Song Of Solomon Rhetorical Analysis

One passage that resonated the most with me from “Song of Solomon,” was the scene at Tommy’s Barbershop. During this passage, the reader sees a few characters react to the lynching of Emmett Till. The lynching of Emmett Till was a typical example of the disparity faced between African Americans and Whites in the United States. Emmett Till was a 14-year-old boy who was murdered for what was believed to be flirting with at a white woman (Carolyn Bryant), however, many different viewpoints exist on what Till actually did to flirt with Bryant. Although born in Illinois, Till was visiting Mississippi at the time of his murder, which was notorious for being very discriminatory against blacks. Till overlooked the different cultural acceptance norms between the two states, and the result cost him his life. Both culprits of the lynching, Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, were eventually found not guilty for the murder of Till. This event provided vital fuel for the civil rights movement that culminated with the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which made every American equal in the eyes of the law. …show more content…
Guitar seems fed up with the injustices encountered by African Americans. This is supported by Guitar saying, “Ain’t no law for no colored man except the one that sends him to the chair” (82). This outrage felt by Guitar is very different to that of Milkman’s emotion. Milkman seems undisturbed by the event. He tries to justify the lynching by telling Guitar, “he [Till] was crazy” (88). Furthermore, Milkman lacks to identify the event’s significance in comparison to his own life; he even goes as far as saying “...fuck Till, I’m the one in trouble” (88). This self-centered and conceited attitude is very different to the attitude of the many discriminated groups at the time. This idea is further depicted by Milkman only wanting to grab a drink with Guitar to discuss his personal