Alfred M. Green must convince the African American population -- that they ought to take part in the civil war if they get the chance -- because he has taken it upon himself to view the conflict -- between the people of America and the deeper internal conflict within individuals -- detached from any personal or political bias. Rather he takes on his argument from a patriotic and humanitarian standpoint. Using this strategy he speaks with an audience’s voice honestly expressing the situation at hand -- expressing both, the views of his audience and that of which is most beneficial to their nation as a whole. This creates the contrast that allows his audiences to slowly move from their personally guarded beliefs to what might for the greater good of the nation in which they live in. He does this by showing his audience the crossroads they stand on and …show more content…
Finishing, Alfred encourages his audience with a call to acton by giving them, the only thing he could give them, the thing they had lost on their way of the crossroads; hope. Hope that in helping their nation they will “inspire … the south with zeal for the overthrow of the tyrant system”(46-48). Hope that the “honor achieved by [their] fathers [not] be blasted or sullied by a want of true heroism among their sons.” (33-35). Hope that “the God of truth, justice and equality to all men” (49 - 50). Thus, staying consistent, Alfred doesn’t make any false promises nor deny the uncertainty of the future, rather he uses his voice as the speaker to honestly express the doubts, fears and hopes of his audience. In turn, convincing the audience that in spite of their fears being justified, and doubts proven by history their hope for equality is the feeling they must act on, not only for themselves but for the United States, their country, their