How Does James Baldwin Use Of Informal Language

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James Baldwin creates a casual relationship with the audience in the opening two paragraphs. The informal tone builds a relaxed feeling between the author and reader. In his introduction, Baldwin claims himself as a “commuter” than an “expatriate”. Meaning he travels around the world instead of remaining in a different country. He introduces himself as someone who surrounded himself with knowledge about the subject. In the first sentence, Baldwin uses the word “we”, indicating that he is engaging with the people that are present. This allows the audience to become closer, feel comfortable, and think on the same level. As the paragraph continues, he states his viewpoints on education to a group of teachers, specifically African Americans. Baldwin …show more content…

His lines are, “I still remember the first sight of New York”. This adds authorization that Baldwin is a reliable source and allows the audience to know where his point of view comes from. Baldwin isn’t just some regular guy who read articles about this matter, he has personally been through these situations. He continues his experience by stating “it’s very hard to relate yourself to this”, meaning the audience would know what it was like if they were in his shoes. It’s also important to remember that Baldwin is sharing his story with African Americans who could relate to his …show more content…

Baldwin includes this term to show how the world labeled black people. Non-blacks were going around using this slur to innocent black people for no reason. It is a word that engraves a horrid mark on an African American. Being called a racial slur constantly is not a pleasant feeling, especially when it’s unnecessary. If a less provocative term was used, “negro”, it would not be as effective and meaningful. The term “negro”, is a less offensive word towards black people. It would not remind African Americans of the horrific times they were called

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