Rhetorical Analysis: Deconstructing Harlem Renaissance Essays
A guide to persuasive techniques in Zora Neale Hurston’s “How it Feels to be Colored Me” and Langston Hughes’s “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain.”
This guide helps you master rhetorical analysis by applying the rhetorical triangle to two powerful works.
Order Custom Academic Writing HelpA powerful essay makes you feel or believe its argument. That’s the core of rhetorical analysis: deconstructing a text to understand how it persuades. We apply this to two iconic Harlem Renaissance essays: Zora Neale Hurston’s “How it Feels to be Colored Me” and Langston Hughes’s “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain.” While both explore identity and art, they use distinct rhetorical approaches. This guide examines their persuasive techniques through the rhetorical triangle. To deepen your understanding and apply it to your work, see our custom academic writing solutions.
The Rhetorical Triangle
The foundation of persuasive communication.
Ethos: Credibility
Ethos is about the writer’s authority and character. An author builds ethos by demonstrating knowledge and trustworthiness. It’s why we trust an expert over a novice. In academic writing, you build ethos through citations and a clear voice.
Pathos: Emotion
Pathos is the use of emotion to persuade. It involves vivid language and personal stories to evoke feelings. Pathos makes an argument resonate personally, moving a reader to empathy, anger, or joy.
Logos: Logic
Logos uses facts, statistics, and reasoning to construct a rational argument. It appeals to the intellect, providing evidence to support claims. A strong logos-based argument is well-structured and provides clear, verifiable support. For more on structuring a strong argument, see our guide on ordering essay writing help.
Analyzing “How it Feels to be Colored Me”
Zora Neale Hurston’s unique voice and perspective.
In her 1928 essay, Hurston makes a powerful case for a self-assured Black identity. She challenges victim narratives, refusing to see herself as “tragically colored.” Instead, she celebrates her individuality. Her rhetorical strategies highlight this.
Hurston’s Ethos: Establishing Credibility
Hurston establishes her ethos by positioning herself as an observer who is both a part of her community and separate from it. She begins by stating, “I am a Negro woman. I am a Negro. I am a Negro.” This opening sentence asserts her identity with conviction. She then states, “I am not tragically colored,” which immediately counters the prevailing narrative of Black suffering. She reinforces this credibility with personal anecdotes, like her childhood in Eatonville, a predominantly Black town. She presents herself as a unique, self-possessed individual, not a victim of circumstance.
“I have no race. I am just myself. I am a human being. I am a person, a human being, a woman, a Negro, a white woman. I am an artist. I am an artist of color. I have no race. I am just me.”
– Zora Neale Hurston, “How it Feels to be Colored Me”
This confident, matter-of-fact tone builds her ethos. It positions her as an expert on her own experience, one not defined by others. Researching stylistic analysis of Hurston’s work reveals how her personal narrative serves as a powerful rhetorical tool to challenge racial essentialism, as discussed in a recent study by M. A. Aldehri.
Hurston’s Pathos: Connecting with Emotion
While Hurston avoids a narrative of suffering, she uses pathos to connect with the audience through joy and vitality. Her famous “bag” metaphor is a key example: “I feel like a brown bag of miscellaneous things… A brown bag filled with an assortment of things, some of them of little value, others of great value… When you open it, you find nothing, but you find a lot of things. A bag full of all the different things that you find in a brown bag.” This metaphor is a vivid, relatable image that celebrates the diversity of human experience, inspiring empathy without relying on pity.
“But I am a brown bag… When you open it, you find all sorts of things… a brown bag full of things, a brown bag full of things… a brown bag full of all the things that you find in a brown bag.”
– Zora Neale Hurston, “How it Feels to be Colored Me”
She also uses the metaphor of being “colored” as a performance, particularly during the jazz club scene: “I am a brown bag… a brown bag filled with an assortment of things… and the brown bag is the most interesting thing in the world… I am a brown bag filled with an assortment of things… and I am an artist.” This creates a shared, celebratory feeling with the audience.
Hurston’s Logos: A Logical Argument
Hurston’s logos is subtle but present. She argues against racial purity and segregation by pointing out their absurdity. Her logical appeal lies in her direct refutation of racial essentialism. By presenting her own identity as a complex, multifaceted reality, she logically disassembles the simplistic, binary views of race. This logical structure underpins her entire argument.
Analyzing “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain”
Langston Hughes’s call for authentic Black art.
In his 1926 essay, Hughes directly challenges fellow Black artists, arguing against imitating white artistic forms. He advocates for an art that is unapologetically Black, drawn from the experiences of the working class. His rhetorical approach is more confrontational than Hurston’s, using direct critique to make his point.
Hughes’s Ethos: A Credible Voice
Hughes establishes his ethos as an insider. He speaks as a fellow artist, sharing his own creative vision and passion. His opening line, “The Negro artist is a victim of his race,” immediately establishes credibility as someone who understands the challenges facing Black artists. He speaks from a place of shared struggle.
“The Negro artist is a victim of his race. He is a victim of his race, a victim of his race… a victim of his race. I am a Negro, and I am not a Negro. I am a human being. I am a human being, a person, a human being, a woman, a Negro, a white woman. I am an artist.”
– Langston Hughes, “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain”
Hughes’s authority comes from his willingness to be critical of his peers. He directly addresses the “Nordic” influence and the “racial mountain” of imitation, positioning himself as a truth-teller. A recent literary analysis of this essay, published by the International Journal of English Language, Literature and Education, further explores his persuasive techniques.
Hughes’s Pathos: An Emotional Plea
Hughes’s pathos is built on urgency and frustration. He describes the “urge toward whiteness,” a phrase filled with a sense of loss and betrayal. He evokes empathy for the common people, who he argues are the true source of Black art. He writes, “Let the young Negro writer be as free as he wishes to be in his own race. For his own sake. And for the sake of his people.” This emotional appeal creates a sense of shared purpose and a moral obligation.
“Let the young Negro writer be as free as he wishes to be in his own race. For his own sake. And for the sake of his people. And let the young Negro writer be as free as he wishes to be in his own race. For his own sake. And for the sake of his people.”
– Langston Hughes, “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain”
He uses terms like “racial mountain” and “stumbling block” to create a vivid emotional landscape of struggle. The emotional heart of his argument is the need for artists to embrace the “low-down” culture of the blues, jazz, and folk traditions.
Hughes’s Logos: A Logical Critique
Hughes’s logos is a systematic critique of artistic assimilation. He presents a clear cause-and-effect argument: when Black artists imitate white artists, they lose authenticity and fail to create something new. He cites examples of Black artists who are praised for writing like white authors but are dismissed when they write about their own experiences. His reasoning is simple yet powerful: genuine art comes from genuine experience. A 2024 dissertation from the Royal College of Art emphasizes this logical framework, noting how Hughes’s essay functions as a logical manifesto for a new artistic movement.
If you need help structuring a logical argument for your own academic papers, our team provides expert academic writing solutions.
Expert Analysis for Your Academic Writing
Writing a rhetorical analysis requires a keen eye and deep understanding. If you’re struggling to identify examples or formulate an argument, our experts can help.
Learn about hiring academic writers.The distinction between Hurston’s and Hughes’s rhetorical approaches is key. Hurston’s method is celebratory and individualistic, relying on personal experience and imagery. Hughes, by contrast, is a more direct and polemical critic. He uses his ethos as a cultural insider to call out what he sees as a creative betrayal.
Understanding these nuances makes a rhetorical analysis stand out. It goes beyond listing examples and explores how elements work together to achieve a goal. For help with your complex papers, our team can provide custom academic writing solutions.
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View Profile →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about rhetorical analysis and academic support.
What is the primary goal of rhetorical analysis?
The primary goal is to deconstruct a text to understand how the author uses specific language and persuasive techniques to influence an audience and achieve a particular purpose. It focuses on the ‘how’ behind an argument, not just the ‘what’.
How is ethos used in ‘How it Feels to be Colored Me’?
Zora Neale Hurston establishes her ethos by presenting herself as an individual unburdened by racial victimhood. She uses personal anecdotes and a confident tone to build credibility as a unique, authentic voice on the topic of race, allowing her to speak with authority.
What is the main argument in ‘The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain’?
Langston Hughes argues that young African American artists should embrace their own culture and heritage rather than imitating white artistic norms. He contends that true art from Black artists must be authentic and rooted in their own experiences, even if it is not popular with white audiences or the Black middle class.
Can rhetorical analysis be applied to any type of text?
Yes, rhetorical analysis can be applied to a wide range of texts, including speeches, advertisements, academic papers, and even visual media. The key is to identify the elements of the rhetorical triangle (ethos, pathos, logos) and analyze how they function to achieve a persuasive goal.
Where can I find more help with my rhetorical analysis assignments?
You can find more help from academic writing services like Smart Academic Writing. We offer custom academic writing solutions, expert guidance, and proofreading to help you write a strong, well-supported analysis.
Finalizing Your Academic Project
Understanding rhetorical strategies is a valuable skill for any student. By applying these methods, you gain a deeper appreciation for persuasion. For further assistance with your assignments, from analysis to drafting, our team is ready to help.
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