...Race in Obama’s America The American society has developed a lot since Barack Obama became president and his wife Michelle Obama became first lady. But there are still some issues. It’s getting better and better with race, but can it be perfect in a country with the American history in mind? I will make an outline of each of the three texts, and give my own opinion of one of them. The first text is called “Black is being seen in a whole new light”. It’s written by Yolanda Young. She is a lawyer and columnist and writes for the USA today. In this text she is writing about the differences she had experienced since Barack Obama became president. Yolanda looks like Michelle Obama. She often gets compliments about that: “For a woman the colour of dark coffee to be noticed, even admired, suggest a cultural paradigm shift.” (s. 2, l. 7-8). She can feel the development in the society. When two psychology professors surveyed 300 non-black students, the survey was about the non-black students’ implicit racial prejudice. It showed that since Obamas appearing the automatic preference for white Americans dropped from 81% to 51%. She thinks it’s good that there are some icons like Michelle Obama. It makes her feel better with herself. Her self image is getting better and better. But she is still vigilant. But she is happy that the most powerful man in the world is black, and his wife is proclaimed as beautiful. The second text is a speech written by Eric Holder it is called “Black...
Words: 632 - Pages: 3
...Race in Obama’s America Axel Bevort – 2.b Section A In the first text, Yolanda Young, a lawyer and columnist for USA Today, reflects on how she experienced what she calls “a cultural paradigm shift”(line 7) first-hand. She begins by writing that for twenty years, she walked the streets of Washington D.C. virtually unnoticed by its white citizens. This all changes when Barack Obama was elected in November 2008 and his wife becomes the First Lady Of The United States. Young starts receiving regular compliments on her looks, such as “You’re so pretty. You look like Michelle Obama” (line 5). Due to a change in presidency, racial equality between the black and white races will no longer be a dream. This point is further emphasized by a study conducted in 2008, in which “51% of (non-black) participants showed an automatic preference for white people”(line 11), compared to a previous research where 80% preferred whites. Although there have been exceptions of black women ”who were embraced as beautiful” (line 14), e.g. Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell, the average black woman was not perceived as being as attractive as a white woman. In 1954, two psychologists provided expert testimony regarding experiments, in which they presented a black doll and a white doll to black children and proceeded to asking them which doll they preferred. To Young’s surprise, almost ”half the girls thought the white doll was prettier” (line 25). She blames the results on low self-esteem and concludes...
Words: 892 - Pages: 4
...EN1320 EN1320 04/13/2013 04/13/2013 Essay 3.1 Rhetorical Analysis Obamas “A More Perfect Union” Speech Essay 3.1 Rhetorical Analysis Obamas “A More Perfect Union” Speech On March 18, 2008, Senator and future President Barack Obama delivered a speech that was titled “A More Perfect Union” (Obama Race Speech, 2008). This speech took place in Philadelphia, PA at the National Constitution Center. This speech was given during the 2008 Presidential race and looks to address the concerns regarding video of controversial and racially charged comments made by former pastor Jeremiah Wright which seemed to playing on loop in every media outlet possible. He also addressed the subjects of racial tension and race and inequality in the United States. From the beginning of the speech, it is evident that the most effective appeal that Obama chooses to use is ethos. As a rhetoric tool, ethos is used to establish character. Ethos is an appeal to ethics, and it is a means of convincing someone of the character or credibility of the persuader (Examples of Ethos, Logos, and Pathos). In order to establish an effective ethos, the speaker must present themselves in a way that will make the audience believe what they say. A strong example of this is when he uses the quote “We the people, in order to form a more perfect union”. In referring to the U.S Constitution, this compels the audience to make a connection of significance and importance between his speech and that of the Constitution...
Words: 1158 - Pages: 5
...that's why his moral complace is being questioned by the people of the United States.Through speaking engagements, and public appearances senator Barack Obama will be able to engage and speak on any matters concerning his principles and moral view on the country he as an American love and respect with...
Words: 1139 - Pages: 5
...what race, gender, or religious background people have, we all must come together to unite our once promised union and move forward. The goal that Barack Obama intends to resolve is the coming together of all people to see the problem as a whole, rather than focus on the small judgmental flaws of the individual. A big factor in Obama’s speech is race. He speaks of the people having much focus on race and diversity within the union, that people are missing the big picture. Obama believes that the people must attack this problem now, instead of setting it aside for a future outbreak of the situation. Racial conflicts are still a big factor in America. The past issue of segregation and slavery has caused people to lose focus of problems that will have an effect on the union as a whole. Barack Obama believes that people of all races can overlook the past racial differences and further the unity of a more perfect union. Caucasian and African Americans will see that discrimination is in the past. Americans will help provide future generations with opportunity, and will come together to benefit all of America as a perfect union. I agree with the vision and message of the Obama speech, “A more Perfect Union.” I agree with the fact that people today in America are still held back with the past issues of racism and segregation. There is still a diverse community within the union of people, only stuck on the racial aspect. There is a diverse vision of every race in America...
Words: 371 - Pages: 2
...Some individuals who are eager to put race into the past have proclaimed that America possesses a post-racial time. Farah Jasmine Griffin, in “At Last …?: Michelle Obama, Beyonce, Race & History” publicizes the notion that First Lady Michelle Obama and Beyonce Knowles betoken transformation for race relations in America, whilst exhibiting the reality that racial inequality is still alive and well throughout the nation. Griffin provides readers with a genuine understanding of how these two impressive black women have their history used to increase or decrease to their popular standing. Griffin presents that today’s society is not post-racial; although, race and racism function differently than ever before. Legal barriers that discriminated against people of colour have been removed, yet one would be inaccurate to state that racism is extinct. White supremacy is slowly disappearing, “but white supremacy is an old man who will not go gently into that good night” (Griffin). Due to the...
Words: 612 - Pages: 3
...Despite the employment of writers Barack Obama wrote this speech himself. In the speech “A more Perfect Union” Barack Obama wants to locate the truth in his own up comings and also in the audience. He discusses the race in America in a logical manner but is also very sinecure at the same time. He needs to clear the air with the American people. With previous information involving the church that Barack Obama attends there was an issue with his pastor Rev. Wright. The comments made by him did not go well with others and these statements reflected back on Obama in a negative way. His pastor made comments about race and discrimination some even said he is a racist. In the speech he is connecting the past with our present time. Presidential candidate Barack Obama came across a problem that some may say he would not be fit for precedence because of this situation. He wanted to clear the air up with the American people. He first established this with the use of irony to the constitution. This is effective because we have a black man running for president. In our constitution they state that they wanted to be free from England, but once they came to America there were people who purchased other people. In the constitution...
Words: 814 - Pages: 4
...factors relating to race playing a role. One’s skin color would be irrelevant to his/her abilities and character perceived by society (Neville, 5). The election of the first African- American president did not usher the US into a post-racial society. Obama’s campaign run, from the primaries to the general election, proved that race is still salient in America. During the primaries, Obama attempted to appear race neutral so that he would not be viewed like previous African American candidates who were seen as black political radicals. In his speech...
Words: 822 - Pages: 4
...Jensen We all know that Mr President, Sir Barack Hussein Obama is a great speaker and knows how to defend his case. We all know that he’s capable of capturing an audience and make them listen to what he has to say. We all know this and we all think this is why he has become such an important man in the American lives, but how come his speeches are so great? What is it that makes people listen to him and believe everything he says? It is a known fact that Barack Obama can capture his voters with amazing speeches that makes more sense than math does once it gets explained. To know what it really is that make him such a great spokesperson for America, we must analyse one of his speeches. In this case, I’m going to analyse a speech by him, called “A More Perfect Union” that he held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in March, 2008, where the US Constitution also was written in 1787[1] “A More Perfect Union” is a speech by Barack Obama where we see the true message that he wants to bring out. He tells about his deal for America and its success that is based on a unity within the people of America. For him, it does not matter what gender, religious background or race that you have, as long as people come together to unite in their, once, promised union and keep moving forward. A big part of the speech is about race. What Obama tries to say is that people are missing the big picture and that people have too much focus on race and diversity that if they do not start to change that then...
Words: 621 - Pages: 3
...Managing Diversity Final Research Paper Why is Discussion of Race Taboo in America? America is said to be a melting pot of cultures, a country of not one nationality but a diverse mixture of all different types of people melted into one nation. This term became famous in America from the 1908 play of the same name, “The Melting Pot.” The basis of the play was how immigration to America caused the nation to be a fusion of nationalities, cultures, and ethnicities. What the play failed to mention was that although some nationalities were indeed melting together, American’s that were of different races were being excluded. The physical differences in races, such as African Americans, had caused them to be excluded from reaping the benefits of all that America had to offer. The worst part about all of this is that the people being excluded from “The Melting Pot” were decedents of individuals who did not come to this country by choice. Instead they were brought to this country through kidnapping. Flash forward a hundred years to Nov. 24th, 2008. America elects its first African American president Barack Obama. Article after article published around this time had headlines reading, “Barack Obama: The End of Racism in America.” We finally did it! Racism in America was able to be totally eradicated through the election of an African American as our nation’s president. If only it was that easy. Now in 2014, eight years after the election of our nation’s first African American...
Words: 2953 - Pages: 12
...Obama’s America In the three texts ‘’black is being seen in a whole new light’’, ‘’black history month’’ and ‘’the obsession over race continues’’ we hear from tree different African Americans what they have noticed before, after and under Barack Obama moved into the white house. ‘’Black is being seen in a whole new light´´ Yolanda Young walked down the streets in Washington DC for 20 years anonyms to the white inhabitants, until the day Barak Obama and his wife Michelle Obama moved into the white house. 300 non- black college students were surveyed by some professors. Only 51 % participants showed that they rather wanted white people while the rest showed no preference or preferred blacks. Tyra banks and Naomi Campbell were featured in Italian vogue’s July 2008 inaugural black issue which featured black models and icons such as Michelle Obama. The editor for Babies called the black Babie an icon for whole generation. For Yolanda everything is changed. Now almost daily white people meets Yolanda with a happy smiling face, telling her she is beautiful and she looks a lot like Michelle Obama. She is almost blown away; she can see the light at the end of the tunnel. ‘’ For a woman the color of dark coffee to be noticed, even admired, suggest a cultural paradigm shift’’ (…) ´´As a black woman, I’ve had to be vigilant about maintaining a positive self-image even when beauty icons – even black ones – have not resembled me. Now that a woman who looks like me is living in the white...
Words: 800 - Pages: 4
...Obama’s America In the three texts ‘’black is being seen in a whole new light’’, ‘’black history month’’ and ‘’the obsession over race continues’’ we hear from tree different African Americans what they have noticed before, after and under Barack Obama moved into the white house. ‘’Black is being seen in a whole new light´´ Yolanda Young walked down the streets in Washington DC for 20 years anonyms to the white inhabitants, until the day Barak Obama and his wife Michelle Obama moved into the white house. 300 non- black college students were surveyed by some professors. Only 51 % participants showed that they rather wanted white people while the rest showed no preference or preferred blacks. Tyra banks and Naomi Campbell were featured in Italian vogue’s July 2008 inaugural black issue which featured black models and icons such as Michelle Obama. The editor for Babies called the black Babie an icon for whole generation. For Yolanda everything is changed. Now almost daily white people meets Yolanda with a happy smiling face, telling her she is beautiful and she looks a lot like Michelle Obama. She is almost blown away; she can see the light at the end of the tunnel. ‘’ For a woman the color of dark coffee to be noticed, even admired, suggest a cultural paradigm shift’’ (…) ´´As a black woman, I’ve had to be vigilant about maintaining a positive self-image even when beauty icons – even black ones – have not resembled me. Now that a woman who looks like me is living in the white...
Words: 800 - Pages: 4
...Obama’s America In the three texts ‘’black is being seen in a whole new light’’, ‘’black history month’’ and ‘’the obsession over race continues’’ we hear from tree different African Americans what they have noticed before, after and under Barack Obama moved into the white house. ‘’Black is being seen in a whole new light´´ Yolanda Young walked down the streets in Washington DC for 20 years anonyms to the white inhabitants, until the day Barak Obama and his wife Michelle Obama moved into the white house. 300 non- black college students were surveyed by some professors. Only 51 % participants showed that they rather wanted white people while the rest showed no preference or preferred blacks. Tyra banks and Naomi Campbell were featured in Italian vogue’s July 2008 inaugural black issue which featured black models and icons such as Michelle Obama. The editor for Babies called the black Babie an icon for whole generation. For Yolanda everything is changed. Now almost daily white people meets Yolanda with a happy smiling face, telling her she is beautiful and she looks a lot like Michelle Obama. She is almost blown away; she can see the light at the end of the tunnel. ‘’ For a woman the color of dark coffee to be noticed, even admired, suggest a cultural paradigm shift’’ (…) ´´As a black woman, I’ve had to be vigilant about maintaining a positive self-image even when beauty icons – even black ones – have not resembled me. Now that a woman who looks like me is living in the white...
Words: 800 - Pages: 4
.... ‘A More Perfect Union’ is a speech that was delivered by the then US Senator for Chicago, Barack Hussein Obama, in response to criticism and condemnation that was hurled at him due to his association with Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Reverend Wright had come under attack from many corners of American society due to what people termed as ‘anti-American’ sentiments that Reverend Wright shared with his congregants, the most prominent of them being Senator Obama. (Obama, B. 2008) Obama’s speech will give insight on rhetorical appeal, pattern of development, context, and intended audience to educate it’s reader.. Senator Obama, who was then running for presidential nomination by the Democratic Party, was accused of tolerating anti-American sentiments. People, politicians and academics wondered how he could put up with such sentiments yet he hoped to lead a society as diverse ethnically and racially as America. This speech, ‘A More Perfect Union’, was Senator Obama’s response to these accusations. The speech has been hailed by many people as being the one that won him not only the Democratic Party nomination but also the U.S Presidency. For instance, the speech played a role in prompting New Mexico governor Bill Richardson to back Mr. Obama for the Democratic nomination. Governor Richardson was courted by both Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton as he was America’s only Latino governor and as such, whoever he supported may have won most of the Latino votes. Many people, including rivals...
Words: 1379 - Pages: 6
...Another theorist that supports our argument is Patricia Hill Collins. Hill Collins believes that gender cannot be marked as separate to race. Hill Collins theory of race, gender, and class asks us to think about race, class, and gender as interlocking systems of oppression. Multiple levels of domination are experienced through people being oppressed and discriminated. Hill Collins introduces this dominant theory of multiple levels of domination that involves gender as a site of identity and politics that sometimes involves African people. Collins believes that Afrocentric feminism is ultimately anchored in the unique experiences and struggles of ordinary African American women. Gender is always gender when spoken about in any race or nationality....
Words: 1511 - Pages: 7
