Alfred M. Green's Speech: Targeting Emotions and Ethics

In his speech, Alfred M. Green claims that African Americans should have the right to enlist and fight in wars. By appealing to ethos and pathos, Green convinces the reader that including African Americans in the war does not prove to be a disadvantage, but rather an advantage. Green’s audience is African Americans; he persuades his audience to enlist in the war by appealing to their ethics and emotions. One key point Green emphasizes is the reader’s sense of American pride. Green first mentions that famous American leaders such as Washington and Jackson have accomplished and overcome many crises; however they did not bring full recognition and pride to the citizens, and have made several mistakes themselves. Nonetheless, the author wants the reader to overlook the past, and focus on the future; thinking of the past does not provide for a prodigious future, therefore the reader must fight for one. When Green brings up the Dred Scott case, he makes the point that equality among all ethnicities and races has already been suggested and fought for; he wants the African Americans to embrace this new view on racial diversity and use it to their advantage. Green’s earnest and straightforward tone appeals to his reader’s ethics by persuading them that enlisting for war is neither erroneous nor offensive, but rather stupendous and magnificent. One aspect to a soldier is his sense of pride and dedication to the United States; as long as a soldier has them, he becomes superior and omnipotent when in battle. Soldiers who are physically weak can be trained, however the feeling of accomplishment must be found and elicited by the soldier himself. What race he is does not matter; as long as his dignity is strong, he will thrive and survive in war. This appeal to ethos and pathos encourages not just whites but also African Americans to join. In the last paragraph, Green mentions that African Americans especially have a strong sense of pride and dignity,