TOW #1 - Sotomayor Racist?

In Sotomayor Racist?,  Abby L. Ferber explains the viewpoint that white conservative men have on racism, and why they have this opinion.   Abby L. Ferber is the author of White Man Falling: Race, Gender and White Supremacy and a Professor of Sociology and Women’s Studies at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.  In Sotomayor Racist?, speaking to the liberal community, Ferber’s purpose is to try to convince her side that changes need to be made about current conservative racial views. Throughout the text the author uses significant rhetorical devices such as analogies and hypophora to help support her argument.  In the very beginning of this piece, Ferber begins to ask questions saying, “Is it because the poverty rate for Black and Hispanic children is triple that of white children?” (Ferber).  Ferber quickly responds with a simple ‘No’.  The use of hypophora helps Ferber explain how senseless conservative viewpoints actually are, which backs up her purpose of wanting to make changes.  Another rhetorical device that appeared were analogies.  Ferber begins to explain an analogy of this current issue and writes, “There is an educational activity I have participated in, sometimes called the “Race for the American Dream.” Participants start out standing along a horizontal line in the middle of the room, all facing the front. We are then asked to take a step forward or backwards after each item in a series of prompts is read.” (Ferber).  She continues to explain how the white men end up at the front of the room, the white women end up in the middle, and the people of color end up in the back.  This direct analogy helps explain how everyone has a different perspective within society.  Many white males can have a narrowed vision of what is in front of them, which goes to show why their viewpoint is so unguided.  Through the use of these rhetorical devices, I believe that Abby L. Ferber proves that changes must be made.  By reading this, I gained a better knowledge of racism and it really helped me form my own opinion  as well.