Question

3. In paragraph 5, President Obama remarks: "You know, when Trayvon Martin was first shot I said that this could have been my son. Another way of saying that is Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago ." How does President Obama use rhetoric in this quote to contribute to the overall meaning of his speech?

Answer 1

Paragraph 5, President Obama uses rethoric to convice his readers that all lives matter.
By saying that Trayvon Martin could have been him 35 years ago, he tries to express that is imposible to know what great things people will do in their future. He wants to highlight that life is precious and should not be taken away so easily.

Answer 2

Obama's rhetoric aligns his own experiences with those of Trayvon Martin to highlight racial profiling and bias, and to connect deeply with the African American community's ongoing struggle against institutional racism.

Step-by-step explanation:

President Obama uses powerful rhetoric in his remarks about Trayvon Martin to underscore the personal connection and the shared experiences many African Americans, including himself, have with racial profiling and societal bias. This personalization serves to humanize and deepen the national dialogue around racial issues. When Obama says "Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago," he is using himself as an example to highlight the ongoing struggles against institutional racism and the importance of recognizing the African American community's collective pain and experiences.