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Rhetorical Analysis Of A More Perfect Union

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Barak Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech was aimed to unite all Americans, and to soothe white voters of any worries and or fears from the communicant of a black Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Obama opens up his speech by reminding his targeted audience of what America was founded upon and how the perfect union has yet to be accomplished due to the previous sin of slavery. The President goes on to address how the comments of his pastor created a bigger discourse between whites and blacks, which deters their attention from bigger issues and widens the gap between races. Lastly, Obama ends his speech by informing his audience of how they can achieve a more perfect union. President Obama effectively appealed to ethos in his speech by displaying experience, good sense, and good character. …show more content…

For instance, Obama references the past and present challenges that have affected America highlighting his knowledge of American history. He supports his claim by stating, “I've gone to some of the best schools in America…” which illustrate his authority and experience to speak on the matter. (www.americanrhetoric.com). President Obama continues to solidify his credibility by revealing his history when stating, “I am the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas… 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.” (www.americanrhetoric.com). By speaking of he and his family’s history, he exposes his authority to speak on the issues of race.

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Racism has been an important issue that plays a huge role in today’s society. In Roy Peter Clark’s article “Why it worked”, he expressed his views on Barack Obama’s speech “A More Perfect Union”. Also comparing it to Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. In Obama’s speech he discussed the constitution and racial segregation in America, and the comments made by Reverend J. Wright, his former pastor. He also tells a little about his racial background.

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Americans were seeking for a president who promised hope and change. Regardless of the ethnicity, culture, and economic power Barack Obama managed to give Americans a reason to believe in themselves; however, his promise never came true. Barack Obama main idea in his speech “A More Perfect Union” is on America’s racial history to awaken stubborn minds on the importance of unity and hope. Therefore, he uses the Preamble of the United States Constitution, “[w]e the people, to form a more perfect nation [ and then he finishes the sentence by] it was stained by the nation’s original sin of slavery… to convey the message in a patriotic and white friendly way about racial injustices” (qtd.in Barack Obama).

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A More Perfect Union
On March 18, 2008 presidential candidate Barack Obama wrote a speech about race, equality and the response to reverend Wright's comments that he made about the white race. Obama was worried about the comments that were said and did not want it to ruin the election for him. His reverend’s comments persuaded him to talk to America on racial problems he noticed the country had and how we should solve it. This speech filled with many rhetorical strategies caught the attention of so many individuals as it motivated other countries to put an end to inequality. Obama knew racism and segregation was a vast problem when his reverend; someone he looked up to made racial slur about the white race.

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