Evelyn Kraklow
Mrs. Gittins
AP English
26 February 2016
Maintaining the Peace
During the 1960’s, the Civil Rights Movement was booming as racial conflict occurred all throughout America. Martin Luther King Jr., who promoted nonviolent civil disobedience, was killed on April 4, 1968. Robert F. Kennedy, the leading democratic candidate for the 1968 election gave a speech in Indianapolis to a largely African American crowd soon after the news was released. Even though his speech was basically impromptu, Kennedy was able to effectively use a multitude of rhetorical devices to emotionally compel America to stand united in love and compassion regardless of race or gender.
Kennedy begins his address by informing the nation of the terrible news
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By alluding to a Greek poem, Kennedy is able to unite the country in a time that is divided by racism. The poem ignites hope as it suggests that, “wisdom through the awful grace of God” will come after “pain which cannot forget”(par.5).These words instil a sense of comfort within the audience as they try to cope with tragedy. Kennedy further unifies his audience later in his speech when he uses an anaphora to repeat, “what we need in the United States”(par.6). By using repetition, Kennedy is explicitly stating what the country needs to do or not do to stay together as one. Just like his use of the pronoun “we”, this call to action continues to insinuate the importance of human beings being able to “abide in our land”(par.9). When Kennedy proclaims, “let us dedicate ourselves” (par.10), there is a sense of urgency that pushes his audience to follow his word. At the end of his address, Kennedy points out once again the importance of living the words of Dr. King when he asks the audience to “say a prayer for the family of Martin Luther King” and “to say a prayer for our own country”(par.7). This is subtly emphasizing and encouraging his audience to take action and to live the way Martin Luther King