Critical Introduction

Hello, and welcome to our blog! We are undergraduate students at the University of Maryland studying rhetoric in our English 101S class. The College Park Scholars program is a diligent program that we are all involved in, and we all have been selected to be in. As students studying rhetoric, it was important that we chose a topic for our project on something that was prevalent in history, and still is today. We all gathered together because we have a collective interest in police brutality and the protests associated with it, especially the present day Black Lives Matter movement.

We decided to choose two photos as our pieces of rhetoric because we believe that it truly captures the moment and emotions expressed, which words cannot represent. Our first photo is from the 1960s, highlighting a protest after an incident of police brutality. The photo was taken during the Watts Riots where people were demonstrating their frustration with institutionalized racism in the criminal justice system. Our second text is of a woman participating in a protest spreading awareness of the Black Lives Matter Movement. This is after many instances where police have purposefully targeted African Americans. The photos from the 1960s Watts Riots and present day Black Lives Matter movement demonstrate different, but equally effective ways African Americans protest institutionalized racism.

This is relevant to readers because instances of police brutality can be seen very frequently in communities around the country. Once it happens, social media tends to spread it around the whole country as well, making it inevitable to see. This discussion is timely because we are currently amidst the Black Lives Matter movement, and police brutality is still a major social injustice in our society. We expect the readers to gain a better understanding of why protests are happening and how important it is to bring awareness to this issue. We hope that it will also inspire the reader to join in and voice their opinion against this injustice.

In terms of the methodology of the blog, we picked a more random approach. We do not believe that the order in which the rhetorical appeals are presented in made a difference in this situation. We did, however, talk about all the appeals for the picture from the 1960s first, and then the picture from present day after. We did this because we felt that it would make better sense to know all about the first picture in order to better compare it to the second. This helped prove our major argument because it gave the reader the ability to see the similarities and differences of the pictures when learning about one and then the other.

We believe that the work we have done deserves to be cared about because police brutality is a perfect example of institutionalized racism, which is wrong on many different levels. Our society should be a just one where everyone are treated as equals. Protesting and speaking out about this problem is a great way to be a catalyst to end this injustice. We need to all come together in order to bring about this change because many voices are better than one.

Stasis

When studying the message behind an image, stasis theory is an effective way to quickly break down the most important information into a simple argument. The main stasis used in our present day image of the woman at the black lives matter protest is cause and effect.  The many deaths of young black men at the hands of the police caused protests, riots, and widespread fear in African Americans across the country.  This woman had to question whether or not she would be the next victim of police violence.  In 2015, zero cops were convicted of murder, despite the hundreds of people who were killed by the police.  Black people across the country were calling for justice, and accountability for police officers.  The black lives matter movement has been one of the largest social justice movements since the civil rights movement in the 1960’s.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/police-shooting-convictions_us_5695968ce4b086bc1cd5d0da

Baltimore Riot Picture- Miscellaneous Post

This picture of the 2015 Baltimore City riots capture a group of young African American men destroying a police car.  The riot was a response to the death of Freddie Gray, a young black man from Baltimore who died while in police custody.  Although much has changed since the Watts riots of 1965, this picture clearly demonstrates that police brutality remains enough of an issue to illicit the same response 50 years later.  While our picture from the black lives matter protest from present day shows a much more peaceful response to police violence, the Baltimore riots show that violent protests and riots can still occur today.  In this picture, the fact that the object being destroyed is a police car sends a clear message.  Our image from the Watts riots simply showed two men stealing lamps among the chaos, whereas the destruction of the police car very obviously represents the purpose of the protests.  In this sense, the present day picture incorporates logos much more effectively, as the importance of the image can be seen without needing the full context.

Miscellaneous Post- Kendrick Lamar

The album “to pimp a butterfly” by Kendrick Lamar is one of a kind. A truly remarkable piece of art with one purpose, raise awareness to the injustices African American people face from the authorities in their everyday lives. Kendrick’s audience in this album is not only the young black man, but also the oppressors, authorities, and bystanders. To Pimp a Butterfly is full of ethos, including works from artists such as; Dr. Dre, Fly Lo with K Dot, Clinton, and Thundercat. These people are all big influences in the glory of everything Black Pop Culture and big advocators in the fight for racial equality, having features by them brings more relevance to the matters at stake. Furthermore an indepth discussion of Nelson Mandela and Tupac Shakir is included by Kendrick. These two men have made incredible feats for their people, and the tribute paid by Kendrick is absolutely prime in his album’s stand against institutionalized racism.

Police Brutality- Poem from the 1930s

The poem "Southern Cop" by Sterling Brown demonstrates the oppression African Americans face when dealing with police officers. While this is from an early time period, this poem shows that this has been a problem for decades, and still is. The poem is different in that it is told from the perspective of the police officer, rather than the victim or bystanders. It shows that police officer tend to believe any African American running has committed a crime, and in this case, and in most, that is false. Police bias against African Americans is clearly shown here, and how this leads to oppression. The audience of this poem is all of society in order to bring awareness to the problem of police oppression. Before this poem was written there had been many instances of police brutality, resulting in the author feeling the need to bring light to this injustice. The author of the text was an African American man and professor, adding to his ethos because he could relate to the victims of this oppression. This poem appeals to the reader's emotions because it allows the reader to imagine what it must be like to be an African American in this time period who is always subjected to oppression by police officers. It allows the reader to put themselves in their shoes to truly feel the victims emotions. Logos is also shown here because the author logically tells the story of the incident with Ty Kendricks and police officers, and he also uses poetic devices such as repetition to emphasize his message in the poem. The author also uses stasis in the poem by defining the problem and retelling the facts of the incident. Overall, Brown does a great job at trying to fix the injustice of police brutality in his rhetoric.

https://letterpile.com/poetry/Sterling-A-Browns-Southern-Cop-The-Irony-of-Anger

Logos - Present Day Police Brutality

The image from the BLM movement evokes understanding in the observer. The question "am I next?" causes the spectator to subconsciously respond. Their reaction will begin as a simple answer to this question, maybe along the lines of yes I can be next or if not me, then who will be next? These responses will then progress into a deeper thinking, possibly including acknowledgment of people that have been affected by racial brutality in the past. If someone gets any kind of connection or understanding from the image, then the on-looker can definitely relate to the movement on some level. The cognition that accompanies the text is what catalyzes its impact. If s person doesn't understand how important the captured moment is, logic is even more crucial because then they will feel the need to go out and do research on the movement. The more knowledge being spread on the Black Live Matter Movement, the more potential the movement will have.

Kairos- Present Day

The present day image of the woman protester at a black lives matter movement is clearly powerful, but to get the full value of the image, the entire context of the black lives matter movement must be considered.  In 2012, 17 year old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who is not initially charged with a crime.  The outcry for justice showed not just the severity of the incident, but the years of police violence and abuse against African Americans in the United States.  Following 2012, there were many more tragic deaths involving police and young black men, such as the killings of Michael Brown, and Freddie Gray.  Major protests formed in cities such as Baltimore and Ferguson, as people were not only calling for accountability, but protesting for their safety.  Many black people had to live with the fear of wondering whether or not they would be the next victim of police violence.

Stasis- Watts riots

The primary stasis in our image of the Watts riots of 1968 is cause and effect.  The recurring problem of police violence in black neighborhoods caused a response from a group of helpless people.  The effect was the worst riot in Los Angeles history, and the destruction of a neighborhood.  The two men in the picture, and everyone who contributed to the looting and violence were pushed to extreme measures after constant mistreatment.  This picture on its own might simply look like thieves stealing from a local shop.  But to get the true value out of the image, it is important to consider the full context, which is what caused these men to break the law.  Issues of police violence and police killings have caused people to turn to violence in several other cases, such as the Baltimore riots of 2015.  

Pathos- Present Day

In the image above an African American lady is depicted holding a sign reading "Am I next." This photograph resonates very loudly because there are so many people in the world thinking the same thing. This common mindset evokes a great deal of pathos to the audience of the photograph. In the background of the picture there is a sign reading "black lives matter." It is very important that this sign is in the background because it shows the overarching views of the majority juxtaposed with the personal views of the people in this majority. This brings about an even stronger sense of pathos giving the people a reason to agree, and a means of agreement. Another aspect contributing to the pathos of the photograph is the facial expression of the lady in the foreground. She makes the tone of the picture meaningful and deep, something that is very hard for most photographs to achieve, but something that creates pathos within a photograph like no other.

Audience for the Black Lives Matter Movement

The Black Lives Matter Movement aims to reach all people in the United States because the most important parts of a social movement are spreading the word and educating others on the issue. The most important thing is to KNOW what the BLM movement is about. In particular, the woman holding up the sign reading "Am I Next?" is directed towards police and so called 'vigilantes.' The spark of the Black Lives Matter Movement was George Zimmerman's acquittal for the murder of Trayvon Martin. Obviously the Black Lives Matter Movement also wants to get the majority of African-Americans' support, especially by making them feel like they can relate. Many African American people believe their life is in danger while simply walking down the street and the BLM movement recognizes that and takes advantage of it. Besides other African Americans, however, support from other races are important as well which is why the overall awareness is so important. Policy makers and people with power and money are crucial audience members so that the changes they want can be made.

Ethos- Police Brutality Present Day

This image is very powerful in the sense that it can appeal to a deeper emotion. It depicts an African American woman who is holding a sign reading "Am I next?," talking about police brutality. This picture was taken at a Black Lives Matter march where she is protesting police brutality against African Americans. This sign appeals to ethos because it strikes an emotion of empathy for this person. The reader feels this because they feel bad for the suffering she has to go through from wondering if she will be the next person who police officers will shoot or attack. The picture also allows the reader to step into her shoes, and try to imagine the emotions that are going through her mind as she marches. This can help the reader sympathize more with the woman because no one wants to be in that position. Ethos is very present in this photo because the reader can feel the emotions of this woman at the march, and they can sympathize for what she and others in her exact situation are going through.

Pathos- Image from the 1960s

In the two images, we see very clear emotional appeals which portray a powerful message to the viewers.  In the image from the Watts riots, we see men looting a store, without seeing the full context of the image, such as all the destruction surrounding the looting.  The viewer might have trouble feeling sorry for the two men, as even though the people of Watts were pushed to such extreme measures through repeated issues of police brutality, the image itself simply shows two men taking advantage of the situation.  The image from the present day creates a much more powerful emotional message.  Many people may not have any understanding of the fear helplessness felt by African Americans.  While seeing the instances of police violence happening might not be enough to persuade people that it remains a problem, seeing this image of an African American woman who has to question whether she will be the next victim makes the viewer immediately empathetic to the fear she faces.  The 1960's image requires a deeper look into the context of the struggle of the men when compared to the clear message of the present day woman. 

Logos- Police Brutality

Although the two images were taken around 50 years apart, those depicted in the photographs struggle with very similar issues.  Police brutality against African Americans was one of the most debated topics of the 1960's, and it remains extremely relevant today.  While many of the same deeply rooted issues of race are involved in both of these pictures, they also depict very different responses to those issues.  The Watts riots of 1965 were the worst riots in the history of Los Angeles, with 34 killed, around 1,000 injured, and incredible damage to the neighborhood.  The riots were a direct response to an instance of police brutality.  African Americans were used to being unjustly targeted, arrested, and beaten by the police, and the riots were a clearly a response from a group of people who felt helpless.  Today, many black people across the country feel a similar helplessness, as there is still a complete lack of accountability for police who unjustly harm black people. The first picture shows a violent, disorganized response to the issues of police violence and racism.  Among the chaos and destruction, two men take advantage of the situation and steal lamps from a local store.  Such destruction and theft may be wrong, but it is certainly understandable when coming from a group of people who have been pushed too far by being mistreated by white police officers who have all of the power.  The present day image comes from the black lives matter movement.  The movement is a peaceful, and more powerful response to the exact same issue.  A black woman holds up a sign saying "Am I next?" showing the world the fear which has been instilled in black people across the country in response to the many instances of police violence we have seen.  The images together show very different responses to the helplessness and fear which has been caused by police brutality and police shootings from the 1960's to the present day.

Ethos Expressed by The Watts Riots Image

The men pictured in the Watts Riots image are revolting and stealing, not because they are bad people, but because they are fed up with the treatment they receive from the police and are taking what they see as compensation. The issues leading up to the Watts Riots are extrinsic ethos and they are explained here. The final breaking point took place on August 11, 1965 when a police officer attempted to arrest an African-American man for drunk driving through the Watts neighborhood, the arrest escalated into a fight which further broke out into a riot. The riots continued for several days following. The images from the Watts Riots are genuine and credible because they tell the story. A picture can not lie. A photographer can not falsify and image, especially not in the 1960s. The representation does not hide the events of the Watts Riots, the story is told through pictures. Nothing is censored and if several images are shown together, they truly express how important the cameramen were at these riots.

Audience - Police Brutality in the 1960s

Acknowledging the rhetorical audience of the picture from the Watts riot is crucial to rhetorically understanding the picture. This picture is tailored to a specific audience which it engages with on multiple levels. The photograph is meaningful to all its viewers, but to its intended audience; African Americans around the world who feel underprivileged and restricted, the picture is a spark to a new mental state.  The riot pictured above was taken after an unlawful arrest of an African American man. Tension between both parties escalated and the arresting officers got aggressive, sparking a riot. The photograph shows a group African American people rebelling against the unfair authority in their path. It serves as a lighthouse to guide their families and friends onto a path of change. The intended rhetorical audience here was specifically targeted to sew a seed of rebellion and advancement into its people.