such as; better schools, health care, and jobs.
He portrays how racial wounds are a distraction from chasing our dreams of getting a
piece of the American pie. He also sets the logical ideal that we can change but the choice
and power is up to us.
Pathos is used to deliver a heart-felt connection at the end of Obama's speech. He
delivers the message of patriotism and unity as a country when he states, "This time we
want to talk about the men and women of every color and creed who serve together, and
fight together, and bleed together, under the same proud flag" (482). This evokes a sense
of patriotism and the desire to want unity. Again using pathos, he ends his speech with
a short story about how a young white women and an old black man find recognition that
they are more alike than different. That is the answer to how we can become a more
perfect union, the original image of our founding fathers.
In conclusion, Obama does a successful job relating to his audience. The speech,
at some point, is relatable to every American person making it seem as though he is
directly talking to you. The language and word choice he uses is simple and
understandable, and the sentence structure is straightforward. He uses all forms of
rhetorical stance throughout the whole speech. Therefore, creating a connection and a
feeling of unity to Obama, his speech, our founding fathers, and our beautiful country.
Works Cited
Obama, Barack “A More Perfect Union.” 2008. Reading Culture, pp 476-483