From a Student's Perspective

It’s obvious that Darnell’s article has had an immense impact on many simply by scrolling through others’ comments on it. This article has such an effect for various reasons. Darnell is only a high school student. This simple fact contributes to the importance of the essay. It shows how Kwame’s poor decisions not only affect adults in Detroit, but everyone, even students. Darnell’s plea for Kwame to resign is entirely sincere and backed up with good reason. His description of the way students perform in the schools of Detroit and his neighborhood helps to emphasize how our mayor is not doing anything positive for the city of Detroit. Darnell states how some of his classmates have such poor grammar that their literary works are barely legible. He also describes how this makes him almost want to cry, which shows the audience how sincere he is.

Darnell also used a lot of rhetorical questions in his article. This helps to emphasize the effect of the article because it reveals important questions that the mayor should be considering and answering. Also, it helps to illuminate how Kwame isn’t really improving Detroit at all. His questions also help to put down Kwame’s reputation and show the readers his true character. One such example of this is when Darnell is talking about the last few unscripted minutes of Kwame’s speech. The student asks rhetorically after addressing Kwame’s use of the n-word, “The mayor is clearly a sharp man; can he not see the ramifications of his actions?” Although directly referring to the Mayor’s use of profanity, Darnell is also indirectly referring to Kwame’s sex scandal and waste of millions of dollars. These questions help to reveal the negative effects that our mayor is having on the city and how his actions are worsening Detroit’s already negative reputation.

Darnell’s tone throughout the entire article adds to its overall effect on the audience. Through his use of diction and examples, Gardner displays feelings of distress and sorrow for his city. He talks about the desperation in his neighborhood, how gunshots and use of illegal drugs are common, and how his school’s students aren’t improving. He describes his city as “dilapidated, crumbled, abandoned, and lost.” Darnell’s wise choice of words also contributes to the legitimacy of his article, and allows readers to read it knowing that what Darnell is saying is true and heartfelt. He also says how his words are not “tainted with ‘bigotry’ or a product of some ‘lynch-mob mentality.” He is obviously referring to Kwame’s speech to the city. The fact that Darnell is African American and says this shows how what Kwame said is not in the least bit accurate. He attempted to take the blame away from him and throw the racist card. Darnell shuts down that accusation in this article, and agrees that Kwame should be convicted and kicked out of office. This article has further convinced me of just how incapable our mayor is and how much of a disgrace he has brought to Detroit. Darnell’s essay had an impact on me and I’m sure on anybody who will read it.