Tim Wise - a Wise-Guy? - the Rhetoric Behind an Anti-Racial Argument

Tim Wise a Wise-Guy?

The Rhetoric behind an Anti-Racial Argument

Tim Wise utilizes many rhetorical strategies in his argumentative work, "It's Racism, Stupid; Bias, Not Affirmative Action, Stigmatizes People of Color." In his essay, Wise identifies the fault behind people's belief that affirmative action gives blacks and other people of color an unfair advantage in the workplace and in postsecondary education. Wise's rhetorical skill attempts to persuade the reader into understanding his thesis through effectively using the hallmarks of rhetoric; logos , ethos, pathos, and kairos. Wise, an educator and anti-racist writer, introduces his argument by suggesting that the debate over affirmative action is an "argument [that] gets made with such regularity that no matter how silly [it may appear after awhile], it nonetheless requires an answer [every time]. Indeed the more often it gets made, the more often it calls for rebuttal, since its repetition indicates someone just isn't getting it" (661).

Wise encourages the audience's involvement in his argument with his use of logos; the act of examining arguments with facts and reasons, or the line of reasoning behind an argument. An author can use either facts or opinions to convey their point, depending on which they perceive to be most effective in persuading their audience. In the case of Tim Wise, he presents his logos through facts as well as highly opinionated statements. For example, he states that "white men still get 93% of all government contract dollars, over 90% of top jobs and 85% of tenured professorships" to support his claim that the preferential treatment that affirmative action is said to bring does not make a dent in the high amount of white male domination in the workforce (661). His line of reasoning is reinforced through his use of facts to back up his assertions. He also uses the art of logic by expressing opinions; he makes inferences based on the facts that he does know and uses powerful language to reinforce the impact of his statements. For instance, when calling attention to the idea that some people believe black people would be better off had affirmative action never been implemented, he states that he finds it ridiculous that people are to believe that "less opportunity to demonstrate their abilities would have been better for [African American] self-esteem, while more opportunity thanks to affirmative action was harmful". He decides that "few people of color would trade the added opportunities they have received for the sake of their self-image" and that this fact "attests to how utterly asinine such an argument really is" (661). Because Wise breaks down his argument into logical pieces, his assertions become more easily digestible and the audience can become a part of the discussion.

Not even the most skilled of rhetoric masters could make an effective argument without pathos; the act of appealing to people emotionally. In Wise's essay, he appeals to the readers' deep set feelings by considering a novel called The Bell Curve that was published and "greeted merrily by the conservative right" (661). The book basically said that blacks were less intelligent than whites from a genetic standpoint and therefore were predisposed to becoming criminals, having children out of wedlock, and becoming pathological in social settings. Although Wise's commentary begs the question about what a book like this would do to the reputation of an African American, he asks it himself in order to help the reader visualize the problem. He states that "affirmative action creates self-doubt [and] implies that people of color are less capable and need special help to succeed" therefore a book like "The Bell Curve...doesn't imply that such persons are less capable, but rather screams it quite openly" (661). This concept, in both its subject matter and its syntax evokes an emotional response from the audience because it would seem ridiculous to suggest that people of color are inherently less likely to succeed. Because of how blatantly Wise deducts his suggestion, the audience, however shocked by his statement they may be, will take into account the outlandishness of the ideas expressed in The Bell Curve and therefore side more with his opinion. He also backs up his assertion that the book blatantly excludes blacks with facts including how "white consumers made it a best-seller within weeks" (661). Since he has already established that the ideas expressed in the work are beyond reasoning,