Analysis Of Barack Obama's Speech

During 2008, Barack Obama delivered his speech called Toward A More Perfect Union, this was during his presidential campaign. The majority of his speech was about race and America. Barack Obama had a very unique perspective than many people in America, because he is biracial and he was raised by his white grandparents. When you are biracial or mixed, society makes you pick which race you are instead of being both. For example, Obama was either seen as too black or not white enough, even though is equally both white and black. Obama successfully uses his own story to address racial divisions in the United States, he is able be relatable and give a real life example.

To address racial issues in America Obama uses his personal story, this is

I was raised with the help of a white grandfather who survived a Depression to serve in Patton’s Army during World War II and a white grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line at Fort Leavenworth while he was overseas. “(Barack Obama pg.2). This is important, because it shows that Obama is able to relate to both black and white people. This in return gives reassurance to the readers that Obama would be fair and understands both of their perspective. Barack Obama starts to give his own experience of racism and stereotypes, Obama expresses “At various states in the campaign, some commentators have deemed me either “too black” or “not black enough”. We saw racial tensions bubble to the surface during the week before the South Carolina primary” (Barack Obama pg.2). Barack Obama being able to share his own experience makes his speech

For example, someone who is white cannot accurately explain what racism is like for a black person in America. I feel that Barack Obama did a successful job, since he is biracial, but seen as just a black man and he was raised by his white grandparents. He is able to relate to what both white and black people go through in America. Obama states, I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother – a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.” (Obama pg.4). This is very important, because even though this experience involved his own grandmother he was not afraid to be honest, and tell the truth about racism. This is a prime example of why his speech is a successful example for telling the truth about