Unit 2: Black Lives Matter
Trey Nicholas
Dr. Gill
ENG 2105
3 November 2020
Unit 2: Assignment 2
Trey Nicholas/Research Question: Is America a Post-Racial Society?
“The best writing is rewriting:” Best Rewrite 6 Draft(s); 4 Tutorial(s) (Peer Mentor Robert, WC Tyler Walker, WC Michelle Allende); 1 Teacher conference(s)
(Provocative Title) Ending the Post-Racial Myth in America
(Hook) Alarmed by violent racial protests in United States (US) society, Justin Nix, associate of University Nebraska Omaha and author of “On the Challenges Associated with the Study of Police Use of Deadly Force in the United States: A Response to Schwartz & Jahn,” argues, “...evidence regarding framing effects… of the term ‘police violence’ has the potential to mislead readers who believe that police use of deadly force is rampant and usually unjustified…” (3). (Bridge) Nix eschews mayhem and anarchy in US society apparently due to unjustified murders of Black lives deeming it aggrandized and impulsive. (Divided Stasis/Thesis Sentence) (Opponent's Claim Informed by Three Scholarly Sources) Although proponents claim Black Lives Matter (BLM) combats against the racial inequality and injustice in US Society, (Rhetor’s Main Claim Informed by Nine Scholarly Sources) the BLM campaign is an unnecessary response to US society’s apparent racism because (Reason/Support 1) the majority of police interactions disavow racial motives, (Reason/Support 2) the majority of US citizens and corporations empathize with Black lives lost, and (Reason/Support 3) the majority of BLM protests—co-opted by domestic terrorist groups—advocate violence, not peace, in US society.
(Narration) On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a Black American father, was killed in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota, sparking the great chain of protest urging justice and reformation of the police system in US society. Douglas Belkin, associate of Wall Street Journal, is alarmed by the violent BLM protests co-opted by domestic terrorist groups, claiming, “the protests are [overreaching]... [a]t some events, protestors carried guns” (1). BLM protests exponentially descended into savagery with “Seattle protesters [hurling] rocks and explosives at police officers” and Portland, Oregon protesters “[gathering] outside the U.S. Courthouse… [throwing] rocks and fireworks before breaking through a section of reinforced fence surrounding the building” (Belkin 1). To this date, US society continues displaying violence when advocating for racial justice and equality. Opponents of the BLM protests believe the unending public mayhem in response to racial justice is ineffective, and rather damaging, in achieving racial equality in US society. Opponents also believe the police officers’ exertion of force during the widespread protests in US society are justified. As Nix contends, “we must consider the framing of police violence before assuming their acts are unjust” (2). Contrastively, Proponents of the BLM protests believe voicing their concerns through anarchy is necessary in converting the case of George Floyd and other fallen Black victims from a moment in time to a next-generation civil rights movement. What critical proponents do not understand is the violent protests facilitated by domestic terrorists are inadvertently harming US citizens, including many US citizens and corporations who are genuinely expressing empathy for the fallen Black victims.
(Confirmation) With many US citizens violently protesting in response to racial inequality, protesters contradict the intention of law-abiding officers and diminish the support of law-abiding advocates for racial equality in US society. In the George Floyd protest’s infancy, Doyle Greene, an independent scholar and author of “Welcome to Minneapolis (or, Then Came the Last Days of May),” claims, “...it was glaringly apparent that the problem was law enforcement and the solution was protest. By May 30 the situation was categorically reversed: protest was the problem and law enforcement was the solution” (1). We need to end the violent protests to eliminate the unwavering disparity among US citizens and, with empathy, listen to all US citizens affected by the damaging racial injustice. Just as Nix understood “police violence” being continuously misconceived, the path to a stable US society requires US citizens to trust the intuition of police officers protecting them and accept the help granted by non-minority US citizens.
(Concession/Refutation) It is, indeed, true that many US citizens claim BLM’s current presence rebalances order for unjust Black lives lost in US society. (Scholarly Source 1) A proponent of the BLM protests, Ibram X. Kendi, leading anti-racist scholar, argues that the flawed racial perception in US Society “[maintains] laws that form a racist criminal justice system that produces and defends racist cops who disproportionately kill innocent black people” (1). Dr. Kendi asserts US society’s static mentality prevents US citizens from epiphanizing the systemic racism surrounding them to promote equality for all demographics in US society. (Scholarly Source 2) Additionally, a proponent of the BLM protests, Cory Booker, US Senator, claims that the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act “...calls for change that will protect lives and address the practices that have killed Americans, create accountability and transparency in departments, and make sure that no one in our country is above the law” (20). Booker commends the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act because previous US laws targeting racial injustice resulted in marginal improvements, whereas this act would end the unaccountable violence and murder by police officers in US society. (Scholarly Source 3) Another proponent of the BLM protests, Wilfred C. Reilly, a political science professor at Kentucky State University, argues, “[t]o a remarkable degree, mainstream media and even America’s corporate brands have played a significant role in promoting the conventional police brutality narrative” (20). Reilly articulates when US citizens are systemically beaten and pitted against society, intense rebellion is required to reform the unjust system. (Conclusion) In sum, proponents of BLM suggest intense forms of protests are necessary in achieving racial equality in US society. (Rhetor’s Main Claim: Refutation 1) But, the BLM protests are essentially futile when advocating against police brutality in US society because the majority of police interactions are void of racial motives. (Toulmin Warrant) Denying police officers from performing their jobs will subsequently endanger US society as criminals will prosper and victims will perish. (Scholarly Source 1: Reason/Support 1) As aforementioned, staunch opponent of the BLM protests, Justin Nix, associate of University Nebraska Omaha, claims that opponents do not understand “labelling every police-involved death ‘fatal police violence’ assigns all responsibility to officers, as if none of the citizens involved contributed in any way to the violence” (2). Nix asserts many violent police interactions are deliberate because either the perpetrator was resisting, or the perpetrator was perceived as an imminently deadly threat. (Scholarly Source 2: Reason/Support 1) As aforementioned, another opponent of the BLM protests, Doyle Greene, an independent scholar, argues, “protesters must engage in a process of ‘discipline and education’” when protesting to avoid subjugation to police violence in US society (1). Doyle articulates when a specific ruling is set to pacify protesters such as a curfew, protesters must make the educated decision to follow said rule or the police will be justified in exerting force against US protesters. (Scholarly Source 3: Reason Support 1) Another opponent of the BLM protests, Jim Jordan, representative of Ohio’s 4th Congressional District, responds to the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, claiming the act will, “keep cops in the car and… [make] our communities less safe by preventing good law enforcement officers from being able to do their job” (19). Given the recalcitrant rioting, looting, and destruction of small businesses in US society from the protests, Jordan asserts most law enforcement officers are morally restrained and constantly put themselves in harm’s way to keep US society safe. (Conclusion) Clearly, police officers in US society have reasonable means when exerting force, and restricting police presence will only exponentiate US society’s vulnerability from perpetrators.
(Refutation 2: Rhetor’s Main Claim) The violence deriving from the BLM protests is unnecessary because many US citizens and corporations have peacefully expressed their empathy for the Black Lives lost. (Toulmin Warrant) With people of all ages, races, and backgrounds uniting to listen to Black voices prove US citizens have achieved a mutual respect for each other. (Scholarly Source 1: Reason/Support 2) An opponent of the violent BLM protests, Eric Solomon, founder of The Human OS, claims, “In response to the senseless police murder of George Floyd, along with many more, other companies are following similar templates to talk about how they ‘stand in solidarity,’ ‘stand up against racism,’ and ‘show support for the Black community’” (61). Solomon articulates capitalistic corporations in US society are empathizing with the Black community by reading their emotional cues and listening to their stories. Furthermore, Solomon asserts Walmart pledged to contribute $100 million to create a new center for racial equity. (Scholarly Source 2: Reason/Support 2) Another opponent of the violent BLM protests, Nicole Maurantonio, associate professor of rhetoric and communication studies at the University of Richmond, analyzes White Mayor of North Charleston, South Carolina, Keith Summey and White Police Chief, Eddie Driggers, exchanges with their Black community, claiming, “Driggers has made efforts to reach out to minorities with cookouts and community discussions. According to Ed Bryant, chapter president of the North Charleston NAACP, improved relations between the Black community and police since Driggers took his post could be observed (Otis et al., 2015)” (1). Maurantonio asserts rather than dismissing the Black community and fostering apathy, Mayor Summey and Chief Driggers cultivated caring, empathetic relationships with the Black community in North Charleston to promote equality and unity. (Scholarly Source 3: Reason/Support 2) Another opponent of the violent BLM Protests, Rebecca Zissou, associate of Junior Scholastic, claims, “[p]rotesters have demonstrated in every U.S. state—in big cities and small towns—and in dozens of countries worldwide. One estimate put the number of participants in the U.S. at up to 26 million, making the recent Black Lives Matter rallies the largest protest movement ever in American history” (9). Zissou explains US society has expressed more empathy than ever before in US history to support the Black community through their struggles. (Conclusion) Ultimately, the violence from the BLM protests are unnecessary because US citizens are already willing to help and stand up for the Black community.
(Refutation 3: Rhetor’s Main Claim) The majority of BLM protests—co-opted by domestic terrorist groups—are an unnecessary response to US society’s apparent racism because they advocate violence, not peace, in US society. (Toulmin Warrant) While many US citizens are protesting peacefully in support of the Black community, some US citizens are exploiting the BLM movement to fulfill their own agenda and degrade US society rather than promote its well-being. (Scholarly Source 1: Reason/Support 3) As aforementioned, an opponent of the violent BLM protests, Douglas Belkin, associate of Wall Street Journal, claims, “many marches grew in size and intensity… [hurling] rocks and explosives at police officers during violent confrontations” (1).With protests designed to be peaceful, US citizens who are attacking police officers and destroying properties are inadvertently stimulating regression in US society rather than stimulating growth. (Scholarly Source 2: Reason/Support 3) Another opponent of the violent BLM protests, Brent Renauld, associate of Nieman Reports, contends, “Black Lives Matter has the stigma of being a catalyst of violence… and it’s justified through the media’s representation of criminal activities that have occurred around these protests” (17). Renauld asserts that the media is violently ostracized from public protests with reporters like Tony Holt, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter, being attacked while documenting destruction of property by US protesters. US reporters are simply trying to hold everyone accountable for their violent acts to gauge an accurate response of the outcomes resulting from the BLM movement, yet reporters are cancelled from articulating their full story according to Renauld. (Scholarly Source 3: Reason/Support 3) In response to the defacing of Robert E. Lee Memorial in Charlottesville, Virginia, another opponent of the violent BLM protests, R. Cort Kirkwood, longtime contributor to The New American, claims, “[t]hough [Lee] [was] flawed as we all are, BLM lies in claiming that [he] [was] unworthy of admiration. On balance, the history shows [Lee] [was] not just good, but great... flaws notwithstanding, and it is that for which we honor [him]” (18). Kirkwood asserts US society displays controversial historical figures to understand morals from previous zeitgeists and to reflect how much US society has evolved from racial discrimination in the past. Additionally, Kirkwood articulates defacing Robert E. Lee Memorial is incongruous because Lee believed enslaving African Americans was a “moral and political evil” in US society (24). (Conclusion) Clearly, the violent protests deriving from the BLM movement is destabilizing US society rather than reinforcing it.
(Summation: Argue that your stance on the issue is best for US society) Ending the violent BLM protests is best for US Society because law enforcement officers are justified in their interactions with perpetrators, US citizens are empathetic for the Black community, and violent protests are dismantling US society rather than rebuilding it. Continuing the series of violent protests will disrupt the chain of empathy US citizens possess for each other, and will result in US society repeating history with racial issues. We now see the violence deriving from BLM protests is unjustified because US society has surpassed the milestone of viewing all equally. Progress is still yet to be made, but US society has reached the point where racial issues merely need to be fine-tuned. The demand for change will not be earned by advocating a meaningless hostile tantrum. US citizens must be patient and remain vigilant against the apparent racism and understand other US citizens are standing in solidarity with the Black Community.
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Works Cited
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Belkin, Douglas. “Violence Erupts Around Protests Across U.S. Weekend Clashes Occur as
Demonstrators Press Further Against Racism and Police Tactics.” ProQuest, Wall Street Journal, 27 July 2020,
https://www-proquest- com.proxy.library.cpp.edu/docview/2427106620?accountid=10357.
Booker, Cory. “The Pros and the Justice in Policing .” EBSCOhost, Congressional Digest, 1 Sept.
2020, https://web.a.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.cpp.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=5&sid=3d3f6f8f-65f0-44a0-a5fa-4213e9a34a7c%40sdc-v-sessmgr01.
Greene, Doyle. “Welcome to Minneapolis (or, Then Came the Last Days of May).” Film
Criticism, Editors' Contributions, 2020, https://quod.lib.umich.edu/f/fc/13761232.0044.408?view=text;rgn=main.
Jordan, Jim. “Should Congress Pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to Reform U.S.
Policing Practices and Increase Accountability?” EBSCOhost, Congressional Digest, 1 Sept. 2020,
https://web.a.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.cpp.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=9&sid=d39e1565-b7d2-49d1-8c9e-cb179c61bb1d%40sessionmgr4007.
Kendi, Ibram X. “Black Deaths, American Lies.” Gale in Context, The New York Times
Company, 25 June 2017, https://go-gale-com.proxy.library.cpp.edu/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=News.
Kirkwood, R. Cort. “Tearing Down Statues of Real Heroes.” EBSCOhost, The New American,
24 Aug. 2020,
Maurantonio, Nicole. “‘Reason to Hope?’: The White Savior Myth and Progress in ‘Post-Racial’
America.” ProQuest, Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, Dec. 2017,
https://www-proquest-com.proxy.library.cpp.edu/docview/1989133941?accountid=10357.
Nix, Justin. “On the Challenges Associated with the Study of Police Use of Deadly Force in the
United States: A Response to Schwartz & Jahn.” PLoS ONE, 28 July 2020,
Reilly, Wilfred C. “America Run Riot: The Narrative Around the Killing of George Floyd Is
Destructively False.” EBSCOhost, Commentary , 1 July 2020,
Renauld, Brent. “Tension Is High Trust Is Low: Coverage of Black Lives Matter Protests in
Little Rock .” EBSCOhost, Nieman Reports, 1 July 2020,
Solomon, Eric. “Stop Talking About Empathy and Start Acting on It.” EBSCOhost,
Entrepeneur.com, 1 Sept. 2020,
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Zissou, Rebecca. “Uniting for Black Lives.” EBSCOhost, Junior Scholastic, 7 Sept. 2020,
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Editing Log:
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Assignment: Aristotelian Classical Argumentative on Topic BLM: Is America a Post-Racial Society?
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Principle: Intro Reason/Support 3 feels vague (dev).
Original: “...the majority of Black Lives Matter protests—co-opted by domestic terrorist groups—result in racial divisiveness, not unity, in US society.”
Revision: “...the majority of Black Lives Matter protests—co-opted by domestic terrorist groups—advocate violence, not peace, in US society.”
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Principle: Opponents Main Claim in intro feels vague (dev).
Original: “Although proponents claim Black Lives Matter eradicates US society’s continuous racial tendencies,...”
Revision: “Although proponents claim Black Lives Matter combats against the racial inequality and injustice in US Society,...”
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Principle: Hook needs to be more concise (Wordy)
Original: “Alarmed by current violent racial protests in United States (US) society…”
Revision: “Alarmed by violent racial protests in United States (US) society…”
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Principle: Bridge is awkward and must not include semicolon (awk).
Original: “Nix suggests the mayhem and anarchy present in US society responding to the apparently unjustified murders of black lives is aggrandized and fueled by impulse; rather, US citizens must educate themselves and understand both sides when confronted with police violence.”
Revision: “Nix eschews mayhem and anarchy in US society apparently due to unjustified murders of black lives deeming it aggrandized and impulsive.”
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Principle: Reason/Support 1 of Intro can be condensed, and you diminish the strength of your verb (Wordy) (W)
Original: “the majority of all police violent acts are void of racial motives…”
Revision: “the majority of police interactions disavow racial motives…”
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Principle: In Narration, remove all “essentially.” It promotes a weaker claim and is unnecessary (Wordy)
Original: “...is alarmed by the violent protests, essentially claiming, ‘the protests are [overreaching]... [a]t some events, protestors carried guns’ (1).”
Revision: “...is alarmed by the violent protests, claiming, ‘the protests are [overreaching]... [a]t some events, protestors carried guns’ (1).”
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Principle: Remove comma in Concession/Refutation Scholarly Source 2 (P).
Original: “...Cory Booker, US Senator, claims, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act…”
Revision: “...Cory Booker, US Senator, claims that the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act…”
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Principle: Narration sentence “We need…” requires specifying “damage” as it is vague (dev).
Original: “We need to end the violent protests to eliminate the unwavering disparity among US citizens and, with empathy, listen to all US citizens affected by the damage.”
Revision: “We need to end the violent protests to eliminate the unwavering disparity among US citizens and, with empathy, listen to all US citizens affected by the damaging racial injustice.”
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Principle: Refutation 1 includes sentence that can be condensed (Wordy)
Original: “Nix asserts many violent police interactions are deliberate because either the perpetrator was resisting, or the perpetrator was perceived as an imminently deadly threat; thereby justifying the police’s exertion of force on US offenders.”
Revision: “Nix asserts many violent police interactions are deliberate because either the perpetrator was resisting, or the perpetrator was perceived as an imminently deadly threat.”
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Principle: Refutation 2 includes a long quote. Try to keep it to the point and concise (Wordy)
Original: “...claiming, ‘Driggers has made efforts to reach out to minorities with cookouts and community discussions. According to Ed Bryant, chapter president of the North Charleston NAACP, improved relations between the Black community and police since Driggers took his post could be observed (Otis et al., 2015). Summey, according to Councilwoman Dorothy ‘Dot’ Williams, ‘regularly shows up at black churches—at Royal Baptist, Charity Baptist and Mt. Moriah Baptist—because he prefers ‘the old-time, kick-down music’’” (1).
Revision: “...claiming, ‘Driggers has made efforts to reach out to minorities with cookouts and community discussions. According to Ed Bryant, chapter president of the North Charleston NAACP, improved relations between the Black community and police since Driggers took his post could be observed (Otis et al., 2015)’ (1).”
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Principle: Refutation 3 includes a long sentence. Keep it concise (Wordy).
Original: “With protests designed to be peaceful, US protesters who are attacking police officers and destroying properties are inadvertently stimulating imbalance in US society between all individuals rather than stimulating growth.”
Revision: “With protests designed to be peaceful, US protesters who are attacking police officers and destroying properties are inadvertently stimulating regression in US society rather than stimulating growth.”
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Principle: Summation final sentence needs to be either removed or elaborated on. Vague. (ref).
Original: “US citizens must be patient and remain vigilant.”
Revision: “US citizens must be patient and remain vigilant against the apparent racism and understand other US citizens are standing in solidarity with the Black Community.”
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Trey Nicholas
Dr. Gill-Mayberry
ENG 2105
27 October 2020
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“The best writing is rewriting:” Best Rewrite 3 Draft(s); 2 Tutorial(s) (Peer Mentor Robert; WC Tyler Walker); 0 Teacher conference(s)
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Prewriting:
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Step 1: Who is my audience?
My audience is those who claim Black Lives Matter (BLM) combats against the racial inequality and injustice in US Society, or are unsure what to believe about BLM’s influence. Those who share my perspective that the BLM campaign is an unnecessary response to US society’s apparent racism can also be my audience, but this paper is not designed to reinforce confirmation biases; rather it is designed to reinforce formerly held beliefs.
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Step 2: What is my purpose?
My purpose is to convince those who think differently that I am correct in believing the BLM campaign is an unnecessary response to US society’s apparent racism.
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Step 3: What is my premise?
My premise is BLM’s campaign in achieving racial justice is an unnecessary response to US society’s apparent racism for several reasons, including police’s non-discriminatory exertion of force, the shared racial empathy among US citizens and corporations, and the BLM protests co-opted by domestic terrorist groups advocating violence, not peace. First, the term, “police violence” is continuously misconceived by US citizens. Second, US citizens stand in solidarity and accept those of foreign demographics. Third, BLM protests are exploited by domestic terrorist groups, thereby diminishing the campaign’s impact in US society.
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Step 4: What is my chosen quotation?
My quotation is, “...evidence regarding framing effects… of the term ‘police violence’ has the potential to mislead readers who believe that police use of deadly force is rampant and usually unjustified…” (3).