Rhetorical Analysis Of Michelle Obama

On May 9, 2015, Michelle Obama gave the commencement speech at Tuskegee University in Alabama. Michelle Obama is the first African-American first lady of the United States. She has become known for advocating in causes such as higher education and fighting against childhood obesity. She has created a platform for herself that no other first lady has ever done. In her speech she mentions her struggles to get to her current position, but she also reflects on the history of the Tuskegee Airmen. She adds despite the bumps during the road with constant work and dedication success is possible. All three appeals were used to attract the audience, but an abundance of what was established throughout Obama’s speech was logos and pathos. In her 2015 commencement

Ethos is the rhetorical appeal in which a speaker establishes credibility for themselves, where the audience begins to trust them and are someone they want to listen to. Obama does this by saying she has had her fair share of bumps on her way to success. When her husband was running for president there were an uproar for questions on what kind of first lady she would be. Would she “too loud, or too angry, or too emasculating?” (par. 28). This statement makes the audience see that she, like any other person, has had rumors speculating about her and they begin to be a little closer to the kind of person she is. And finally, she discusses how as first lady she wanted to use her platform to make a difference. “I took on issues that were personal to me -- …helping families raise healthier children, honoring the incredible military families…, inspiring our young people to value education…”(par. 36). Obama shows the audience that she is someone who cares about the difficulties faced in our country. Michelle Obama forms a trust with the listeners by creating a podium for herself that the audience can

In her speech she spoke about the history of the school, the courageous airmen she admired and overcoming one’s trials and tribulations. With logos she was able to give facts and analogies the audience could relate to. Because of her pedestal, Obama created a trust and established an authority to show she is someone worth listening to. And finally, with the use of pathos Michelle Obama touched the hearts of the audience. She was capable of connecting with them on a personal level, sharing a private story of her own feelings and what other African-Americans experience everyday. Overall, Michelle Obama delivered a successful speech that was informative as well as