A More Perfect Union: Leading to Unity of Diversity

Barack Obama’s ‘A More Perfect Union’ clearly leaves a trial for breadcrumbs for you to follow from the beginning to the end, as he begins with The Preamble to The Constitution, “We the people, in order to form a more perfect union” where he clarifies that each one of us has to make a significant contribution towards “A More Perfect Union.” He is right as a single person cannot make a difference. Hence, everyone must come forward and bestow upon their regards. He contextualized his point of view with his own story, his own upbringing, and the history of racism in our country, his own grandmother’s racism, segregation, anger in the black community (unfair treatment), Radical Islam, lack of healthcare, shipping job overseas as well as why it needs to change and how we can, the average Joe, has the power to make it happen “The speech was widely viewed as a key rhetorical moment in the 2008 presidential campaign.”(Byrne) . This essay describes the significance of the speech and focuses on African- American community. “The significance of the speech lies in the specific rhetorical challenges posed by the immediate context, the rhetorical strategy that Obama used to negotiate those challenges, and the way in which this strategy resonated more broadly with the rhetorical themes underlying Obama’s candidacy” (Byrne).

There was a gathering of many people in a hall to make the declaration of their independence, a realty. “The document they produced was eventually signed but ultimately unfinished” (Obama 2). This was due to the questions of slave trade in our constitution. However, our is “A Constitution that promised its people liberty, and justice, and a union that could be and should be perfected over time” (Obama 3). Yet, not every human being is provided with all their rights. Americans were needed to protest and struggle through a state of war. Several marches were set forth; the President himself chose to run the presidency for more productive and generative results. Obama places himself at the centre of this account, “I chose to run for the presidency act this moment in the history because I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together” (A More Perfect Union). He then brings about his own story - where he comes from, where he’s born and brought up. He says, “I’ve gone to some of the best schools in America and lived in one of the poorest nations.” only to reveal that he is totally familiar with the critical situations of the people who are suffering at the time and sympathises with them totally and intently. He discusses about his marriage and ends up saying, “I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins…. even possible” (Obama 8). He then concludes that these things have been the significant reasons why we all are one.

Through this campaign, they concluded that there was much need of unity in America, and they were succeeding undoubtedly. At some point, racism has been an issue, so people commented “too black” or “not black enough” which at the end of the campaign took a “divisive turn” (Obama 12). They heard several implications about this campaign as an affirmation. They also heard Reverend Wright say that this ultimately lead to create differences between black and the white people (resentment). On the other hand, Obama did not hope to receive such controversial statements from his pastor, but it was obvious because the circumstances fell in to place. “As such Reverend Wright’s comments were not only wrong but also divisive at the time when we need unity;” “Obama is making a claim to represent America from a position of diversity – of experience which encompasses class difference as well as racialized ones” (Byrne). Obama never makes a false statement about Reverend wright and says that the latter was the one who helped him join Christianity, discussed about loving one another, who served as a US Marino, studied hard, lectured in Universities, helped the needy and those suffering from HIV/AIDS. Hence Obama says, “But the truth is, that isn’t all that I know of the man.” And goes on bringing the reference of his experience at the trinity. Reverend Wright strengthened his faith, helped in his wedding, and took care of his children as they grew up. He then wants to close the chapter about Reverend Wright and does not wants to discuss anymore “Obama used a rhetorical strategy to negotiate these challenges, and the way in which the strategy resonated more broadly with the rhetorical themes underlying the candidates campaign for president” (Byrne).

All the comments that have been made are a part of ‘racial discrimination’. To understand, we need to know about the past as William Faulkner once wrote, “The past isn’t dead and buried. In fact, it isn’t even past.” We need not discuss the total history, but we need to remember that the disparities today can be traced from the inequalities in the past generation due to legacy of slave and Jim Crow “Slavery and the legacy of slavery becomes perhaps the defining feature of the nation” (Byrne). “There are injustices arising from the slavery and Jim Crow laws in education, employment and lack of economic opportunity” (Byrne). So, Obama is angry and bitter. At this time, only Reverend Wright and the other African-Americans of his generation grew up. They turned old but still ‘segregation of land’ was a law. What must be kept in mind is not that how many people failed to face this discrimination but how many overcame the critical situation. The defeat was passed on from generation to generation. On Sunday mornings, people were surprised to hear the anger of Reverend Wright in his sermons. The same anger was found in the white people. They are much hard-working but don’t feel like there dreams coming true. Obama then implies his first rhetorical strategy- He needed to reject Reverend Wright’s controversial statements while not rejecting the pastor’s symbolic representation to and of the black community” (Dilliplane).

Hardly can we get beyond racial discrimination in a ‘single election cycle’ when undergoing through such situations. But by having a firm belief in God, we can form ‘a more perfect union’. “There are several examples of black rhetoric which signals the connection between oratory, religion, and the advancement of African-Americans as a group” (Dilliplane). Reverend Wright did not realise that when following the path of self-help, it also requires a hope that the society can be changed, which ultimately was his mistake. Perfection cannot be achieved just by word but by deeds. “Obama targeted multiple audience- particularly blacks, white working-class democrat and independents, and the media” (Dilliplane).

Obama moves forward towards changing the community thinking. He says that Reverend Wright’s sermon can be played on television and can be discussed till elections. Although, there will be several distractions in the following elections, yet they cannot be helped. One of his rhetorical move was – “Validating the role of oratory in black churches” (Dilliplane). He says that he won’t try to become the President if he didn’t realise what the Americans wanted. At last, he tells about Ashley who was opposite to him in three demographics -age, gender and race but has been organising the campaign since the beginning. At the roundtable discussion, she told that her mother got cancer when she was very young and at that time she decided to help her mother. She ate the cheapest food for a year, till her mother recovered. This was the reason why she joined the campaign to help other people undergoing such worse situations. Several people tried to distract her, but she continued her path with much firm faith. She then asks the people the reasons to join this campaign, everyone has their own specific reasons. But when she asks the black man, he doesn’t give any reason, doesn’t says that he was there because of Barack Obama but simply says, “I am here because of Ashley” (Obama 60). This was really heart- throbbing. Obama concludes that its just the beginning, “It is where our union grows stronger.” What Obama really wants to convey us is that the differences that lie within the African – American community and the problems they go through are frustrating and must be investigated.

The President himself says that he took the presidency only for this reason and wants to make sure that the people get above all these things and live together in unity. Although there had been several disadvantages – “Positioning himself as speaking to multiple perspectives dictated a continuous rhetorical balancing of blacks on the one hand and the whites on the other.” Another – “The theme of “towards a more perfect union” implied an impetus for taking action, yet concrete policy action on race – related issues was rhetorically confounded by Obama’s symbolic function (Dilliplane). Anyways, as we often hear that always there are pros and cones of every, may it be a step being taken by someone or if it is any materialistic thing in the world. Not only this but also, we hear that ‘There are two sides of a coin’ literally, conveying the same matter.

So, we conclude that hardly would Obama be liked by several people being the President, when people might criticize him for the mistakes which can be prompted unknowingly. In either of the things he might prove true or false, but his only target is to convince the people, not actually the people but their hearts by providing them with all the necessities which they require and do aspire to achieve about in their lifetime. Hence, he makes several rhetorical strategies for reaching his audience at his best and I believe he does it to a much extent. He says those with “different stories” have “common hopes” for the future (Obama). The rhetorical construction of his symbolic significance as a part of the march towards a more perfect union and as a microcosm of America’s diverse parts uniting behind one cause – the cause of his candidacy represented” (Dilliplane). So, it a part of every single human being to move towards “A more perfect union.”