Throughout Barack Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech, he addresses negative comments made during his presidential campaign, while simultaneously incorporating his solutions to the issues burdening America today. While acknowledging the challenges facing African Americans in society, Obama highlights the need to unite as a community to create a more perfect union in America. Sherman Alexie recalls memories from his upbringing in his short story. “The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me”, that defies the expectations of Native American children in society. Alexie represents a generation of Native American children working to create the greatest success possible for themselves. Although Barack Obama and Sherman Alexie share similar
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Obama displays his personal beliefs on racial injustice through his statement, “for African American community, the path means embracing the burdens of our past without becoming victims to our past. It means continuing to insist on a full measure of justice in every aspect of American life” (Obama 658). Candidate Obama pushes towards defying the idea that all African Americans should feel like victims, and to move past self-pity to achieve ultimate justice and unity in American society. Defying societal expectations exhibits the strength and courage that is necessary to move past consistent issues and continue forward as a whole racial community. Sherman Alexie shares the belief of contradicting the expectations of society, “they wanted me to stay quiet when the non-Indian teachers asked for answers...We were Indian children who were expected to be stupid” (Alexie 17). Alexie, as an Indian child, was never encouraged to aspire to achieve success. His education was valued much less than that of a non-Indian child, which Alexie strongly resents, since all children have intelligence and the right to pursue it. Alexie resents the negativity surrounding education in the lives of Indian children. The common theme of overcoming stereotypes is portrayed throughout both …show more content…
Obama concludes, “but it is a story that has seared into my genetic makeup the idea that this nation is more than the sum of its parts- that out of many, we are truly one” (Obama 658). Barack Obama promotes the ideas of unity and community to prosper as an African American community, especially in these times of racism and negativity towards African Americans as a whole. Obama effectively uses his own personal anecdote, as well as figurative language, to provide the readers with his views on America and the community created by all people to form a close-to-perfect union. Sherman Alexie demonstrates his young determined mind when he proclaims his personal beliefs, “I refuse to fail. I was smart. I was arrogant. I was lucky...I was trying to save my life” (Alexie 17-18). Alexie asserts his self-confidence to provide his personal call to action for pursuing his passion in learning and education. Alexie implements the use of syntax and parallelism to emphasize his confidence and determination throughout his educational life. The continued use of personal pronouns accentuates his beliefs that he was alone in his journey in providing himself the courage and motivation to save his own life and encourage children to not wait for a “Superman” to save them. These contradicting ideas provide support for combatting racial injustice for the
Obama displays his personal beliefs on racial injustice through his statement, “for African American community, the path means embracing the burdens of our past without becoming victims to our past. It means continuing to insist on a full measure of justice in every aspect of American life” (Obama 658). Candidate Obama pushes towards defying the idea that all African Americans should feel like victims, and to move past self-pity to achieve ultimate justice and unity in American society. Defying societal expectations exhibits the strength and courage that is necessary to move past consistent issues and continue forward as a whole racial community. Sherman Alexie shares the belief of contradicting the expectations of society, “they wanted me to stay quiet when the non-Indian teachers asked for answers...We were Indian children who were expected to be stupid” (Alexie 17). Alexie, as an Indian child, was never encouraged to aspire to achieve success. His education was valued much less than that of a non-Indian child, which Alexie strongly resents, since all children have intelligence and the right to pursue it. Alexie resents the negativity surrounding education in the lives of Indian children. The common theme of overcoming stereotypes is portrayed throughout both …show more content…
Obama concludes, “but it is a story that has seared into my genetic makeup the idea that this nation is more than the sum of its parts- that out of many, we are truly one” (Obama 658). Barack Obama promotes the ideas of unity and community to prosper as an African American community, especially in these times of racism and negativity towards African Americans as a whole. Obama effectively uses his own personal anecdote, as well as figurative language, to provide the readers with his views on America and the community created by all people to form a close-to-perfect union. Sherman Alexie demonstrates his young determined mind when he proclaims his personal beliefs, “I refuse to fail. I was smart. I was arrogant. I was lucky...I was trying to save my life” (Alexie 17-18). Alexie asserts his self-confidence to provide his personal call to action for pursuing his passion in learning and education. Alexie implements the use of syntax and parallelism to emphasize his confidence and determination throughout his educational life. The continued use of personal pronouns accentuates his beliefs that he was alone in his journey in providing himself the courage and motivation to save his own life and encourage children to not wait for a “Superman” to save them. These contradicting ideas provide support for combatting racial injustice for the