James Baldwin successfully demonstrates the existence of racial discrimination in the argument by sharing personal anecdotes. Baldwin starts his case by addressing the critics of racial prejudice and then refutes them with anecdotes from his own shared and lived experiences. This pattern works well since Baldwin was speaking to a group of skeptics, thus it was only fitting that he assess his audience, comprehend their viewpoints, and then challenge their beliefs by sharing a personal story. 

Regarding Buckley, he takes a different tack. He begins by criticizing Baldwin’s strategy before outlining what he thinks African Americans need to be doing in the United States in place of pursuing “radical solutions.” As before, Buckley’s consideration for the viewer is the driving force behind this arrangement. In order to make his own argument appear stronger in contrast, Buckley seeks to dispel favorable opinions of Baldwin’s position. Buckley is limited in his ability to discuss the Black experience in America, hence he is unable to offer personal tales. However, he can portray Baldwin as ungrateful, and there are better ways to enhance his experience than criticizing the US.

James Baldwin 

Logos:  James Baldwin discusses the American dream using ethos. He inspires individuals with the idea that African Americans and White Americans are on an equal footing by utilizing the American ideal. The African Americans do not anymore have to sacrifice for the dream. He has observed that Americans appear to be more concerned with the American dream than with the African. “ From a very literal point of view, the harbors and the ports and the railroads of the country- the economy, especially in the south- could not conceivably be what they are if it had not been ( and this is still so) for cheap labor. 

Pathos: In his argument, Baldwin utilizes pathos in the following sentence: “I  am speaking very seriously, and this is not an overstatement: I picked cotton, I carried it to the market, I built the railroads under someone else’s whip for nothing. For nothing”  Baldwin stressed the distinctions between African Americans and White Americans throughout his address. His contention revolved around competing “systems of reality.” Put another way, a person’s ideas were unique to their upbringing, nationality, and sense of cultural identity.

Ethos:  Baldwin utilizes ethos in the following statement, “ I am speaking very seriously, and this is not an overstatement: I picked cotton, I carried it to the market, I built the railroads under someone else’s whip for nothing.” In these lines, Baldwin also  manages to enhance his credibility by capitalizing on his identity as a black individual. 

William Buckley 

Logos:  Buckley uses logos in the lines , “We had the 15th Amendment nearly 100 years ago. If it was not honored then, I have no reason to believe that the civil rights bill will be honored now” and “It is the case that seven-tenths of the average white’s income in the United States is equal to the entire income of the average Negro. But my great-grandparents worked hard.” In response to Baldwin’s remark that the black experience is rife with injustice and mistreatment, Buckley attempts to reason with the audience by demonstrating how Baldwin’s lack of effort to improve his own life is what ultimately led to his downfall. Buckley employs logos to undermine Baldwin’s arguments.

Pathos: “We must acknowledge that problem, but we must also reach out to the Negro people and tell them that their best chances are in a mobile society and the most mobile city in the world today is the United States,” says Buckley, using pathos in the passage. Buckley skillfully evoked feelings of togetherness and motivation among the audience by purposefully using the phrase “We” repeatedly. In essence, Buckley seems to be arguing that “we” as a community must enlighten Black people.

Ethos: In the line “I am treating you as a fellow American, as a man whose indictments of our civilization are unjustified,” Buckley used ethos. Using his American identity to his advantage, Buckley attempts to establish his credibility in these lines. Although Buckley is unable to discuss the experiences of Black people, he attempts to minimize Baldwin’s identification by highlighting their shared American identity.