Standing as One In order to move forward with anything in life it requires leaving the past behind. This is essential to restoration and growth in all aspects of life. With growth and restoration doors can be opened. Not only can that result in the idea of change but actually show evidence of it. But this act cannot be done alone. It requires more than one to stand together to complete this challenge. With voices heard and actions done, Senator Barack Obama believes that this can be accomplished while giving his speech “A More Perfect Union”. Obama argues that the problems we have today are from the past. He states they still remain because we allow them to control us and the world we live. In doing this he reminds us that this can be …show more content…
He also wanted to agree to disagree so the nation could start reaping the benefits of the great future ahead. In doing this he turns to the persuasive mode to get his audience to see there is indeed another route only if America would take the chance. He says “unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories” ensures that he is aware that we all are different. He then shifts into a state where he is pleading to his audience to see that we share the same stand points by saying “but we hold common hopes”. He wants his audience to grasp the concept of hope by working together and so that the future can be enjoyable. Obama has many reasons on why he can speak on this which allows him to have a lot of authority and shows his ethos as well. At the time Obama was a senator who was running for president of the United States of America. He was also a black man who came from a mixed family with a white mother and an African father as he stated “I am the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas”. He was more than often criticized by people about being “black” or “half black” because of the way people tried to categorize him stating “some commentators have deemed me either “too black” or “not black enough” because race always came up when it came to him. Although race had been an issue throughout the campaign he was able to note that he was not a perfect
In Barack Obama’s speech, “A More Perfect Union,” Obama made an effort to educate the American people on the history and importance of race in America. He explained how our nations founding fathers developed our Constitution based on the idea that all men are created equal, without actually practicing this idea themselves. He used the words of the Constitution to discuss the current racial issues and to state his concern of our imperfect nation. This was all in response to the very controversial remarks Barack Obama’s pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright had previously stated, which created much unease among Americans. Obama felt the need to address our nation about this specific problem, since he identifies as a black man himself, and offer a solution to end this built up anger and discrimination between the American people. In his speech, “A More Perfect Union,” Obama is able to clearly convey the specific racial problem at hand that created the exigency for this speech, as well as effectively share his own personal connection with this issue, in order to help fix our country and work together to find a beneficial solution.
In response to the controversial sermon given by his pastor and the racial remarks that followed him during his 2008 campaign, then Senator Barack Obama, was inherently forced into delivering a speech that would address the comments and prove to the American people that he did in fact shared their “American Dream” and was not an Anti-America charity case. Obama gave his famous “A More Perfect Union” speech in Philadelphia, where he seized the opportunity to address the controversy as an indication of a much larger issue, race relations in America and introduce his mission of moving the country toward “a more perfect union.” His speech often coined, “the Race Speech”, had several factors play into its success, one factor being the way the speech was delivered, his speech incorporated the jeremiad form and constitutive form of rhetoric, the use of those two forms helped Obama address the issue while at the same time creating an identity that would encompass all Americans who would then come together in this identity and work toward the solution of the race issue and providing the “American Dream” for everyone.
Through the use of emotional appeals, he alters the thoughts and feelings of his audience through storytelling, imagery and illusion. The topic or race itself evokes strong emotions from the listener. His use of logical arguments is minimal. The intended audience is those who are able to vote for Obama as well as African Americans who will identify with his assessment of race within the black community and subsequently be inspired and motivated to incite social change in a positive way.
Within his speech, Barack Obama admits that the United States is in the "midst of a crisis" but he believes that it can change, but he also makes it clear that the change cannot happen overnight. Obama's inspirational tone stirs up the nation with phrases such as “dust ourselves off” and “bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions.” Barack Obama's message persuades his audience because the message is believable and delivered by an honest man. In his previous speeches, Obama spoke of race and prejudice, an economic crisis and his hopes and fears with such intelligence that when
In the beginning of his speech, Obama discusses his family and their past, how his grandfather served the United States and was a veteran of World War II. He speaks about the name that was given to him, Obama, as being African and how his parents felt that it isnt your name that takes you places and makes you who you are, it your character, strength, and personality. He also descibes his encounters with that he
In Obama’s speech “A More Perfect Union”, he emphasizes the importance of unity among Americans. He wants people to overlook their ethnic backgrounds and join together as one. This speech brought out many points that Americans should take into consideration. That even though we are all from different backgrounds, we should overlook our differences to make us a stronger nation. Obama’s speech was inspiring in some aspects, but in a way his speech also is controversial.
Obama’s speech on race was a part of his campaign while he was running for the presidential election in 2009. He speaks to the American people with the purpose to gather them and with spirit of fellowship to creates a unity and patriotism. A unity where everyone stands together and in jointly could make the world a better place for everyone, no matter
In the year 2008 the world was a much different place. Before countless racial protests and riots in streets, before NFL players knelt during the National Anthem for what they believed in, and before our president spoke of nonsensical chauvinistic principles on a regular basis, our country appeared to have a greater sense of unification. This unifying bond between the American people was due in part by Barack Obama, whose entire campaign to become president may have been the most difficult struggle for anybody in the lineage of presidential candidates to go through. As part of his strategy to win over voters and soothe the skepticism of whites who may have had any doubting questions, Obama gave this speech on race; a speech which still
President Obama’s, “A More Perfect Union”, speech conveyed many of his beliefs concerning racism. Obama is the son of a white woman and a Kenyan man, and just because of his race people are either with or against him. He begins his speech by talking about the founding fathers and the Declaration of Independence by saying that ‘all men are created equal’. His former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright brought up some of his observations about racism which caused some unease. He continues his speech by saying that the solution to ending this unease of racism is to come together and forgive each other for all the wrongs they have done in the past. He ends his speech by saying that both races need to become united in order for a more perfect union. Barack Obama buttresses his argument about slavery and unification by using ethos, pathos, allusion, as well as repetition.
In his speech, he uses a lot of Logical appeals to get his point across. “We do not need to recite here the history of racial injustice in this country. But we do need to remind ourselves that so of the disparities that exist in the African American community today can be directly traced to inequalities passes on from an earlier generation that suffered under the brutal legacy of slavery and Jim Crow” (Obama 465).“But the anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away; to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races” (Obama 466). “We would be making the same mistake that Reverend Wright made in his offending sermons about America-to simplify and stereotype
In 2008, Barack Obama delivered his speech “A More Perfect Union” in hopes of addressing the racial segregation in America. His goal was to connect with the American people on a topic that was close to home for most. By doing so, he gained a sense of trust among the American people and appealed to many potential voters. Senator Barack Obama’s trustworthy and relatable character; followed by logically explaining America’s calling for change; and a final emotional connection to the reader and their everyday struggles, demonstrated his passion for America and his desire to build an emotional connection with every single citizen.
Freedom that we would keep safe entrusting every single generation with it. Just as King had done many years before on his speech, President Obama shoots us back into the present. He lists off our country’s feats, starting each achievement of society by “together, we” to stress that it was a collaborative effort of many minds, giving the audience a sense of pride and awareness of the greatness that comes out of unity.
Senator Barack Obama had many issues throughout his campaign. Obama’s speech, “A More Perfect Union”, delivered on March 18, 2008, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, conveyed many issues concerning racism throughout the United States, but it starts out stating how the founders of this nation constructed the Declaration of Independence, creating all men equal. Obama then begins to talk about his pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, and his racial remarks against America and Israel, as it is “divisive at a time when we need unity”, referring to the “ two wars, a terrorist threat, a falling economy, a chronic health care crisis” going on at the time. (Obama 2) Obama remarks “I am the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas,” (Obama 1) because there is much criticism in his campaign due to his race. Obama argues that race is paralyzing our nation, and that it is still a major issue due to white privilege, and racial inequality. In the end, Obama hopes to move past the “racial stalemate we’ve been stuck in for years,” (Obama 6) and wishes to improve health care, jobs, schools, and other social issues for the United States.
On March 18 20008, Obama gave a speech on how to make a more perfect union. This speech was to the potential voters in the 2008 election on the comment Reverend Wright made which was talking about the problems America has and trying to divide the nation at that time instead of bringing unity with his comments. He talked about race equality, our soldiers, our next generation and why we need to come together as a proud country. He was honest with what he said because they are all what we are facing today. He talked in favor of all Americans to save his reputation and to make the people vote for him.
“We the people in order to form a more perfect union”(Obama 461).In this quote he is reference everyone in the United States. “This time we want to talk about the men and women of every color and creed who serve together, and fight together, and bleed together under the same proud flag.” (Obama 469). In this statement he states that every color is united under the same flag which is a