In this
essay, Apess makes an accurate portrait of the racism that the Native Americans
suffer, whilst using his talent has a preacher to persuade and make his
audience think of the unethical ways the Indians are being treated. Several
Bible passages are used to support his argument, and also can serve as an
introduction to the rhetorical questions made, for example: “The first thing we
are to look at, are his precepts, of which we will mention a few. "Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy
mind, and with all thy strength." The second is like unto it. "Thou
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” The Biblical text was introduced and then
the question was made: “Did you ever hear or read of Christ teaching his
disciples that they ought to despise one because his skin was different from
theirs? Jesus Christ being a Jew, and those of his Apostles certainly were not
whites” (p. 1870).
Apess also
uses irony through the whole text, as a resource to point out the ridicule of
the situation, and to show the hypocrisy that resides between those who are self-proclaimed
Christians, per example: “And if so, can there not be a compromise; is it right
to hold and promote prejudices? If not, why not put them all away? I mean here
amongst those who are civilized.” (p. 1868). The irony presented is related to
the fact that the missionaries are self-proclaimed Christians, but they have
still ill-treated Indians, and this is not “Christian” nor civilized behaviour.
This essay
(although it was written years ago) is still relatable to modern-day
situations, and can even be compared to other important works as: “O Sermão de
Santo António aos Peixes” (1654) by the
Portuguese priest António Vieira, due to its similar structure. The structure
can be divided in these three/four parts: Exordium,
Expositio, Confirmatio (these two accounting for the “development” of the text)
and Peroration.
Exordium (Begins in the first paragraph of page 1868
and ends in page 1869, before the first paragraph.) Apess begins his essay by
saying his plea is being made not only before the eyes of men, but also, before
God, the creator of all things -including the White man and Indians- and this
is already a reference to equality. Apess then introduces the audience to the
problems that are taking place (similarly to Padre António Vieira, who begins
his essay by defining to whom the message is directed and addressing the
problems he will develop during his argument).
Expositio (Begins in the first paragraph of page 1869 and
ends in page 1870, before the first paragraph). Apess makes rhetorical questions regarding the problems that are
taking place, blaming the White man for his wrong doing, using Biblical
passages, references to God (Jehovah) and Jesus, per example: “…it appears ten
times worse in the sight of God and candid men, than skins of color—more
disgraceful than all the skins that Jehovah ever made. If black or red skins, or
any other skin of color is disgraceful to God, it appears that he has disgraced
himself a great deal—for he has made fifteen coloured people to one white, and
placed them here upon this earth.”(p.1869).
Confirmatio (Begins in the first paragraph of page 1870
and ends in the first paragraph of page 1872). Apess uses the first and second
most important commandments of God to confirm the previous statements: “The first
thing we are to look at, are his precepts, of which we will mention a few.
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul,
with all thy mind, and with all thy strength." The second is like unto it.
"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." On these two precepts hang
all the law and the prophets…”(p.1870). In these commandments lie the fundamental
rules needed to have a good conduct and to please God. In the continuation of
the argument, Apess uses these commandments to criticise more elaborately the
conduct of the self-proclaimed Christians.
Peroratio (Begins in page 1872 in the second paragraph
and ends in the last paragraph of the same page). Apess tries to make his
audience think of their own fault and lack of principles, and refers to some
people who support his position, ending his essay with irony by calling the
reader “noble-hearted”, asking him to only think of the suffering that the
Indians are enduring and God will already reward him for that (a call to action
disguised with some irony).
1 comment:
FilipeRibeiro,
Neste manifesto, William Apess centra-se, de forma magnânime, no diálogo entre duas culturas ( brancos/indios), poderiamos dizer uma postura imparcial uma vez que na sua defesa pela igualdade, Apess não demonstra manifestação ofensiva mas antes dotada de uma retórica que trata os brancos por irmãos bem como os indios. O seu "estar" nos dois lados do campo de batalha oferece ao leitor branco uma perspectiva não fundada sobre afirmações face às injustiças por si preconizadas mas antes uma retórica onde as questões abarcam consigo as resposta que residem no coração dos homens desvalorizando, constantemente, a côr da pele em prol da defesa de principios. Primeiramente Apess apresenta os Indios e as reservas de forma pejurativa como se se tratasse do pensamento de uma mente branca «gentleman and lady, of integrity and respectability» «would view with females who are left alone, children half starved(..)» podendo lecar o leitor a questionar-se sobre que posição, a favor ou contra os indios, se apresentará o autor, mas rapidamente ele, Apess, revela a sua posição. Esta qualidade de discurso de Apess, caracteristica de um pastor/padre, permite-lhe uma proximidade ao entendimento dos brancos sobre tais questões, onde chega os agentes das injustiças contra o seu povo são tratados por amigos «but stop friends-I am not talking about the skin, but about principles.»
No prolongar da sua retórica, Apess inclui passagens da Biblia, na intenção de questionar os brancos sobre a sua semelhança ou disparidade com Cristo, uma vez que são eles mesmos os que pela palavra de Cristo tentam converter os Indios «the conduct of those who profess to have pure principles, and who tell us to follow JC (...) Let us see if they come any where near him».
Por último, no final do seu manifesto, Apess, revela o sonho que comanda a sua retórica afirmando «then shall peace pervade the Union».
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