Journal of Black Studies

Transcription

1 Journal of Black Studies Senator Barack Obama: The Rhetoric of Hope and the American Dream Deborah F. Atwater Journal of Black Studies : 121 originally published online 20 September 2007 DOI: / The online version of this article can be found at: Published by: Additional services and information for Journal of Black Studies can be found at: Alerts: Subscriptions: Reprints: Permissions: Citations: >> Version of Record - Oct 22, 2007 OnlineFirst Version of Record - Sep 20, 2007 What is This? Downloaded from jbs.sagepub.com at PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV on March 3, 2014

2 Senator Barack Obama The Rhetoric of Hope and the American Dream Deborah F. Atwater The Pennsylvania State University Journal of Black Studies Volume 38 Number 2 November Sage Publications / hosted at This article offers a brief discussion of the origin of Senator Barack Obama s rhetoric of hope. Specifically, it discusses how Senator Obama creates a contemporary vision of an inclusive America and the American dream by examining his 2004 Keynote Democratic National Convention Speech and his latest book, The Audacity of Hope. In doing so, one gets an idea of who the man is, what his core values are, and why these values are important to him and to us as a society. Keywords: Obama; rhetoric; hope; American Dream; core values With the March 29, 2007, Jesse Jackson s endorsement of Senator Barack Obama s candidacy for president of the United States and his successful raising of $25 million, it is necessary and fitting to take a serious look at the Barack Obama phenomenon. In fact as early as 2005, Savoy describes Senator Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters, Malia and Sasha, as representing an American ideal. Notes Illinois Congressman Danny Davis, Kind of storybook stuff. Camelot (Benson, 2005, p. 63). This reference made no doubt to former President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie, and their children, John Jr. and Caroline. However, I would be remiss if I did not state that Senator Obama stands on the shoulders of other African Americans that ran for the office of the president, starting with Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm in 1972, Jesse Jackson, Carol Mosely Braun, Al Sharpton, and Alan Keyes, to name a few. One could argue that perhaps we have come full circle with Jackson s endorsement in that it was Jackson who sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, winning 13 primaries and caucuses in In those campaigns, the country was told consistently by Jackson to keep hope alive. 121

3 122 Journal of Black Studies The purpose of this article is to briefly discuss how Senator Barack Obama uses the rhetoric of hope to reach a wide American audience. Specifically, I have chosen to examine two artifacts, his 2004 Keynote Democratic National Convention Speech and his book, The Audacity of Hope, to assess the overall roots of his rhetoric of hope. Who is Senator Barack Obama? From his official Web site ( it states the following: Barack Obama has dedicated his life to public service as a community organizer, civil rights attorney, and leader in the Illinois state Senate. Obama now continues his fight for working families following his recent election to the United States Senate. Sworn into office January 4, 2005, Senator Obama is focused on promoting economic growth and bringing good paying jobs to Illinois. Obama serves on the important Environment and Public Works Committee, which oversees legislation and funding for the environment and public works projects throughout the country, including the national transportation bill. He also serves on the Veterans Affairs Committee where he is focused on investigating the disability pay discrepancies that have left thousands of Illinois veterans without the benefits they earned. Senator Obama also serves on the Foreign Relations Committee. During his eight years in the Illinois state Senate, Obama worked with both Democrats and Republicans to help working families get ahead by creating programs like the state Earned Income Tax Credit, which in three years provided over $100 million in tax cuts to families across the state. Obama also pushed through an expansion of early childhood education, and after a number of inmates on death row were found innocent, Senator Obama enlisted the support of law enforcement officials to draft legislation requiring the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in all capital cases. Obama is especially proud of being a husband and father of two daughters, Malia, 8 and Sasha, 5. Obama and his wife, Michelle, married in 1992 and live on Chicago s South Side where they attend Trinity United Church of Christ. Barack Obama was born on August 4th, 1961, in Hawaii to Barack Obama, Sr. and Ann Dunham. Obama graduated from Columbia University in 1983, and moved to Chicago in 1985 to work for a church-based group seeking to improve living conditions in poor neighborhoods plagued with crime and high unemployment. In 1991, Obama graduated from Harvard Law School where he was the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review.

4 Atwater / Rhetoric of Hope 123 In this short statement, Senator Obama lists his current service and accomplishments to his constituents first, and the statement ends with his family and personal achievements. One is able to get a sense of who he is and what is important to him. Rhetoric of Hope Although there are numerous definitions of rhetoric from Aristotle s so let rhetoric be defined as the faculty(power) of discovering in the particular case what are the available means of persuasion (Cooper, 1960, p. 7), to more contemporary definitions as in Hauser s rhetoric, then, is the management of symbols to coordinate social action (Hauser, 1986, p. 3), or Asante s rhetoric is concerned with the communication of ideas, values, opinions, and beliefs in an effort to elicit the approval or acceptance of others (Asante, 1969, p. 3), I am defining a rhetoric of hope as the use of symbols to get Americans to care about this country, to want to believe in this country, to regain hope and faith in this country, and to believe that we are more alike than we are different with a common destiny and a core set of values. A rhetoric of hope also entails an important persuasion campaign. Senator Obama really wants more people to participate in the political process and ultimately to vote for him. If you only believe and have hope, then it really is possible for Senator Barack Obama to be the first Black president elected to lead the most powerful country in the world. But why would Senator Obama think that this is even possible? His peers who elected Barack Obama as the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review say he was a natural leader, an impressive student, a nice guy. It was here that Obama recognized the power of his biography (Kantor, 2007, p. 1). I would also argue that perhaps a part of Obama s hopes and aspirations lies in the past candidacy of the Reverend Jesse Jackson. The 1984 Democratic Presidential Campaign will surely take its place in history as one of the landmark events in this nation. Jesse Jackson is largely responsible for creating this history. This is, in part, because of his charismatic image, his ethos. This campaign brought to the fore the national and international concerns of Blacks. He helped to break down feelings of White superiority and more importantly, he restored the faith of many in the political process. There are many who say that Senator Obama s campaign is poised to be another historical landmark. Jackson s push for the presidency offered a boost to Black political participation, and perhaps Obama s campaign is the clear beneficiary of

5 124 Journal of Black Studies this. What was Jackson s own assessment of his presidential race in 1984? The first impact was psychological. It lifted our self-esteem and our esteem as a people, and it raised our sights as to what was possible (Nelson, 1985, p. 26). In essence, Jackson gave millions of people young and old a reason to hope again. Now with the advent of Barack Obama, hope may be on the horizon again. The following is Barack Obama s response to Jackson s endorsement: This campaign has been about giving hope since Day 1, and I am proud to have the support of my friend Jesse Jackson. It is because people like Jesse ran that I have this opportunity to run for president today (CBSnews.com, March 29, 2007). The 2004 Democratic National Convention Speech: The Beginnings of a Rhetoric of Hope? This keynote speech, Out of Many, One, was delivered on July 27, 2004, in Boston, and as a result, Obama rose to national prominence. In the beginning of his speech, he expresses his gratitude to his family and like Barbara Jordan in her 1976 Democratic National Convention keynote address, he too expresses the unlikelihood that he is speaking to this particular audience. He states, I stand here knowing that my story is a part of the larger American story, that I owe a debt to all of those who came before me, and that in no other country on earth, is my story even possible. Here, one might say that he is referring to the American Dream. His firm belief in the greatness of America is best expressed with this statement, Our pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in a declaration made over two hundred years ago: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. He asks his fellow Americans, Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to work on this dream to make it a reality for everyone. He further discusses a series of stories of people that he has met in small and big cities around the country to give the immediate audience at the convention and, more importantly, the rest of the country a sense of belonging to a broader inclusive community. If you will, he expresses the need for all of us to share in the American Dream. For Senator Obama, this means good jobs, education, health care, safety, and affordable housing.

6 Atwater / Rhetoric of Hope 125 Specifically he says, You know a while back, I met a young man named Seamus in a V.F.W. Hall in East Moline, Ill. He was a good-looking kid, six two, six three, clear eyed with an easy smile. He told me that he d join the Marines, and was heading to Iraq the following week. And as I listened to him explain why he d enlisted, the absolute faith he had in our country and its leaders, his devotion to duty and service, I thought this young man was all that any of us might hope for in a child. (Obama, 2004) Then Barack asks are we serving Seamus as well as he is serving us? Let me be clear. We have real enemies in the world. These enemies must be found. They must be pursued and they must be defeated. John Kerry knows this. He will not hesitate to do what is necessary to keep America safe and secure. John Kerry believes in America. And he knows that it s not enough for just some of us to prosper. (Obama, 2004) Senator Obama implies that the hope is that all of us will one day prosper. At the end of his speech, he forcefully states, We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America. In the end, that is what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or do we participate in a politics of hope? John Kerry calls on us to hope. John Edwards calls on us to hope. I m not talking about blind optimism here, the almost willful ignorance that thinks unemployment will go away if we just don t think about it, or the health-care crisis will solve itself if we just ignore it. That s not what I m talking about. I m talking about something more substantial. It s the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs. The hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores. The hope of a young naval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta. The hope of a mill worker s son who dares to defy the odds. The hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too. Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope! He ends with the rallying call for all to vote in the 2004 election.

7 126 Journal of Black Studies America! Tonight if you feel the same energy that I do, if you feel the same urgency that I do, if you feel the same passion I do, if you feel the same hopefulness that I do if we do what we must do, then I have no doubts that John Kerry will be sworn in as president, and John Edwards will be sworn in as vice president, and this country will reclaim its promise, and out of this long political darkness, a brighter day will come. But where do you go, what do you do after the Democratic National Convention? The Audacity of Hope Senator Obama was elected to the United States Senate, fall 2004, and his first book, Dreams of My Father, was published August His second book, Audacity of Hope, was published October He explains the title of the book, It wasn t just the struggles of these men and women that had moved me. Rather, it was their determination, their self-reliance, a relentless optimism in the face of hardship. It brought to mind a phrase that my pastor, Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., had once used in a sermon. The audacity of hope. That was the best of the American spirit, I thought-having the audacity to believe despite all the evidence to the contrary that we could restore a sense of community to a nation torn by conflict. (Obama, 2006, p. 356) The essence of this book might be defined as a blueprint for his political career and, in light of his presidential bid, his belief and stand on major issues. So what holds us together? He says that if anything, what struck me was just how modest people s hopes were, and how much of what they believed seemed to hold constant across race, region, religion, and class (Obama, 2006, p. 51) and that not so beneath the surface, I think we are becoming more, not less alike (Obama, 2006, p. 269). His rhetoric of hope may also be defined as a rhetoric of new politics. Perhaps more than any other time in our recent history, we need a new kind of politics, one that can excavate and build upon those shared understandings that pull us together as Americans. (Obama, 2006, p. 9). And we need to remind ourselves, despite all of our differences, just how much we share: Common hopes, common dreams, a bond that will not break. (Obama, 2006, p. 25)

8 Atwater / Rhetoric of Hope 127 I imagine that they are waiting for a politics with maturity to balance idealism and realism, to distinguish between what can and cannot be compromised to admit the possibility that the other side might sometimes have a point. (Obama, 2006, p. 42) For the average American worker, that security rested on three pillars: The ability to find a job that paid enough to support a family and save for emergencies; a package of health and retirement benefits from his employer; and a government safety net social security, Medicaid and Medicare, unemployment insurance. (Obama, 2006, p. 177) Core American Values Senator Obama is convinced that our values and spiritual life matter at least as much as our GDP. Barack Obama also takes great pains to discuss the core values of this country. He asks, What are the core values that we, as Americans, hold in common? (Obama, 2006, p. 52). The values of self-reliance and self-improvement and risk-taking. The values of drive, discipline, temperance, and hard work. The values of thrift and personal responsibility. The values of equal opportunity and nondiscrimination complement rather than impinge on our liberty (Obama, 2006, pp ). As he did in his 2004 Democratic address, he quotes the Declaration of Independence, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness (Obama, 2006, p. 53). For him, the Constitution envisions a road map by which we marry passion to reason, the ideal of individual freedom to the demands of the community. His explanation for being a Democrat is simply this, It is this idea that our communal values, our sense of mutual responsibility and social solidarity should also be expressed through our government (Obama, 2006, p. 63). Although he appears to be an eternal optimist about this country, he does acknowledge that there are things that need to be changed and improved with regards to race relations: To suggest that our racial attitudes play no part in these disparities is to turn a blind eye to both our history and our experience-and to relieve ourselves of the responsibility to make things right. For many Blacks in the South, the filibuster had snuffed our hope. (Obama, 2006, pp. 81, 233)

9 128 Journal of Black Studies His optimism concerning race relations in this country is exemplified by this statement: That whatever preconceived notions White Americans may continue to hold, the overwhelming majority of them these days are able if given time to look beyond race in making their judgments of people. (Obama, 2006, p. 235) Many of us would ask, how much time, given the history of race relations in this country. In spite of everything, Senator Obama expresses an unfailing, steadfast sense of optimism and hope. He says, Still, when I look at what past generations of minorities have had to overcome, I am optimistic about the ability of this next generation to continue their advance into the economic mainstream (Obama, 2006, p. 241). And what is his message to immigrants? I am your friend. [Fill in the home country] has been a cradle of civilization, and, You embody the American dream (Obama, 2006, pp ). However, he does expect something in return from those that come to our shores. We can insist to those already here that with citizenship come obligations to a common language, common loyalties, a common purpose, a common destiny. Obama boldly states, America is big enough to accommodate all their dreams (Obama, 2006, pp ). From his youth, he says that Indonesia serves as a useful metaphor for the world beyond our borders a world in which globalization and sectarianism, poverty and plenty, modernity and antiquity constantly collide (Obama, 2006, p. 279). Therefore, all of us have to be ready to engage and be a positive influence in the larger global community. As good Americans, he is confident that we all can be accepting. The last chapter of his book deals with family in general and his own in particular. He expresses his love and gratitude to his wife for a number of reasons. He views her as a remarkable woman in the fact that she is beautiful and has the strength necessary to manage tensions caused by being married to an elected public servant. Also, he acknowledges her many sacrifices on behalf of him and his daughters to carry them through the difficult times. Senator Obama s satisfaction now is the following: I think being useful to my family and the people who elected me, leaving behind a legacy that will make our children s lives more hopeful than our own (Obama, 2006, p. 361). It sounds simple, but it is an elusive goal to say the least. In this article, I have briefly discussed definitions of rhetoric, Senator Obama s background, and his use of a rhetoric of hope by examining two of his artifacts, his 2004 Keynote Democratic National Convention Speech

10 Atwater / Rhetoric of Hope 129 and his latest book, The Audacity of Hope, for all to achieve the American Dream. The phenomenon of Senator Barack Obama and his rhetoric of hope appeal may actually take him into the White House. In the words of Jesse Jackson, perhaps Our time has come, if we keep hope alive! References Asante, M. K. (1969). Rhetoric of Black revolution. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Benson, C. (2005). Barack and Michelle Obama begin their storied journey. Savoy, 1(1), 60-69, 103. Cooper, L. (1960). The rhetoric of Aristotle: New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts. Hauser, G. A. (1986). Introduction to rhetorical theory. New York: Harper & Row. Kantor, J. (2007, January 28). In law school, Obama found political voice. New York Times, pp. 1, 21. Nelson, J. (1985). Jesse Jackson now. Essence, 16(4), 26. Obama, B. (2004, July 14). Out of many, one. Democratic National Convention, Boston, Massachusetts. Obama, B. (2006). The audacity of hope: Thoughts on reclaiming the American dream. New York: Crown. Deborah F. Atwater, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University. Her research interests include intercultural communication, African American rhetoric, and the rhetoric of African American women.