Question

Why does Rodriguez call himself “an impure American, an ambiguous American “? How does the info about his background affect the persuasive of his argument?

Answer 1

Rodriguez writes in Blaxicans:

I am speaking to you in American English that was taught me by Irish nuns—immigrant women. I wear an Indian face; I answer to a Spanish surname as well as this California first name, Richard. You might wonder about the complexity of historical factors, the collision of centuries, that creates Richard Rodriguez. My brownness is the illustration of that collision, or the bland memorial of it. I stand before you as an Impure- American, an Ambiguous-American.

He claims that there is no logical meaning behind Pure-American concept. He lives inc the US and if it has to be defined you have to be an American or in other words Pure-American, then how many people are living in the USA that maybe they have to check their background. Ironically, it is nonsense because there is no logic behind it. Therefore, Rodriguez buries the claims of Pure-American by these lines.

Answer 2

This is due to the complication of the elements of his name, the color of his skin and his heritage which makes the American conversation about race more difficult.

Actually his personal background had a decreasing effect on the persuasiveness of his argument. This is actually what we call a minority effect – people tend to less believe anyone who does not resemble his color or race.