Wendell Phillips' Speech on Toussaint-Louverture The story of Haitian general Toussaint-Louverture. Phillips' message survives today, more than a century later, not only as a tribute to the hero who rose from slavery to create the first black republic, but also as a compelling statement against racial discrimination . Skillfully using a mixture of literary devices, including juxtaposition, irony, metaphor, and personification, Phillips allows his audience to see, through the prism of the speaker's mind, the ideals he promotes. Phillips' juxtaposition amplifies his argument that a colored man has the same abilities as other men. The speaker compares Toussaint, the leader of history's only successful slave insurrection, to Napoleon, "the great captain of the 19th century." Ironically, the two men, although adversaries, inspired political movements based on the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity. Phillips then pits Toussaint against the revered George Washington. Both men were liberators: Washington fought for American independence, while Toussaint fought for human rights in Haiti. By placing these heroes side by side, the difference between them becomes as apparent as their similarity; Washington was a slave owner and Toussaint was a slave liberator. Phillips then measures the Haitian general against the English leader, Oliver Cromwell. Concluding that Toussaint's successes exceeded those of Cromwell, Phillips rightly points out that "the state founded by Cromwell fell with him to the grave." History confirms this assertion; in 1660, when Charles II acceded to the English throne, his supporters...... middle of paper...... the "soldier, statesman, martyr, Toussaint-Louverture". The story of Toussaint-Louverture, in Phillips' own words, is "the story of a Negro who left barely a line written." However, as Phillips tells it, the story becomes an epoch - as significant as the tales of other legendary heroes. Through his imaginative use of literary devices, the writer allows us to visualize and see for ourselves, rather than just telling us; When we come across a sentence that we cannot interpret literally, we need to think. Using graphic images to communicate, Phillips achieved notoriety not only by arguing in favor of black men serving in the military during the Civil War, but also by conveying an enduring message against discrimination. “Born a slave, but endowed with the soul of a free man”, Phillips’ image of Toussaint-Louverture remains indelibly etched in people’s memories today...

Essay / Wendell Phillips' Speech on Toussaint-Louverture The story of Haitian general Toussaint-Louverture. Phillips' message survives today, more than a century later, not only as a tribute to the hero who rose from slavery to create the first black republic, but also as a compelling statement against racial discrimination . Skillfully using a mixture of literary devices, including juxtaposition, irony, metaphor, and personification, Phillips allows his audience to see, through the prism of the speaker's mind, the ideals he promotes. Phillips' juxtaposition amplifies his argument that a colored man has the same abilities as other men. The speaker compares Toussaint, the leader of history's only successful slave insurrection, to Napoleon, "the great captain of the 19th century." Ironically, the two men, although adversaries, inspired political movements based on the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity. Phillips then pits Toussaint against the revered George Washington. Both men were liberators: Washington fought for American independence, while Toussaint fought for human rights in Haiti. By placing these heroes side by side, the difference between them becomes as apparent as their similarity; Washington was a slave owner and Toussaint was a slave liberator. Phillips then measures the Haitian general against the English leader, Oliver Cromwell. Concluding that Toussaint's successes exceeded those of Cromwell, Phillips rightly points out that "the state founded by Cromwell fell with him to the grave." History confirms this assertion; in 1660, when Charles II acceded to the English throne, his supporters...... middle of paper...... the "soldier, statesman, martyr, Toussaint-Louverture". The story of Toussaint-Louverture, in Phillips' own words, is "the story of a Negro who left barely a line written." However, as Phillips tells it, the story becomes an epoch - as significant as the tales of other legendary heroes. Through his imaginative use of literary devices, the writer allows us to visualize and see for ourselves, rather than just telling us; When we come across a sentence that we cannot interpret literally, we need to think. Using graphic images to communicate, Phillips achieved notoriety not only by arguing in favor of black men serving in the military during the Civil War, but also by conveying an enduring message against discrimination. “Born a slave, but endowed with the soul of a free man”, Phillips’ image of Toussaint-Louverture remains indelibly etched in people’s memories today...

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