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Analysis on Obama's speech
Analysis on Obama's speech
Analysis on Obama's speech
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Senator Barack Obama speech, “Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: ‘ A More Perfect Union’ (2008),” President Barack Obama, addresses racial pressures, white privilege, race, and discrimination in the United States. He uses parallel constructions, as he includes the history of U.S. slavery and the trouble in the Middle East; allusion, by opening his speech with the first line of the U.S. Constitution; and also by including himself in his address as a character. His purpose of this speech is to denounce Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s, his form pastor, controversial comments, in order to, distance himself from the negative backlash and to have a truthful talk on racism and to unite the historical racial divide. President Barack Obama’s intended audience is ethnic groups, society, and economic divisions, religions, and the American people. …show more content…
It makes me think about how the older generation has affected people's lives in the society we live in today. President Barack Obama’s knowledge of history and the way he uses it in his address aids the audience in relating the past with the present. After reading the Reverend Wright’s words, he does have the right to express his views, but it is the wrong time and wrong setting. I agree with President Obama’s ideas in this speech of moving beyond America's “racial stalemate” (Obama) and working together to address common racial social problems. President Barack Obama defensive attitude concerning his former pastor showed compassion and loyalty; these are actual important characteristic of the leader of our
He talks about how the emancipation is very important to us African Americans, but to other white people it was just a speech because it did not really involve them, so they really just did not care because it was not their history. As Americans, I feel we share the same history because it was just not the blacks that got everything passed for them, but it was also the whites because we all played a separate part with it. When issues like this come up I just look back on the elections of my president Obama. Every one said that us as African Americans we got him into office both times, but if the whole black population would of voted just for Obama he would not have won.... ...
He took a stand to make a difference in something he was passionate about and he urged the American people to do the same. He made the audience realize that even if this law is passed there will always be times that We the American people will also have to take a stand to do what’s right. His speech is so well written it makes it seem like the only option is to vote for the law to be passed. In a way this speech inspired me to take a stand when something wrong is happening and make a difference. Living in a time period where this was a big issue would have been hard but, I think it needed to happen to show the world that just because your skin color or religion we are all American people and we all need to work together to make this place
‘We mourn with you for the fallen. We join you in your grief’. He also draws parallels between the nations mourning following the shooting and the mourning that comes with losing a family member, thereby implying that all Americans are a family. This strengthens an overall intention of the speech: together the Americans in their time of mourning. The overall tone of the speech is very serious and dignified, which is natural given the circumstances. This is not a light speech that should contain humor, but is a serious and important link in a healing process. Obama’s choice of language is very intelligent and wise, thereby also making him trust invoking, as he presents himself as a capable and knowing president, but at the same time it is understandable to the masses–an important factor when addressing an entire nation, not all of which
President Obama, in his 2013 State of the Union Address, describes how the issues in education, job creation, new technologies, and environmentalism are crucial in the growth and development of our economy. His purpose is to urge members of Congress and Americans to help reform our government to ensure that those who work hard are able to succeed. Speaking with an authoritative voice, he persuades his audience that although things are going better than before, changes still need to be made to continue to improve the American way of life.
“The history of the American Negro is the history of this strife, – this longing to attain self-consciousness, manhood, to merge his double self into a better and truer self. In this merging he wishes neither of the older selves to be lost. He would not Africanize America, for America has too much to teach the world and Africa. He would not bleach his Negro soul in a flood of white Americanism, for he knows that Negro blood has a message f...
He makes sure his audience connects with him directly by making them feel at his level, and at hiss. This way he connects to the audience, and in exchange, helps his statement of unity. Using various examples of parallelism, anaphora and refrain, Obama brands the theme of equality and togetherness in our country throughout the speech, vital to gaining the respect of his audience. Obama recalls the ‘enduring strength of the constitution’ by delving into the past alluding to America’s allegiance to the Declaration of Independence by quoting “we hold these truths. that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.
President Barack H. Obama has been always using rhetorical strategies in his political speeches. He used these strategies to present important points and views of his in front of public. Delivering points and views properly and logically got him to be the president in the first place. President Obama used mostly ethos and pathos, yet some logos to deliver his inaugural and the state of union speeches. Being that, he was able to reach the audience emotionally and make the speech flow efficiently while he preserved his credibility. Each speech has own audience that differs from the other. In the inaugural speech the audience was the public and therefor the speech was short and used short sentences that are easy to understand. On the other hand, the state of union speech’s audience was mostly the congers members and therefore the language was more specific and filled with political terminology. Both speeches will be discussed upon context and using ethos, pathos and logos consecutively.
He mentions the very recent violence that occurred in Selma, Alabama; where African Americans were attacked by police while preparing to march to Montgomery to protest voting rights discrimination. Without mentioning this violent event that occurred a week prior, there would not be much timeliness to his argument, and it wouldn’t have been as effective. The timeliness of his argument gave the speech a lot more meaning, and it heightened the emotions of many who heard the address. He is appealing to the emotions of many American people, both Congressmen and ordinary citizens, to encourage them to support his cause. He reminds us of all of the Americans around the world that are risking their lives for our freedom. He refers to them as “guardians of our liberty.” He also address the problem as the whole nation should be concerned not just the north, the south, or the African American
The purpose of this speech was to encourage African - Americans to stand up for their rights and vote, so that their voices will be heard. This was incredibly during that time period because even though slavery had been abolished nearly a hundred years earlier, African - American were still being undoubtedly oppressed by white Americans. He also wants his audience to consider what would be the most efficient way to make sure that their voices are heard, by using the democratic opportunities available to them, and voting, or by resorting to violence to gain attention. It should also be understood as a warning to white Americans, that if the black community do not receive the respect they deserve then they will choose to use violence against them.
In “A More Perfect Union”, Obama asked the audience to view themselves through the eyes of the others (Terrill 371). Instead of imposing a moral superiority of one side of the audience like Lincoln did or telling the audience to ignore the diversity, Obama asked the people to embrace their differences and acknowledge the others. In referring to the perspective of black people, he said, “A lack of economic opportunity among black men and the shame and frustration that came from not being able to provide for one's family contributed to the erosion of black families...” Meanwhile, to show how some white people might feel, he narrated, “...when they're told that their fears about crime in urban neighborhoods are somehow prejudice, resentment builds over time.” By juxtaposing two different perspectives, Obama tried to ask for agreement that people’s anxiety over racial problems is
In the beginning of the speech Barack Obama reflects back to where his parents and grandparents came from and what they did as their occupation. Obama shows pathos, logos and ethos many times throughout his 2004 keynote speech. He also spoke on why his mother and father gave him the name that they gave him. By doing so, Barack Obama showed pathos throughout the speech and got his audience to know him a bit before pursuing the Democratic Party to vote for John Kerry. He appeals to his audience by mentioning that his parents are both passed away, and from the look of things that did not stop him from standing where he was that day with pride and sadness:
What he was claiming was that African Americans slaves were born in the United States so they should be entitled to same American values given to the white Americans. He also goes ahead to bash the government for the attitudes towards his people and goes on to explain how he feels they are be exploited. His impact that he intended to have from this speech had been to bring freedom to African American’s by letting proper democratic ideals decide who is entitled to what rights. During the time of the speech he said black American’s should be ashamed to celebrate this holiday due to the misdeeds and unfair enforcement of these laws. His main take away from this was that the slavery going on in America was harmful and illegal because they violated the founding father principle rights. Throughout him speaking he goes on to undercut many powerful institutions in America that are simply letting slavery go on and not doing anything about it (Church). He is a very faithful man and believes looking back at his sentiments will ring home and show that he was inevitably correct in due time. In conclusion this ties to the ideas that African Americans should not have to celebrate this holiday until they feel like they are being equally treated under the same law are the white
It is hard to believe that after electing a minority president, the United States of America can still be seen as a vastly discriminatory society. A question was posed recently after a viewing of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream…” speech of whether his dream has become a reality. After consideration, a majority of the viewers said no. Although many steps have been taken to improve racial equality in America, there is still no way to legislate tolerance. Dr. King’s message of equality for all has been lost in a black and white struggle over the taken meaning of his context. Until our society can allow all people to live in peace we will never truly achieve King’s dream. Case in point, referring to President Obama as our "our First Black President" should not be considered a statement of pride over how far we have come. Placing this racial qualifier, even in a positive light, only serves to point out his minority status, not the fact that he is the President of the United States. According to Dr. King's dream, a man or woman, black or white, would be viewed as President without qualifying their differences from mainstream America.
He uses allusion and repetition of words to prove his points about racial discrimination. His main goal is for the country to stay united and put discrimination aside, and continue the path of the ones who came before us. Obama alludes to the civil war by saying,” continue the long march” which illustrates the march that the north did to the south to stop race discrimination, as well as the fact how the north opposed with slavery and wanted to make south stop (1). The other device he uses in his speech was the repetition of words by using the word “more” to express his main goal and focus. Although the country is so called “free” his main goal is still to improve America in every way possible and put race discrimination completely aside. In the speech, he expresses his tone by saying,” more just, more equal, more free, more caring, and more prosperous America.” Which goes to the fact that he is trying to even improve America more in every way possible. If we improve our country even more, then we will not be having any issues in our
William Apess then asks his mostly white audience to reexamine their Christian values along with their prejudices. His essay acknowledges that unless the discrimination and prejudices that plague the white man over the other races disappear, then there won’t be peace in the Union.