The purpose of this essay is to promote the utilization of Kemetic principles in approaching African American public address. Although there have been recent studies on African American public address, the employment of the Kemetic philosophy is limited. Using the four overarching ethical principles of Kemetic rhetorical tradition as outlined by Karenga, this essay interrogates Joseph C. Price’s 1890 speech at the National Education Association national convention. A Kemetic analysis of Price’s speech reveals that African American public address endorses the dignity and rights of the human person, the well-being of family and community, the integrity and value of the environment, and the reciprocal solidarity and cooperation for the mutual benefit of humanity. This suggests that a Kemetic understanding of African American public address can (a) civically benefit the broader community because of its ethical foundation, (b) facilitate the recognition of contemporary ethical appeals in any given discourse, and (c) serve as an impetus for collective advancement toward a social justice–oriented world.

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This essay examines the rhetorical strategies of the late Nipsey Hussle regarding the intersection of cultural rhetoric, identity, economic success, and financial literacy. Using what I call Afrocentric constitutive rhetoric as a methodological lens, I argue that Nipsey empowers his listeners toward an identity of economic success, specifically for marginalized communities, underscoring the ontological capacity of Hip-Hop rhetoric. To support this claim, I analyze select lyrics from Nipsey’s Grammy-nominated album, Victory Lap, released in 2018. Further, I illuminate the culturally distinct qualities of Nipsey’s rhetoric by coupling theorizations of Afrocentricity and constitutive rhetoric and its impact on identity formation for his listeners. Finally, I maintain that a cultural approach to constitutive rhetoric positions scholars to better understand the nuance of culturally specific rhetorical productions related to identity and economic empowerment.

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