Preview

a more perfect union

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
295 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
a more perfect union
” Why it worked” written by Roy Peter Clark

In this article Roy Peter Clark expressed different view of many Politian’s speech about race. Where Roy stated W.E.B. DuBois’s famous paragraph of how race is experienced in America and Barack Obama’s March 18 speech on race. Barack Obama‘s speech “A More Perfect Union”, He talks about the Constitution. He expressed how it was effective in theory, but in reality not everybody was created equal under it. He talks about his mixed racial background and his close ties with the Trinity church and Reverend Wright. He talked about the reverend’s sermons and even makes many bible references throughout the speech. Obama addresses the disturbance that is happening throughout the world and the issue of racism that is happening in our country. He finishes his speech by addressing the importance of political and social unity in our society and perfecting the union we have built so far. In my opinion Barack Obama did a good job engaging to the emotional side of Americans while delivering his speech. His speech manifest patriotism and the American spirit while also utilizing outside resources and facts. 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.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    If there was a way to construct a government so reliable that it could never fall into corruption, what would it be? The Founding Fathers of the United States wanted a Constitution that would reflect this — a document that could clearly illustrate the rights of their citizens, and would prevent their new country from having a fate similar to Great Britain's. They wanted a more perfect union. Can a more perfect union exist? Alexander Hamilton, George Washington’s right-hand man, wanted a government that could gain the same power that Great Britain achieved, so he built a financial plan that drew inspiration from Britain’s government.…

    • 1594 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    As inevitable as the U.S. Constitution feels today as the foundation on which the United States of America and its political system are built, it was not the first document ratified by the former British colonies to establish a union. During the years of the American Revolutionary War and the years directly following it, the newly formed United States of America were essentially a collection of thirteen more or less sovereign states loosely held together in an alliance by the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union (Articles of Confederation). However, as a foundation for a functioning government, the Articles of Confederation were lacking, leaving the federal government essential powerless and unable to effectively execute the few powers explicitly bestowed upon it by the Articles. Fiscal issues and rebellion threaten to tear the young nation…

    • 2487 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In 2008 former senator and presidential candidate Barack Obama spoke out on the issue of racial discrimination. In his speech, A More Perfect Union, he took the minute to let the world know about the racial issues that are being ignored and also shares his past experiences of what he has witnessed from his pastor Reverend Jeremiah Wright from one of his given touching on races other than African Americans in which he expressed the distorted view of the country. In his speech he uses rhetorical devices such as allusions, ethos and repetition to persuade and get across to the listeners during his speech. This helps him get his message out to the democratic committee about races having equal rights and also gets voters to vote for him.…

    • 855 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    On February 12th, 2013 President Barack Obama gave his state of the union address to the nation, the first of this year and since his re-election. I had mixed feelings about this speech as I go into that in more detail later. I like the general direction of where Obama was trying to go with it but I must say that I did have a few points that I disagreed with that he presented. But some of the major things which I did like was the minimum wage increase and talks about gun control. I am going to just run down some of the main points which I either liked or disliked that Obama states.…

    • 1555 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This sure made me realize what we are up against. Not just our enemies, but alsp working out our tweaks. That way we can all become better as one. So I know, that Obama's speech gave us faith. It showed that he believes we can succeed and overcome these bad times together. Not only as a nation, but as a…

    • 377 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Union Address Critique

    • 1001 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The leader of the free world, President Barack Obama, addressed Congress and the fellow citizens of the United States of America on the current State of the Union. The President enlightened America on multiple issues concerning the economy, education, jobs, foreign affairs and more. The speech given on the night of January 27th 2010 attracted over 48 million television viewers. Strong attitudes and opinions were exemplified immediately following the completion of his address. A poll administered by CBS News illustrates that 65% of the (3,968) respondents feel as if the President has accomplished far less than what they expected within his first year in office. Another poll taken…

    • 1001 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    (Paragraph 1) Barack talks about how we took care of issues we’ve taken care of, but we can still feel the backlash. He speaks of his experience as an american citizen. Senator Obama re-enforces his heritage, and shows his position. This leads to discussion about how he supports people of all color.…

    • 1018 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He talks about the many freedoms we proudly cherish in America, but not for the Negroes. The President presents these racial struggles and inequalities as moral issues for Americans; something that is as old as the Scriptures and as clear as the…

    • 766 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mr. Obama’s presence in office has reflected our most hopeful embrace of change, even as it throws light on the deeply entrenched bigotry that would reverse such change. He has been reluctant to speak about race, and hesitant to champion the causes of a valuable, if vulnerable, black constituency. He was not always free to relax into his blackness, out of fear that it would frighten white America. There was a lot he couldn’t do. But because of what he did do, the road will undoubtedly be easier for the next black…

    • 2055 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    MLK vs. Obama

    • 1461 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barack Obama have both written and performed their fair share of speeches throughout their respective lives. The two speeches that are being compared are President Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech and Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” letter. President Obama spoke this speech while his was campaigning for the presidency in February of 2007, while his was running against Senator Hillary Clinton. During the speech, he addresses the topic about his pastor Reverend Jeremiah Wright of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, and he also addresses the broader issue of race in the United States. He does this by using the words from the Preamble of the Constitution as a framework. The background of Martin Luther King Jr.’s letter is totally different. At the time that King was writing his letter; he was incarcerated in the Birmingham City Jail for protesting for civil rights in Birmingham Alabama. He wrote his response to eight moderate, white clergymen who had called his previous demonstration as “unwise and untimely…extreme measures [that were] lead … by outsiders” (King 202). He wrote in disappointment because he thought if anyone would understand his reason for standing up and protesting, it was the clergymen. King’s letter better fits an anthology than Obama’s essay because of King’s primary and secondary audience, logical presence, and the author’s stake in the subject toward audience. The primary and secondary audience of a speech is one of the most important components.…

    • 1461 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Argumentative Essay on “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King, Jr. and “A More Perfect Union” by President Barack Obama…

    • 1133 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Great Debaters

    • 1396 Words
    • 6 Pages

    He went on to elaborate his vision of a moment in the future when the most eloquent and intelligent representatives of both races join forces in a united struggle against racial oppression. “For that all-too-brief hour,” he declared, “the mixed audience seemed to forget their difference, applauding one team as readily as it applauded another. In the South, I have seen the children of ex-slaves shaking hands with the grandsons of the masters after the debate.”…

    • 1396 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Journal Entry

    • 458 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Also in this Essay Obama still spoke on the rift between Blacks and Whites. Although Racism is not as strong as it was in the 60s. Racism is still alive today and needs to be stopped not just between Blacks and whites but also immigrants that came to America from all over. Racism is a terrible hatred trait just because someone doesn’t look like you that’s very petty too me. God didn’t judge us when he made us so why do we have the right to do it. One point he talked about in this essay where racism is still strong at is South Carolina where residents still have confederate flags are still hung up. That shows racism from way back has been passed down from generation to generation and someone needs to put an end to it once and for all.…

    • 458 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    A more perfect union

    • 1319 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Racism is an important issue that should not be ignored during any time period and can affect any race. It still plays a role in society today but it is not seen as a main issue. Martin Luther King Junior and President Barack Obama are two individuals that both had a passion to liberate the black community from the discrimination that they were subjected to for many years. In Martin Luther King Junior’s letter, “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, he discusses why racism is a problem and how he is going to take action to stop it. Then in, Obama’s speech, “A More Perfect Union”, Obama briefly focuses on racism but then moves towards other issues that the nation faces. Although King and Obama focus on racism and its effects on individuals and society as a whole I believe that King more fully addresses the issue because he seems to be more passionate about the problem with racism. He speaks on the issue of racism freely even though the people in his community do not agree with his beliefs. Obama briefly focuses on racism but he steers away from that important issue and focuses on his plan to make a better America by fixing class, economic and inequality because he believes that it is no longer a major problem.…

    • 1319 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Someone who is in power of such a powerful and influential country must be able to direct people and execute the laws. As the president of the United States you must be someone who has the ability to command people and perform at your best game. You cannot let others intimidate you or problems scare you. Obama has proved to the people that he is not someone who is afraid or cannot control his power. He has done great things for the habitants of this country and has been able to get others to execute his laws and has even had the ability to make the Supreme Court and Senate pass many of his laws. Also, another aspect of his life which definitely illustrates this about his life is his job as a Senator of Illinois and his job as a teacher too. As a teacher and a senator you have to be someone who directs other and tell them what to…

    • 919 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics