On March 18, 2008, weeks before the 44th presidential election, Barack Obama, the first African American candidate to be nominated by a major party, stood in front of hundreds of American citizens in Philadelphia to present his speech “A More Perfect Union”. At this time, Obama was experiencing a political-personal crisis, in which his former pastor Jeremiah Wright had exerted inflammatory language to express views that regarded United States as source of violence and inequality. As a response to the intense media scrutiny, Obama addresses a speech that would give “one of the most detailed statements about race made by a presidential candidate” (NCC staff, para. 6). While subject of racism was always perceived as an emotional and a controversial
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He values America’s ability to develop as the “true genius of [the] nation” (para. 40), and respects how “[America] can always be perfected generation after generation” (para. 50). The nouns he employs, such as hope, audacity, openness, belief and progress, all have positive connotations that suggest a brighter future of United States. In describing the “American dream” that embraces people of different social context, his devoted attitude towards America is indirectly shown in his word choices. The moment audience hears these words, national pride forms, especially since the American dream holds a unique place in the idea of American culture (U.S. history was affected by people who came to America with the …show more content…
His patriotic attitude towards America is insinuated in his words and description of the history of both himself and his nation, and all this is conveyed to the audience without any sense of distance. Since Obama believed that racism hindered the development of the United States, he was intent on persuading people that “diversity” is a value that should be embraced. In the end, Obama’s speech widened the perspective of those who dismissed racism as an inevitable consequence of history. In addition to his firm belief, his rhetorical appeals work together to create a power speech that adds discourse to the topic of
He values America’s ability to develop as the “true genius of [the] nation” (para. 40), and respects how “[America] can always be perfected generation after generation” (para. 50). The nouns he employs, such as hope, audacity, openness, belief and progress, all have positive connotations that suggest a brighter future of United States. In describing the “American dream” that embraces people of different social context, his devoted attitude towards America is indirectly shown in his word choices. The moment audience hears these words, national pride forms, especially since the American dream holds a unique place in the idea of American culture (U.S. history was affected by people who came to America with the …show more content…
His patriotic attitude towards America is insinuated in his words and description of the history of both himself and his nation, and all this is conveyed to the audience without any sense of distance. Since Obama believed that racism hindered the development of the United States, he was intent on persuading people that “diversity” is a value that should be embraced. In the end, Obama’s speech widened the perspective of those who dismissed racism as an inevitable consequence of history. In addition to his firm belief, his rhetorical appeals work together to create a power speech that adds discourse to the topic of