The rhetoric of autobiography : analysis of autobiographical writings of militant civil-rights leaders.

This thesis argues that autobiography uses narrative to justify the author's life. Autobiographers portray themselves as heroes worthy of emulation, examples for readers to admire. Autobiographies are written to justify actions, beliefs, religions, and entire lives. Through narratives authors relate their conception of personal and social history. In order to study the rhetorical nature of the autobiographies of militant black civil-rights leaders, this thesis examines A Lonely Rage by Bobby Seale, Revolutionary Suicide by Huey P. Newton, and The Autobiography of Malcolm X. These autobiographies represent rhetorical messages designed to show these highly controversial leaders in a favorable light. The first chapter examines previous studies of autobiography, and proposes the methodology for the analysis of the autobiographies of militant black leaders. The autobiographer uses narrative to portray himself as a hero. It can be argued that one of the rhetorical tools used by black militants to portray themselves in a more favorable light is autobiography. Autobiography can be examined as a type of historical narrative which gives meaning to historical events and thus portrays the picture of history the autobiographer would like to relate. The second chapter examines A Lonely Rage by Bobby Seale. In his autobiography Seale uses a self-discovery narrative to relate his life. The most important aspect of his narrative is the environment he seeks to describe. The environment created by the narrative is one in which blacks were forced to survive by any means necessary. Seale uses his autobiography to show that the ghetto environment left blacks with no choice but to react violently. The use of Seale's narrative to justify his life as a reaction to his environment is discussed. The third chapter examines Revolutionary Suicide by Huey Newton. Newton uses narrative to portray his life as a quest for justice and equality for blacks. Newton uses narrative to create an environment which serves as the motive for his violent actions. The narrative created by Newton shifts the blame for racial tension away from militant blacks and places the blame on the environment in America during the 1960s. Newton's narrative, which portrays his life as a reaction to his environment, is examined. The fourth chapter examines The Autobiography of Malcolm X. In his autobiography Malcolm X gives his life meaning through religion. His autobiography is a narrative relating the clash of conflicting ideologies. The narrative in Malcolm X's autobiography portrays him as being on a spiritual quest. He relates his life as being important only through religious conversion. The rhetorical impact of his conversion experiences is discussed. The fifth chapter sums up the findings of the studies of the three books. The similarities as well as the differences of the autobiographies are discussed. Finally, I suggest a possible direction for future study in this area.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Grantor

Baylor University.

Year dc:date.issued

1989

Author dc:creator

• Owens, Kerry P.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Bass, Jeff Davis, 1951-

• Seale, Bobby, 1936-
• Newton, Huey P.
• X, Malcolm, 1925-1965.
• Autobiography.
• African Americans -- Civil rights.

Statement dc:rights

• Baylor University works are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2104/14364

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:baylor-ir.tdl.org:2104/14364