In "How It Feels to Be Colored Me," Zora Neale Hurston effectively uses rhetorical devices and techniques to convey the unique experience of being a black woman in America. Through the use of vivid imagery and personal anecdotes, Hurston paints a picture of what it feels like to be constantly aware of and shaped by one's race.
One of the most prominent rhetorical devices used in the essay is imagery. Hurston vividly describes the feeling of being a "strange flower" in a "white garden," standing out and being constantly aware of one's difference. She also uses sensory language to describe the experience of being colored, stating that it "feels like sunlight on brown skin" and "smells like neem leaves" to her. These vivid and sensory descriptions help the reader to understand and empathize with Hurston's experience of being constantly aware of her race.
Hurston also employs the use of personal anecdotes throughout the essay to illustrate her points and give the reader a more intimate understanding of her experience. She recalls her childhood memories of feeling "as separate as if [she] had spoken a different language," and how this feeling of difference continued into her adult life, even in seemingly mundane interactions such as shopping at a store. These anecdotes give the essay a sense of authenticity and allow the reader to see the impact of race on Hurston's life in a more personal and relatable way.
In addition to imagery and personal anecdotes, Hurston also employs the use of rhetorical questions to challenge the reader's preconceived notions about race and identity. She asks, "What is the color of the soul?" and "Who cares to know?" These questions invite the reader to think more deeply about the role of race in shaping one's identity and to question the societal norms that prioritize skin color.
Overall, Hurston effectively uses rhetorical devices and techniques to convey the unique experience of being a black woman in America. Through vivid imagery, personal anecdotes, and rhetorical questions, she invites the reader to empathize with and understand her experience, and to challenge their own assumptions about race and identity.