A Rhetorical Analysis Of Altered State By Andrea Lee

1423 Words3 Pages

Andrea Lee, in her article “Altered State,” does a great job at appealing to the audience through multiple examples and anecdotes, creating an enjoyable piece to read. However, the article is not fully successful in achieving its purpose because Lee’s conclusion does not include any discussion of how her audience could change their behaviors and address the underlying problem of discrimination and prejudice against people with different skin colors. The article’s purpose is to shine a light on darker-skinned people and how they experience racism, even in a world or place where racism “no longer exists.” The audience is the general population, but it can also be specific to people who are interested in the social issues shown in the article …show more content…

There is always a distant murmur telling us that this fat life is not our birthright; always the possibility of running into the bad Catholic kids who throw bottles and shout ‘nigger’ from passing cars.” Lee begins with a nostalgic childhood activity of riding bikes to evoke a more specific memory of identity crisis and racism as a child. I think anyone can be part of her audience, including me, but more specifically people who are interested in learning about social issues and racial prejudice. Andrea Lee successfully articulates the purpose of this article, which is to expose the readers to black people in specific social and cultural settings and the persistence of racial prejudice even in progressive areas. I would describe the style of the article as a narrative that is personal and imaginative, using personal anecdotes and specific descriptions to keep the readers engaged. The tone of the article is empathetic and reflective. Lee states in the article, “Later, I’m one of the first blacks to attend a rich girls’ school in a Main Line suburb. Here, as a teenager, I learn how to drug myself with

Open Document