As I read White Guys Send My Uncle to Prison, I was struck by the statement of how minorities often don't directly challenge their place of disadvantage, but can do "linguistic strategizing." This made me think about how the US has reacted to events on a rhetorical level.
The reaction to recent police violence in Ferguson, Chicago, and other cities was met with an interest public reaction. People across the US, who were not directly involved, began to engage in rhetoric about the issues that caused these cases of violence. I began to wonder why people who don't have a direct connection to an event take an interest in it. This goes back to the "linguistic strategizing." It is clear that publications across the US began to react to these events. Opinion pieces as well as direct coverage was across the internet, and news print. Even tech websites wrote about how social media was engaged in the issue. This showed me how society can react to an issue that may not directly affect them, but does affect the society they live in. Today, they can learn and bare witness to these events through the rhetorical efforts of social media, news, and even activists in their local area.
The reaction to recent police violence in Ferguson, Chicago, and other cities was met with an interest public reaction. People across the US, who were not directly involved, began to engage in rhetoric about the issues that caused these cases of violence. I began to wonder why people who don't have a direct connection to an event take an interest in it. This goes back to the "linguistic strategizing." It is clear that publications across the US began to react to these events. Opinion pieces as well as direct coverage was across the internet, and news print. Even tech websites wrote about how social media was engaged in the issue. This showed me how society can react to an issue that may not directly affect them, but does affect the society they live in. Today, they can learn and bare witness to these events through the rhetorical efforts of social media, news, and even activists in their local area.
Do you think the interest of the general public has been directed by the minorities? Or interest is taken because it's a shake up of power (rhetorical and otherwise) relevant to all of the US? It's interesting to think of the community-police meeting on a national scale. There would need to be a bridge (like the community writer) similar as in I Witness.
ReplyDeleteI like how you question why an un-involved writer (or whoever) would be interested in issues that don't directly affect them. This was one of the main questions that the article left me with. I wonder what role someone distanced from a social issue can play in creating social change. For instance, I'm really interested in the BLM movement even thought I am not affected by the issue.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think a distanced audience plays a really important role in creating social chance because their interest allows for the issue and its discourse to be taken into the public sphere. Without outside interest, social issues might not ever leave a counterpublic's domain.
By the way, Andrew, I responded to your latest comment on my blog--you brought up a great idea, and I'd like to continue the conversation sometime!
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