Analysis Of James Baldwin's Letter To His Nephew James

As an African American in the still very racist 60’s era, Harlem writer James Baldwin finds it imperative to write a letter to his nephew James, in which he forewarns and advice’s his still highly naïve nephew of the oppressive and ignorant America that he is destined to grow up in. While he cautions young James of the harsh and crude realities of the era, Baldwin prompts his nephew to not succumb to the stereotypes and expectancies of the white American man. Through the use of various rhetorical combinations Baldwin not only appeals to the emotional, logistical and credible senses of his audience, but by infusing Sturken’s concepts of memory and cultural products, he makes this historical piece of prose relevant to the 21st century by retelling …show more content…
For instance, by comparing young James understanding of the words “acceptance” and “integration” to a raging storm he paint a vivid picture not only in young James mind but also in the minds of those reading the letter. Furthermore by using the words like acceptance, integration, and impertinent it clearly shows that at this point of the letter the audience and the intention of the letter shifts to a more mature reader who has a better grasp of their meaning. Baldwin then uses pathos to insist to his nephew to accept white people for they have no other hope, ironically he even mentions that the people that are trapped are white and until they understand their history they will remain stuck. This passage is very important because Baldwin subliminally and unconsciously takes a stab at furthering integration and promoting peace, whereas he could have advices his nephew to be resentful towards white people for what they have done to their race but doesn’t, therefore reducing the tension in a sense between the races through the use of rhetorical …show more content…
He says” You know and I know that the country is celebrating one hundred years of freedom one hundred years too early. We cannot be free until they are free. God bless you, James, and Godspeed.”, after all the evidence and examples that Baldwin has given in his letter, it becomes very hard to dispute the credibility and truthfulness of the quote. In the quote he begins by saying “you know”, and I believe he does this to show that even his young nephew understands the very obvious fact that our society is not free and that the celebration has come too early. This quote really ties the letter to the present day because even today almost 60 years from the original publishing of this piece of prose, we still are not equal and discrimination