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The Doctor is inHill came on "The O’Reilly Factor," a news/talk show hosted by Bill O’Reilly, to discuss the word ‘articulate’ in the context used by President Bush when Senator Barack Obama was running for President in his first term. At that time, Hill was a professor at Temple University in Philadelphia and dealt with both educators and young adults. These contexts already make him believable and trustworthy before he joined "The O'Reilly Factor." His title as a Doctor also indicated that he is an educated man; that along with being a university professor on a famous television episode show that he is qualified to discuss the topic with his audience. This debate brings up many issues of both social and racial issues along with certain standards.
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Hill was called on to the "O'Reilly Factor" to discuss his opinion on matters and took the opportunity. Though Hill's audience of mostly older, conservative white men wouldn’t really want to change their opinions, Hill still went on the show and now current internet videos allow his message to reach a greater and possibly younger audience through social media. His address works because, as an educated black man, he represents first-hand experiences of race and lower expectations. Losh and Alexander (2013) argue that “we trust certain kinds of people more than others – because they have expertise or because they are well informed about the subject at hand;” similarly, we trust Hill because his ethos comes from his title and work. He has expertise and is connected to the subject.
Hill reminds us that one, individual white person’s intelligence often has no relationship or connection with other white men whereas one black person is held as representative for the group. The speed and repetition of which he delivers this argument further persuades his audience. Like Zappen (2005) argues in relation to digital culture, “speed encourages an oral and casual style” (p. 321), which is exactly what Hill does to try to get his point across. With his position on these situations and his credibility to back himself up, we feel that Hill has the potential to persuade his intended audiences, especially through social media where many people of different races, colors, and ages, and not just Bill O’Reilly’s audience, can see, hear, and feel what Hill is putting forward. |
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