On the 20th of March 2008, Barack Obamas speech on race held in Philadelphia was presented with conviction and in a solemn manner to his audience, being all citizens of America. At times a concerned and nostalgic tone is adopted, however alternates with a controlled tone, the two used to successfully persuade his audience to unite in order to eradicate racism.
When first drawn to this speech, the audience is driven to focus on the history on America which Obama presents. “We the people in order to form a more perfect union.” This approach us adopted by Obama to indicate to the reader how they all have a shared history with reference to the constitution. Immediately the speaker shifts to a gentle tone as he discusses the history of America’s past citizens who had “travelled across an ocean to escape tyranny and persecution”. This statement is used by the speaker to portray how ordinary people have made a difference in harder conditions in the past, to encourage the audience to take action. Barack Obama continues by referring to the declaration of independence and how it “lasted through the spring of 1787” to display the endurance and length of this process took, to highlight the strength of America. Obama progress through his speech by referring back to his initial contention in reference to the bible in order to target the majority of his audience. This is demonstrated when the speaker discusses how American has been “stained by the nation’s original sin of slavery”.
