About Baldwin
Baldwin refused to refer to himself as a "black writer" and instead referred to himself by this title
What is an American writer
Baldwin's writing style and rhetoric are influenced by experiences Baldwin had growing up. Like this one, in which he stepped into his father's shoes
What is preaching at his father's church
Throughout the reading, we see that Baldwin feels very strongly about African Americans differentiating themselves through what form
What is their own language; different from the language white people use to define black people
Baldwin became aware of hatred and its effects at a young age because of this family factor
What is his father's hatred of whites
Baldwin makes the comparison that french speakers of different dialects from different nations would be unable to communicate easily due to what factors
What is different realities to articulate
Baldwin argues that you can use language as this type of instrument. One that can either link or separate someone from a community
What is a political instrument
Baldwin's novel Giovanni's Room was different in that it focused not on racial subjects but these topics
What are the exploration of gender, romance, and sexuality
Baldwin implements the rhetoric of personal experiences by talking about how he has seen language used as an instrument of this. As a means by white people to silence and undermine the beliefs and ideas of African Americans
What is oppression
Baldwin argues the validity of Black English being a language by expanding on the origins of black English and giving examples of how African Americans had to use a unique dialect to communicate with one another without being understood by white people. He says that language comes into necessity through what means
What is brutal necessity. The need to communicate with others during hard times in a unique way