While actions may speak louder than words, it doesn’t mean that they are more powerful when it comes to initiating change and connection. Words are used to express many feelings and bold messages; they can call people to action, bring them to tears, and even drive their adrenaline to act upon them. While words may only be a vibration of vocal chords, they ring out in a harmonious way that compels others to listen. Many historical people, such as Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy gave speeches to bring hope to their audience, while other figures such as Lori Arviso Alvord wrote about diversity and acceptance. All these voices had power in their words through confidence and passion. By analyzing these voices of numerous historical American
…show more content…
In history, there has always been inequality; otherwise there wouldn’t be any pushes to make a change. A great portion of inequality has been evident among those identified as minorities. Specifically, the United States being such a melting pot has not always been the case, for many people have accounted for the challenges they faced while living in a society where race and culture defined where they stood on the social chain. A woman who became the first Navajo surgeon, Lori Arviso Alvord, wrote a piece on her experience of being in a college that was meant to promote Indians being on campus, and her story had power among the way she saw her situation. In her piece, she recounted that she “walked around the campus in awe, like a peasant visiting the castle of a great king” (Alvord, Lori Arviso, 303). She further expressed her discomfort and feelings of being and outsider by continuing, “We found great comfort in one another, for although we came from many different tribes, our experiences at Dartmouth were similar: We all felt disconnected from the mainstream student body” (Alvord, Lori Arviso, 304). Alvord conveyed a great sense of loss within such a new place, and as she began to conclude her piece, she told of how she overcame those disconnections through connecting in her own ways. Her power came from personal strength in her own struggles. Another struggle of disconnection comes from arguably one of the biggest issues in history: segregation among the whites and blacks. Activist Martin Luther King Jr. not only wrote the Letter from Birmingham Jail, but also his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. His voice grew powerful through the use of his struggles to end segregation and by compelling people to want to stand up for what they believe in. In his speech he preached, “I have a dream that little children will one day live in a
In history, there has always been inequality; otherwise there wouldn’t be any pushes to make a change. A great portion of inequality has been evident among those identified as minorities. Specifically, the United States being such a melting pot has not always been the case, for many people have accounted for the challenges they faced while living in a society where race and culture defined where they stood on the social chain. A woman who became the first Navajo surgeon, Lori Arviso Alvord, wrote a piece on her experience of being in a college that was meant to promote Indians being on campus, and her story had power among the way she saw her situation. In her piece, she recounted that she “walked around the campus in awe, like a peasant visiting the castle of a great king” (Alvord, Lori Arviso, 303). She further expressed her discomfort and feelings of being and outsider by continuing, “We found great comfort in one another, for although we came from many different tribes, our experiences at Dartmouth were similar: We all felt disconnected from the mainstream student body” (Alvord, Lori Arviso, 304). Alvord conveyed a great sense of loss within such a new place, and as she began to conclude her piece, she told of how she overcame those disconnections through connecting in her own ways. Her power came from personal strength in her own struggles. Another struggle of disconnection comes from arguably one of the biggest issues in history: segregation among the whites and blacks. Activist Martin Luther King Jr. not only wrote the Letter from Birmingham Jail, but also his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. His voice grew powerful through the use of his struggles to end segregation and by compelling people to want to stand up for what they believe in. In his speech he preached, “I have a dream that little children will one day live in a