Jfk Civil Rights Speech Analysis

From the American Revolution to the Emancipation Proclamation, the history of the United States has never better proved that its people have fought hard to earn a wide array of democratic rights. One of these rights includes the freedom for others to share their voice and for us to be able to hear them. Because the United States has a diverse culture, the value of listening to voices different than our own is that the more you listen, the more you learn how to become a better citizen. Let’s look into the voices of the most influential leaders during the Civil Rights Movement in the 60s.

During John F. Kennedy’s Civil Rights Address in 1963, the President reminds the audience “This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the
The clergymen claim “We appeal to both our white and Negro citizenry to observe the principles of law and order and common sense” (15). Let’s not be fooled by this statement, all you have to do is remove ‘white’ and you’ll see the contemptuous tone towards the African American’s way of expressing their voices. Ask yourself this: If I was a baby and I stepped on a sharp object, how would I let my mother know? Well, I’d definitely cry as loud as I can to attract attention for a solution. That is exactly what this statement conflicts and therefore, listening to this clergymen allowed us to receive the idea of oppression and its harm towards a society made for equal rights. Conclusively, listening to other voices is a founding principle of our citizenship, a value worth respecting, a value we should embrace, a value reminding us to prevent the infringement of the equal rights that our people deserve. Hence, to better understand American Culture, is through understanding the value of listening to voices different than our own being that the more we listen, the more we learn how to become a better