In my first book, Dreams From My Father, I describe the experience of my first service at Trinity: "People began to shout, to rise from their seats and clap and cry out, a forceful wind carrying the reverend's voice up into the rafters. 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. Many northern delegates believed that without agreeing to this, the South wouldnt join the Union. A More Perfect Union was a speech by then-Senator Barack Obama in 2008. That is the true genius of this nation. But if [the] destruction of the Union, by one, or by a part only, of the States, be lawfully possible, the Union is less perfect than before the Constitution, having lost the vital element of perpetuity. Two-ness I could argue that Obama's speech is a meditation upon DuBois' theory of a dual experience of race in America. Segregated schools were and are inferior schools; we still haven't fixed them, 50 years after Brown v. Board of Education. They've worked hard all their lives, many times only to see their jobs shipped overseas or their pensions dumped after a lifetime of labor. It is where our union grows stronger. 3. He is a man who served his country as a United States Marine; who has studied and lectured at some of the finest universities and seminaries in the country, and who for over 30 years has led a church that serves the community by doing God's work here on Earth by housing the homeless, ministering to the needy, providing day care services and scholarships and prison ministries, and reaching out to those suffering from HIV/AIDS. He is a skilled orator. "Anyway, Ashley finishes her story and then goes around the room and asks everyone else why they're supporting the campaign. His rhetoric, however, excludes audience members who are against racial unification, specifically groups of Americans that have views that still involve some form of segregationfor example, white supremacists. By using these techniques, Obama manages to establish that he is someone with a strong spiritual and intellectual foundation. 755 0 obj <> endobj It is not as well known as it should be that many black leaders, including Dr. King, use two different modes of discourse when addressing white vs. black audiences, an ignorance that has led to some of the hysteria over some of Rev. There is one story in particularly that I'd like to leave you with today a story I told when I had the great honor of speaking on Dr. King's birthday at his home church, Ebenezer Baptist, in Atlanta. The children of America are not those kids, they are our kids, and we will not let them fall behind in a 21st century economy. Third, some in the audience were inherently biased against Obama as he was not the typical candidate since he was African-American. Ooops. 2. For the purposes of taxation and determining how many representatives a state could send to Congress, it was decided that enslaved people would be counted as three-fifths of a person. In South Carolina, where the Confederate flag still flies, we built a powerful coalition of African-Americans and white Americans. This time, we want to talk about the crumbling schools that are stealing the future of black children and white children and Asian children and Hispanic children and Native American children. Although political platforms might not be applicable to the general population, countering from many directions is a skill that can be transferred over to any rhetorical problem in general. Their experience is the immigrant experience as far as they're concerned, no one handed them anything. 1206 Words5 Pages. Through all the changes, the Constitution has endured and adapted. Despite the temptation to view my candidacy through a purely racial lens, we won commanding victories in states with some of the whitest populations in the country. The Constitution of the United States established Americas national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens. In this article, Clark talks about President Obamas known power and brilliance. The fact is that the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country that we've never really worked through a part of our union that we have not yet made perfect. This makes it clear that he not only connects with the African-American population of the present, but also with the African-American population of the past and the struggles, including slavery, that they went through. For we have a choice in this country. And he does not bring up a specific issue. The Confederation Congress, which in February 1787 endorsed the idea, invited all 13 states to send delegates to a meeting in Philadelphia. A More Perfect Union' Speech Analysis In chronicling our journey, the stories and songs gave us a meaning to reclaim memories that we didn't need to feel shame about memories that all people might study and cherish, and with which we could start to rebuild.". That history helps explain the wealth and income gap between blacks and whites, and the concentrated pockets of poverty that persist in so many of today's urban and rural communities. In the white community, the path to a more perfect union means acknowledging that what ails the African-American community does not just exist in the Remember? I heard something else: At the foot of that cross, inside the thousands of churches across the city, I imagined the stories of ordinary black people merging with the stories of David and Goliath, Moses and Pharaoh, the Christians in the lion's den, Ezekiel's field of dry bones. What would be needed were Americans in successive generations who were willing to do their part through protests and struggles, on the streets and in the courts, through a civil war and civil disobedience, and always at great risk to narrow that gap between the promise of our ideals and the reality of their time. "I'm here because of Ashley." When Maggie Mitchell and her family decided to buy a historic 1961 ranch style home at 16 Bellows Lane in Woodstock, they saw the opportunity to continue a In February 1788, a compromise was reached under which Massachusetts and other states would agree to ratify the document with the assurance that amendments would be immediately proposed. In June of that same year, Virginia ratified the Constitution, and New York followed in July. Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many. However, as Benjamin Franklin said on the closing day of the convention in 1787: I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such, because I think a central government is necessary for us I doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain may be able to make a better Constitution. Today, the original Constitution is on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Constitution Day is observed on September 17, to commemorate the date the document was signed. In this short snippet of his speech, he wraps up with I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents (Obama P8), which further cements his ability to view racial issues in the United States from a variety of perspectives by demonstrating sagacity of wisdom. "we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction. WebA More Perfect Union by Barack Obama was delivered at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. The focus has been on the orator's willingness to say things in public about race that are rarely spoken at all, even in private, and his expressed desire to move the country to a new and better place. George Washington was initially reluctant to attend the Constitutional Convention. Rhetorical Analysis of Obama's 'A More Perfect Union' Speech He does not say health care or the economy. There were 55 delegates in attendance, representing all 13 states except Rhode Island, which refused to send representatives because it did not want a powerful central government interfering in its economic business. To prepare us, lets take another look at the words of Barack Obama before he was president. Summary and Response to Obamas A More Perfect Since announcing his candidacy, Obama sought to maintain a "race-neutral" cam-paign. Not this time. Link couldn't be copied to clipboard! They are anxious about their futures, and they feel their dreams slipping away. This makes it illegal for states to leave the country. She knew that food was one of their most expensive costs, and so Ashley convinced her mother that what she really liked and really wanted to eat more than anything else was mustard and relish sandwiches because that was the cheapest way to eat. A More Perfect Union is a speech given on March 18, 2008, by Barack Obama, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He gave it during the 2008 Democratic Party primary contest for the presidential 0000001614 00000 n And it means taking full responsibility for our own lives by demanding more from our fathers, and spending more time with our children, and reading to them, and teaching them that while they may face challenges and discrimination in their own lives, they must never succumb to despair or cynicism; they must always believe that they can write their own destiny. As such, Reverend Wright's comments were not only wrong but divisive, divisive at a time when we need unity; racially charged at a time when we need to come together to solve a set of monumental problems two wars, a terrorist threat, a falling economy, a chronic health care crisis and potentially devastating climate change problems that are neither black or white or Latino or Asian, but rather problems that confront us all. Introduction. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the document, and it was subsequently agreed that government under the U.S. Constitution would begin on March 4, 1789. He talks to Jon Favreau, host of Pod Save America and Obama's former speechwriter, about the process of writing the speech. HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. But it also means binding our particular grievances for better health care and better schools and better jobs to the larger aspirations of all Americans: the white woman struggling to break the glass ceiling, the white man who has been laid off, the immigrant trying to feed his family. This was one of the tasks we set forth at the beginning of this presidential campaign to continue the long march of those who came before us, a march for a more just, more equal, more free, more caring and more prosperous America. We would be making the same mistake that Reverend Wright made in his offending sermons about America to simplify and stereotype and amplify the negative to the point that it distorts reality. 0000002139 00000 n Among the more contentious issues was the question of state representation in the national legislature. 755 17 A More Perfect Union is the slogan of a speech by then-senator Barack Obama. The Bill of Rights guarantees individuals certain basic protections as citizens, including freedom of speech, religion and the press; the right to bear and keep arms; the right to peaceably assemble; protection from unreasonable search and seizure; and the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury. Form a More Perfect Union The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote. And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care or education or the need to find good jobs for every American. Sitara Nieves, Jennifer Orsi will work to strengthen Poynter's core teaching mission, broaden audience and influence. On February 2, 1790, the U.S. Supreme Court held its first session, marking the date when the government was fully operative. By September 1787, the conventions five-member Committee of Style (Hamilton, Madison, William Samuel Johnson of Connecticut, Gouverneur Morris of New York, Rufus King of Massachusetts) had drafted the final text of the Constitution, which consisted of some 4,200 words. Webspeech titled, "A More Perfect Union." Essay, Racial Police Brutality in Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson Essay, Great Leaders Use Rhetoric to Instil Hope as Seen in the King's Speech Essay. Obamas purpose is twofold: he wants to make it clear that he doesnt support his pastors racial comments, but he also wants to convince the audience to unite together in order to create a better America in the future. And the inferior education they provided, then and now, helps explain the pervasive achievement gap between today's black and white students. The most recent amendment to the Constitution, Article XXVII, which deals with congressional pay raises, was proposed in 1789 and ratified in 1992. George Washington, whod become a national hero after leading the Continental Army to victory during the American Revolution, was selected as president of the convention by unanimous vote. And they are part of America, this country that I love. This time, we want to talk about the shuttered mills that once provided a decent life for men and women of every race, and the homes for sale that once belonged to Americans from every religion, every region, every walk of life. The effectiveness of Obamas speech rests upon four related rhetorical strategies: 1. WebA More Perfect Union: Tone BACK NEXT Honest "What I love most about politics is how genuine everyone is," said no one ever. It's a racial stalemate we've been stuck in for years. Although I will admit, America was great, and many of these key values people had about America were true, A leader is defined as a person who leads or influence people to achieve the desired goals of an organization or country willingly and enthusiastically. To neutralize that advantage,his opponents including Hillary Clinton at one point would characterize Obamas words as empty rhetoric an elaborate trick of language. Was Andrew Jackson a Good President Essay, Womens Role in American Revolution Essay, Why Juveniles Should Not be Tried As Adults Essay, Why Does Sexual Assault Occur in the Army Essay, Why I Want to be a Forensic Scientist Essay, Why Feminine Products Should be Free Essay, Is Healthcare a Right or a Privilege Essay, Characteristics of Effective Counselors Essays, Presidential Power: Does the President Have Too Much Power Essay, Leadership Styles and Tactics of Barack Obama Essay, Analysis of Barack Obamas Leadership Style Essay, Ruling of the King vs. President: Does the President Have Too Much Power Essay, Analysis of Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project (Pmamp) Essay, Why Rodrigo Duterte is a Great Leader Essay, Haircut Policy: "My Hair? A More Perfect Union Analysis | Shmoop Born in Maasin, he is from a Nowadays, Trends have dominated the world. What's remarkable is not how many failed in the face of discrimination, but how many men and women overcame the odds; how many were able to make a way out of no way, for those like me who would come after them. Delegates from larger states wanted population to determine how many representatives a state could send to Congress, while small states called for equal representation. On the speech's 12-year anniversary, Sam investigates whether its message holds up. For his contributions to the drafting of the Constitution, as well as its ratification, Madison became known as Father of the Constitution.. But it is where we start. A lack of economic opportunity among black men, and the shame and frustration that came from not being able to provide for one's family contributed to the erosion of black families a problem that welfare policies for many years may have worsened. But the anger is real; it is powerful. DuBois. Now, Ashley might have made a different choice. But the truth is, that isn't all that I know of the man. WebAnd finally, in 1787, one of the declared objects for ordaining and establishing the Constitution, was "to form a more perfect Union." America to most people is freedom, opportunity, fair and the greatest country in the world. 0000003671 00000 n Most working- and middle-class white Americans don't feel that they have been particularly privileged by their race. Obama gave the speech in response to the release of videotaped comments from his former pastor Rev. The president addressed millions of people highlighting the most problematic aspects of the political and social life of Americans. In 1774, Great Britain's North American "white and black" "black and brown" "best schools poorest nations" "too black or not black enough" "the doctor and the welfare mom" "the model student and the former gang-banger " "raucous laughter and sometimes bawdy humor" "political correctness or reverse racism" "your dreams do not have to come at the expense of my dreams". Given my background, my politics, and my professed values and ideals, there will no doubt be those for whom my statements of condemnation are not enough. And yet, to wish away the resentments of white Americans, to label them as misguided or even racist, without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns this too widens the racial divide and blocks the path to understanding. Please note! I. More than a century ago, scholar and journalist W.E.B. 2. As William Faulkner once wrote, "The past isn't dead and buried. He strengthened my faith, officiated my wedding, and baptized my children. We have no way of knowing if that was true of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, but it is certainly true of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech. All Rights Reserved. This time we want to talk about how the lines in the emergency room are filled with whites and blacks and Hispanics who do not have health care, who don't have the power on their own to overcome the special interests in Washington, but who can take them on if we do it together.
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