Preview

Rhetorical Analysis Of Obama's Controversial Speech

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1007 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Rhetorical Analysis Of Obama's Controversial Speech
Barack Hussein Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961. His father was born in Africa and mother in Kansas. He is the first African American to have served as president. Obama was on the Illinois State Senate from 1997-2004, he also represented Illinois in 2005-2008. Obama want to bring America together as one. He want Americans to work together to achieve the goal that we are all chasing. Candidate Obama`s audience for his speech are his potential voters and the press. The purpose of his speech is to let everyone know he disagrees with Pastor Wright. Pastor Jeremiah Wright made a very controversial speech about America. Mr. Wright was blaming Americans for the terrorist attack on September 11th , 2001. He was also making anti-American statements. …show more content…
The persuasive tone of voice he used was convincing for his voters. Obama was to convince his voters that he was not in agreement with Wright. Voters wouldn’t want to see a candidate they are voting for with Jeremiah Wright. Pastor Wright talked bad about Americans and had bad language and racist comments. Obama`s strong style of voice was to show people he does not get along with what Wright said. The candidate`s way of speech to his voters gains back their trust. He has to inform them with strong convincing language. Obama said to his people “Wright use incendiary language to express views”(pg2). Former pastor Wright uses harsh words to express himself about Americans. Denigrate both goodness and greatness our nation has”(pg2). Wright was quick to criticize what has happened to America. Barack Obama is really appreciated for everything Wright taught him. Jeremiah Wright did Obama's wedding and baptized his girls. Now voters can see that candidate Barack Obama was did not agree with his former pastor. Obama's doesn’t agree of all the awful things the pastor said. It’s like if we didn’t progress in so many years and still have racism. Now we can understand Obama's relationship with Pastor Jeremiah Wright. Mr. Wright is like a family to Obama he cannot leave him behind but he doesn't agree with

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    The president starts by using an opinion he has from personal knowledge as supporting material by saying, "I have been here three years and three days, and I can tell you without hesitation: Being President of this country is entirely about character." By starting off his speech by establishing his credibility with supporting evidence, this will most like convince the listeners that what he is saying is…

    • 495 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Before the speech was given, Senator Obama launched a campaign in January 2007 to be the Democratic party’s 2008 presidential nominee. With this election he would be the first African American President the United States has every had. In early March 2008, Obama’s long-time pastor, Jeremiah Wright, denounced the U.S. and accused the government of crimes against people of color. “Wright had said among other things, ‘God damn America’ for its racism, ‘and for killing innocent people’” (Cost). Video recordings of Reverend Wright’s controversial comments flooded the internet creating more turmoil for the Obama campaign. Barrack responded to these videos, by going further than he ever had before, saying he, “strongly disagrees with and condemns the inflammatory and appalling remarks Wright made about our country, our politics, and my political opponents”. Feeling as if he had failed to sufficiently address and explain the relationship between him and the Reverend, he began writing…

    • 1417 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Despite Obama’s race, he is able to confront the criticism that he is faced with in an elegant way. He is able to relate to all races, and therefore breaks the race line.…

    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    President Obama aimed to unite the American public in the fight against terrorism in his speech following the death of Osama bin Laden through his use of diction and pathos.…

    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    His message is meant to calm the american people and kill their fears of evil. In George W. Bush’s speech, he starts it off by describing what the terrorist have done and what we have to do to stay strong. He quotes the bible verse Psalm 23, “ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me.” The desired effect of saying this,…

    • 465 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Obama wants to get across that some white people feel resentment. Not because they’re racist, but because it feels like they’re being blamed for something they didn’t do. this creates more hate. Candidate Barack reminds his audience that we’re still fighting, and fighting at a time of…

    • 1018 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He covered the idea of “We” as Americans are one person and “we have a place, all of us, in a long story.” Bush refers to the American history and it’s identity as a united country with One history. Later on in his speech he rejuvenates the same topic of unity when he says “I know this is in our reach”. Here too he refers to the significance of unity. Bush wants to accomplish the goal of unity, justice, and make America the land of opportunities like it used to be.…

    • 550 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The 44th president of the United States gave out a speech to the potential voters in the 2008 election. He spoke about equality, relations in the USA, and also responded to Reverend's comments. Reverend's comments appeared as racist and anti-American. It was urgent for the Reverend to save his reputation and campaign. Obama’s main purpose was to get the audience (potential voters) to be a part of a “more perfect union.”…

    • 1054 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Kyle Bell obama

    • 611 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Firstly, President Obama uses an ethical appeal known as ethos. An ethical appeal establishes a speaker or the writer’s credibility. He states that “I am the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas. I was raised with the help of a white grandfather…and a white grandmother. I am married to a black American who carries within her the blood of slaves and slave owners…I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents”. I agree with what President Obama has shared about how race has an impact on his life. I think he establishes himself as a man of many races who can relate to almost every race in America. By doing so he shows how he is the perfect man for the job to deal with the concerning issues on racism in America.…

    • 611 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Whether an individual agrees or disagrees with Barack Obama, they cannot deny the fact that he’s a wizard with his words. His ability to captivate people with his powerful and compelling rhetoric is a great talent. He is able to easily connect and gain the trust of individuals from various backgrounds. Furthermore, his willingness to view certain matters from the lens of an ordinary citizen is allowing him to save many voters. Due to President Obama’s inclusive language, character, and experiences, he is able to attract and appeal to many American citizens.…

    • 1037 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Wright might even quote Malik Miah, author at the website Solidarity-us.org, who wrote, “THERE WAS EUPHORIA in every Black community household November 4. High fives and tears of joy. No one could believe it. It didn’t matter Obama’s politics. A Black man had won! The election of the first Black president of the United States has a dual meaning: social and political” (Malik). Wright would have cherished this moment as well, eager to see the wondrous wonders Obama would soon accomplish. He would love Obama and reel in the words of TIME Magazine, in which author David Von Drehle states, “Barack Obama’s victories in 2008 and 2012 were dismissed by some of his critics as merely symbolic for African Americans. But there is nothing “mere” about symbols. The power embedded in the word nigger is also symbolic. Burning crosses do not literally raise the black poverty rate, and the Confederate flag does not directly expand the wealth gap” (Von Drehle). Wright would acknowledge that Obama was not just a symbol, but epitomized a concrete victory over white privilege, adding another quote from the same article on TIME magazine, “Whiteness in America is a different symbol—a badge of advantage. In a country of professed meritocratic competition, this badge has long ensured an unerring privilege” (Von Drehle). Wright would then state that Obama’s victory transcended all…

    • 1735 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Journal Entry

    • 458 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Obama has a gift at writing and the deliverance to his speeches to the crowd. But sometimes he can lose or bore people because his intelligence confuses people. Sometimes he uses words people never heard of because a limited education. But it’s not his fault he doesn’t try to flaunt his intelligence that’s just the person he is an intelligent black man. But no matter Black, White, Asian, Dominican, Hispanic, Mexican, African, or whatever he speaks for us the people. Whether you have master degrees or a GED he represents all of us. In a particular speak he says “We the people, in order to form a more perfect union.” Obama wants the best for everyone he wants to see everyone be successful.…

    • 458 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    He has put a lot of logical and emotional reasoning in his speech and talks about how he is reaching out to people with diverse cultures. He keeps up bringing current events to let the audience know that he is well aware of what happens around the world and that he has knowledge on current and past issues. Since he is trying to persuade a big percent of the population he has to try and relate with a lot of people so he says “I believe that every faith I have encountered draws its adherents closer to God. And in every faith I have come to know, there are features I wish were in my own:”(3). He tries to let the people know that he isn’t just a politician but also a human being. He again reminds everyone of America’s different religious heritage. He also says “We’re a long way from perfect and we have surely stumbled along the way.”(5) Here he talks about him and his family mostly his wife who battled with multiple sclerosis. With this statement he can relate to a lot of people who also went through some sort of illness in their life.…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    a more perfect union

    • 295 Words
    • 1 Page

    I think that basing this speech off of the United States Constitution helped express the main goal of his speech, which was to motivate Americans to strive for political and social unity. I believe that through writing about his own ancestors and his mixed racial background, Obama allowed Americans to view him as just another citizen and therefore appeal to their hearts. I also thought Obama made an impact on his audience by portraying himself as an extremely religious man through bible quotations and sermon references. All in all, I believe that Barack Obama delivered a beautiful speech that surrounds our country’s patriotism and religious spirit.…

    • 295 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    where reverend Wright was coming from and why he made the comment he said because he was raised in a segregated time when Jim crow laws and all type of inequalities was place upon African Americans and just because those laws have changed doesn’t mean the bitterness is gone.…

    • 505 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays