Perfect Union Speech Analysis

Obama uses this type of rhetoric to energize the American people. So, after watching/hearing the speech they come away imbued with a fresh sense of nationalism. The spirt of the nation in 2004 was bleak, people were/are terrified of terrorism, but 14 years ago the wound of 9-11 was still fresh and bleeding. The divide between republicans and democrats had hardened more than it had in the past. It was time for the people to unite and Obama saw that, and used demonstrative rhetoric in an attempt to get Americans to see they needed to be united in the

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.

On the fiftieth anniversary of the events on “Bloody Sunday”, Obama gave a speech filled with encouraging words about how far America has come. Throughout his speech he included various pathos examples. For instance, he stated, “[…] all of us need to recognize, as they did, that change depends on our actions, our attitudes, the things we teach our children. And if we make such effort, no matter how hard it may seem, laws can be passed, and consciences can be stirred, and consensus can be built” (Obama). Obama utilized the word “all” and “we” as if the people were one. As if each and every one of us has as much responsibility as the next and because he does this, some may even begin to fulfill that responsibility. Ethos is another rhetoric analysis, it defines someone’s character or identity and Obama does just that when he says, “[…] who serve in elected office from small towns to big cities; from Congressional Black Caucus to the Oval office” (Obama). Talking about his own credentials, Obama refers to himself when speaking about the oval office because he was the first African American to be elected president.

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.

Barack Obama's powerful diction creates hope for the future of the United States with word choices such as “continue,” “shifted” and “ambitions.” Barack’s shift from informal to formal diction constructs an image of unity through the usage of simple, personal pronouns, such as “we” and “us.” The shifts from informal to formal and back appeal to the emotions of the audience because they feel as if Obama is talking directly to them. His allusions to the Bible are sentimental because when he says "the God given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness" he creates a bond between himself and his audience. His words have a motivating connotation that appeal to both logos and pathos. The way in which Barack Obama presents his ideas allows his audience to have confidence in him and his role as president.

Obama emphasizes the black community a lot more than any other community, along with, his speech was written after his former Reverend made racist comments. I, probably along with many others, may have taken this speech as a way for him not to look bad in the public eye.

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

This inaugural speech marked the beginning of the second term of Barack Obama as president of the United States of America. It was delivered at United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. on January 21, 2013. The event followed the presidential election in the United States and it was very important all over the world, about a million of people gathered outside the Capitol to witness the president's words and millions more from around the world watched him on television (Staff). For first time, a president talked about same sex marriage and gay rights, he also talked about divisive issues such as reform of immigration policies, stopping climate change and preserving a social welfare safety net. Obama showed a progressive and liberal agenda, focused on equal rights and possibilities for all the citizens. The theme of the speech was “Faith in America's Future,” (Caldwell) and he successfully used various rhetorical techniques and resources to influence the audience.

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.

One of the most iconic symbols can be a flag depending on their meaning or representation but in writing its more than what you read it's what you picture while you read it. ,” Crumbling schools that are stealing the future of black children, white, asian, hispanic, and native american children,”. ,” The children of america are not those kids, they are our kids and we will not let them fall,” (7) . To most that can be seen as a symbol of hope and unity. But how how? Our great diverse nation was not created by many number of cultures that came together so that later on it could be destroyed by differences and different views of each culture that helped establish it. He wants to ,”reject the cynicism that tells US that OUR kids can't learn,”(7). Simple words such as hope, us, or ours can be sometimes be the biggest examples of symbols in the world. The children are a symbol for the future. Through the use of symbolism Barrack is able to say key words for us to listen to and capture a picture in our minds so we can get an understanding of his

Reverend Wright 's sermon went viral due to the fact he says, "Goddamn America." In the short clips of his sermon, Reverend Wright was riling up the members of his church as he talks about the inequalities African Americans have to face in the country. The statements made in the short clip anger and may even have sparked some fear in people. How dare Wright to have insulted his own country and states that it was in the Bible and did Obama share the same views as his minister? How will these radical views effect Obama 's decision as President if he wins the election? In Obama 's speech, he ultimately disagrees with Reverend Wright 's statements and explains Wright 's background to give some context of the sermon and also reassures the country of his qualifications as a nominee for the Presidential Election. I agree with Obama

The speech responds to the video clip of Barack Obama’s pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, making racially charged comments against America and Israel. The pundits and various news media outlets played the clip repeatedly on the television, radio, YouTube, and podcasts.

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 top of that big fat slab of equality and togetherness, President Obama also begins to usher in a sense of endless possibilities and hope through the audience. He juxtaposes the “ending of war” to the beginning of economic recovery (Isn’t that a lie in the state we’re in?). This solidifies hope and the use parallelism, “ we are made for this moment, and we will seize it – so long as we seize it together". He begins again, this time using a parallelism that is used throughout the rest of the speech, “we, the people,” to even further establish togetherness and also builds Obama’s presidential

On the fiftieth anniversary of the events on “Bloody Sunday”, Obama gave a speech filled with encouraging words about how far America has come. Throughout his speech he included various pathos examples. For instance, he reasons, “[…] all of us need to recognize, as they did, that change depends on our actions, our attitudes, the things we teach our children. And if we make such effort, no matter how hard it may seem, laws can be passed, and consciences can be stirred, and consensus can be built.” (Obama) Obama utilized the word “all” and “we” as if the people were one. As if each and every one of us had as much responsibility as the next and because he did this, some may have begun to fulfill that responsibility.