Labor union organizer and civil rights leader, Cesar Chavez, published an article in the magazine of a religious organization to argue that it is more valuable to take the time to achieve justice rather than using violence, also known as nonviolent resistance. Chavez develops his argument through allusions, and imagery while creating a strong emotional appeal towards his audience. He adopts a defiant tone in order to gain awareness among his readers. Chavez first opens his argument by reflecting back on Dr. Martin Luther Kings Jr.’s life in order to commemorate his death and to also open his stance on nonviolence through Dr.King. He states, “Dr.King’s entire life was an example of power that nonviolence brings to bear in the real world.” Chavez also links a relationship between him and his religious audience by mentioning “that human life is a very special possession given by God.” Appealing to the audience through respectful leaders and religious references, Chavez briefly starts to develop his argument on nonviolence. He uses the appeal to shift into his argument “that nonviolence is more powerful than violence” in the next paragraph. Chavez backs up this idea by providing the effects of violence which can cause …show more content…
Chavez closes his argument by foreshadowing the future of the union because, for them, there is nowhere else to go. He saves the hopes of his union as he reminds his audience that “time is our ally.” The signification of time develops his argument that justice will come with value without violence, but with time. Chavez’s tenacity conveys a powerful tone that represents the importance of their union and
Mexican immigration has been a controversy in the United States before 1980. According to Jie Zong and Jeanne Batalova, Mexican immigration can be divided in three waves: the first one, before World War two, the second one started with the Bracero program, and the last one after it. Nevertheless, Mexican immigration can be seen as something threat or as the opposite, a benefit to the country and it all depends on which side you want to be. The American, Cesar Chavez who was a farm worker, also creator/leader of the United Farm Workers Union, influenced ad contributed to United States history by using Mexican’s “dignity” and nonviolent strategies to showed Americans that Mexicans could accomplished hard work and being successful for the country. Mexican’s deal with discrimination since 1962, schools, minorities, and farmers were the main target, this guide Chavez to create the National Farm Workers Association, now the United Farm Workers Union.
Chavez also makes full use of the morals of his readers when convincing them to gift him their support. Published in a religious magazine, Chavez’s article appeals to readers’ sense of religious duty by invoking god. By advocating that God has mandated that life is not something that can be taken away he sways many of the deeply religious to his side. He also appeals to readers’ sense of humanity and virtue, portraying nonviolence as something for those who don’t want to exploit the weak or poor and for those who truely care about people. His audience’s morality will not let them be a part of a “vicious type of oppression” or have victory come at the “expense of injury … and death” or even “lose regard for human beings.”
In line 62 Chavez also provides a reference to Gandhi who was well known for his idea of nonviolence and promoting it. Next, Cesar Chavez uses logos as a rhetorical device
Then, through the repetition of “we”, Chavez relates to the audience in an ‘us versus them’ form. Chavez places himself with the farm workers which would make them more agreeable to his advocacy for patience, and it also does not make it seem as Chavez telling the farm workers what they should do, but what both him and the farm workers should. This makes Cesar Chavez seem as having the farm worker’s interests in mind and that he is advising them. Moreover, Chavez, makes the nonviolence movement seem more appealing through hypotheticals about the effects of nonviolence like “… attract people’s support” and “… free men and women … prefer democratic change”. In a way, Chavez is leading farm workers to believe that if they can persevere with nonviolence, they will obtain the support of the people.
Chavez states, “Who gets killed in the case of violent revolution? The poor, the workers. The people of the land are the ones who give their bodies and don’t really gain that much for it.” This emphasizes the fact that violence is an ineffectual effort that merely distributes what they are attempting to demolish. These protesters crave equality, they crave the freedom of the people who weren’t born black, they crave fair treatment, they crave the day where they won’t be degraded solely because of the color of their skin.
Cesar Chavez, a civil rights leader and labor union organizer, published an article on the tenth anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, addressing the sufficent use of non-violence opposed to violent actions. Cesar writes in a persuasive tone to appeal to logos and the use of allusion to inspire the American people to utilize nonviolent actions on setting conflicts as an alternative to their go to violent encounters. Cesar’s use of allusion throughout his article e.g publishing on Martin Luther King’s tenth anniversary and mentioning Martin Luther, a widely known activist for nonviolence, brings the audience something familiar that they have either lived through to see this historical figure in action or have heard about and may have admired to further support his reasons on why nonviolent is the stronger way. In paragraph one, Caesar mentions MLK and states that his life was an example of power that nonviolence brings to bear in the real world.
The 60's was the height of the Civil Rights Movement in America, and Dr. Martin Luther King was one of the most prominent leaders of the movement. The philosophy of fighting back against oppression through nonviolent protest, something that was soon adapted by many different activists for different causes at this time once it began to be proved effective. Cesar Chavez writes this article in remembrance of Dr. King, as well as to gain the support of many Christians to his protest of the treatment of many Mexicans migrants in America. In his article Cesar Chavez uses rhetorical devices such as compare and contrast, ethos, and references to pursue his religious audience that nonviolent protest will help get the best outcome as oppose to violence. Chavez uses contrast to convince his audience that supporting his cause is the right thing to do by stating the outcome of nonviolence as opposed to violence many times throughout the article.
For example, When Michael Brown was killed there was a several marches around the country they all got national attention. In Martin Luther King’s speech he argues that people should stick to using non-violence instead of using violence to solving your problems: “So in the days ahead let us not sink into the quicksands of violence; rather let us stand on the high ground of love and non-injury.” The idea that we should use non-violence instead of using violence is better because if you start to use violence people are going to say they want change but they are harming our city 's, we cannot advocate violence because we want change to happen and we don 't want more people getting hurt. Indeed we should use non-violence because we will get national attention. Ultimately non-violence protests are better than violent protests because if we want to change something from happening we have to be civilized americans and not make things
The plea for nonviolence echoed from various civil rights leaders during the 1960’s. The most memorable however was Dr.Martin Luther King, he inspired generations to follow the path of not expressing your aggression. Although when he was assassinated, many followers desired revenge against the massacre. Cesar Chavez disagreed with the violent outcries and argued that his fellow oppressed members of society should follow MLK’s belief by remaining nonviolent. Chavez begins by introducing MLK’s principle of nonviolence and then he brings up the other decision of violence.
He states that if violence is used an even larger amount of violence and deaths will result, "violence will be escalated and there will be many injuries and perhaps death on both side, or there will be a total demoralization of the workers. " Chavez also explains the possible cause and effect of using non-violent methods. He explains how if every act of violence is responded to with non-violence, a large amount of support to his cause of Chicano labor rights will be attracted. The oppressed people of the United States "still yearn for justice. It is to that yearning that we appeal" will be motivated by witnessing the determination and the strength to use peaceful strategies to fight for the rights that should have been granted from the
(Chavez 1) His nonviolent approach to difficulties still have a huge aftermath in our world and change it for the better. The author really emphasizes the trueness of King’s character and his example to our struggling lives to make a better world. Additionally, Chavez uses emotion to change the readers view to the capability nonviolence has. For example, “We are convinced that when people are faced with a direct
The two allusions to historical figures develop Chavez’s argument as they remind him and the audience of how large of an impact nonviolence had on the world in the past and how it could be applied to the
“The greater the oppression, the more leverage nonviolence holds. Violence does not work in the long run and if it is temporarily successful, it replaces one violent form of power with another just as violent.” -Cesar Chavez “He Showed Us the Way” (Lines 73-77). Chavez employs ethos and logos to help solidify his point, which ultimately helps him forge a convincing argument.
Cesar Chavez was a profoundly excellent leader that changed the lives of thousands of immigrant labor workers. Labor Unions have been a fundamental part of the lives of labor workers all throughout history and in these groups the marginalized people experienced exploitation and discrimination. The businesses increased their profits by over working and not providing basic labor rights to the workers such as hygiene. Chavez empathized with the workers since he experienced the hardships of being overworked and not being paid fairly. For this he stayed committed to society and took many actions against the injustices.
Throughout history there have been people who have shown violent or nonviolent resistance to express their opinions or feelings towards controversial topics. It has become a big issue and topic due to the consequences that violent approaches may bring to people, including the loss of lives. Cesar Chavez uses logos, pathos, and backing to show the audience that a nonviolent approach is the safer and smarter way to participate in a cause. First of all, Chavez uses logos when he states the effects and the possible outcomes of violent approaches. Chavez explains that violent resistance would bring injuries, deaths, or may result in demoralizing the people.