Apologizes for Not being in Class I Will communicate the reason why in class tomorrow RAB Source Entry #3 – KARELL WISSEH

Karell Wisseh
Professor Wu
English 1101 CO D146
November 17, 2024

RAB Source Entry #2

Part 1: MLA Format:

Stevenson, Bryan. “We Need to Talk About an Injustice.” TED, TED Conferences, 2012, https://www.ted.com/talks/bryan_stevenson_we_need_to_talk_about_an_injustice.

Part 2: Summary:

In the TED talk “We Need to Talk About an Injustice,” Bryan Stevenson, a lawyer and social justice advocate, discusses the deep-rooted injustices in the U.S. legal system, particularly the disproportionate incarceration of people of color, and the need for systemic change. Stevenson opens with a personal anecdote about a man he helped who was wrongfully convicted of a crime, using it to illustrate the pervasive issues of racial inequality in the criminal justice system. He argues that the system is not just flawed but is “designed to harm” certain populations, particularly Black Americans and the poor. Stevenson stresses that the death penalty and mass incarceration are part of a larger legacy of racial oppression in America, pointing out that these issues persist because of societal indifference to suffering and a refusal to confront the truth. He asserts that true justice requires empathy, understanding, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. Stevenson calls for a new narrative focused on mercy and reconciliation, emphasizing the need for society to face its collective past in order to heal and move forward. He ends with a powerful message about the importance of hope and the transformative power of love and justice.

Part 3: Rhetorical Analysis:

Stevenson’s main audience is pretty much everyone—the general public, policymakers, and people within the justice system. His goal is to make people more aware of the deep-rooted racial and social injustices in the U.S. legal system and push viewers to do something about it to create a fairer society. Stevenson mixes a few different techniques in his talk—Ethos, Pathos, and Logos—to make his point. First, he builds credibility (Ethos) by sharing his personal experience as a lawyer who’s spent years working on death penalty cases, which makes his argument more convincing. He also uses Pathos by telling emotional stories about real people who’ve suffered from injustice, which helps the audience connect and feel like change is needed right now. On top of that, he uses Logos to lay out facts and logical arguments about how the criminal justice system has always been unfair, pointing to history and statistics. Because he’s such a respected advocate, his words carry a lot of weight, and the TED platform adds even more credibility. Even though the talk was delivered in 2012, it still feels relevant today when discussing criminal justice reform.

Part 4: Notable Quotables:

• “The opposite of poverty is not wealth; the opposite of poverty is justice.”
• “We have a criminal justice system that treats you better if you’re rich and guilty than if you’re poor and innocent.”
• “We have to talk about injustice. We have to talk about the failures of our system, the fear we have of people who are different, the kind of intolerance we allow, and the apathy we have.”

Apologizes for Not being in Class I Will communicate the reason why in class tomorrow