"A Talk With Teachers" Questions // James Baldwin

1. What relationship does James Baldwin establish with his audience in the opening two paragraphs? How does he establish his ethos?

Baldwin creates a parent-teacher connection by linking their duties to teach children. He establishes ethos by referencing historical events and developing connections between alike views.

2. What is the "crucial paradox which confronts us here" (para. 2)?

The paradox is that while teachers are supposed to aid in educating children, they are also expected to keep them from learning about the bad/evils of society.

3. Identify four appeals to pathos in paragraphs 3-5.

"On the one hand he is born in the shadow of the stars and stripes and he is assured it represents a nation which has never lost a war. (para. 3, Baldwin)".

"But on the other hand he is also assured by his country and his countrymen that he has never contributed anything to civilization — that his past is nothing more than a record of humiliations gladly endured. (para. 3, Baldwin)"

"But a black child, looking at the world around him, though he cannot know quite what to make of it, is aware that there is a reason why his mother works so hard, why his father is always on edge. (para. 4, Baldwin)".

" Now, where the boy lives — even if it is a housing project — is in an undesirable neighborhood. (para. 5, Baldwin)"

4. What is the effect of Baldwin's emphasizing his personal experience when he begins paragraph 6 with "I still remember my first sight of New York"?

Baldwin is further establishing ethos by using his personal experience (expertise) to connect with the situation, which also makes his speech more valuable to the audience.

5. Analyze Baldwin's use of pronouns in paragraphs 8 and 9. What is his purpose in alternating between first, second, and third person?

He looks to include all people into the topic. Himself, his audience, and the general public (as a society).

How would you describe Baldwin's perspective on history? What is the effect of using historical events to support his argument?

Baldwin feels that history (or what is taught in history classes) is incredibly white-washed, glamorized, and over-exaggerated. He uses his perspective to tell people that what they have been taught isn't the entire truth.

7. Why, in paragraph 11, does Baldwin use the n-word? What effect would have been lost — or gained — had he used a less provocative term?

That slur was coined by racists, and used by said group to express their superiority over black people. Baldwin uses this term to point out that fact while grabbing his audience's attention. If he hadn't used it he would lose the effect of hammering in his point.

8. What does Baldwin mean when he writes, "What passes for identity in America is a series of myths about one's heroic ancestors" (para. 15)?

He means that what the American school system teaches to students isn't as mythological and glorious as the books say it is. The type of history students are taught even to this day is the result of extensive lobbying on part of a certain group from the civil war to reduce damage to their image.

9. What is the effect of the short two-sentence paragraph 17?

Baldwin alludes to the bible to build more credibility with those who are religious in his audience.

10. Identify examples of parallelism and repetition in the final, long paragraph. Discuss how Baldwin uses these strategies to achieve his purpose.

"...I would try to teach them — I would try to make them know — that those streets, those houses, those dangers, those agonies by which they are surrounded, are criminal. I would try to make each child know that these things are the result of a criminal conspiracy to destroy him. I would teach him that if he intends to get to be a man, he must at once decide that he is stronger than this conspiracy and that he must never make his peace with it. (para. 19, Baldwin)

Throughout his speech Baldwin uses "I would" very often, and uses parallelism (like in the quote above) to convey his point that these are the things that should be acted upon.

11. Where in this speech does Baldwin appeal to logos?

Baldwin makes an appeal to logos when referencing the Third Reich, in which children were taught to be barbarians. As well as other historical occurrences.

12. How would you describe Baldwin's overall tone? Cite specific passages to support your description.

He has righteous anger and justified bitterness. Baldwin is also highly critical. Both things I feel he is entitled to be. "He pledges allegiance to that flag which guarantees "liberty and justice for all." He is part of a country in which anyone can become president, and so forth. But on the other hand he is also assured by his country and his countrymen that he has never contributed anything to civilization — that his past is nothing more than a record of humiliations gladly endured. (para. 3, Baldwin)".