James Baldwin’s argument is that the American dream at the expense of the American Negro and William Buckley’s argument is the American dream is not at the expense of the American Negro. Baldwin’s argument followed a more personal and emotional narrative, emphasizing the lived experiences of African Americans and the got deep on racial inequalities. He spoke not only about other African Americans’ experiences, but he also spoke about his own experience as an African American. James Baldwin spoke in a narrative-driven structure, constructing empathy and understanding. When he was giving his speech, he was standing with his back straight and his tone was serious. He based his logic off of experience and his speech was very powerful. After Baldwin finished his argument, everyone stood up and clapped for him. On the other hand, Buckley’s argument was more formal and intellectual. His ideas were more about individual responsibility and the limit of government intervention. His logic centered on the principles of individualism. But different from Baldwin, when Buckley was giving his speech, he didn’t stand still and was moving around a lot. His posture was very casual, and he made a lot of different hand gestures as he spoke. He wasn’t as serious about it and his tone was more casual. But overall, both arguments were powerful and had logic, making it hard to choose between those two sides.
Ethos:
Baldwin often employed ethos by drawing on his personal experiences and identity as an African American. Meanwhile, Buckley utilized ethos by using his reputation as a conservative intellectual and editor of the National Review, enhancing the credibility of his arguments.
Pathos:
Pathos was a powerful tool for Baldwin, especially in his descriptions of the emotional toll of racism. He got a lot of the audience to have empathy for him and other African Americans. Buckley was less reliant on pathos, but he emphasize the importance of personal responsibility in his argument.
Logos:
Baldwin used statistics and historical context to support his claims about systemic racism. But, Buckley employed more logical reasoning to argue for individual responsibility and the limitations of government interference.