Introduction
The problem of systemic oppression of African American people in the U.S. remains tremendous injustice and a shameful part of everyday reality in the U.S. The level of violence that African American people experience has been unprecedentedly high particularly over the past several years (“An interview with the founders of Black Lives Matter,” 2016). Therefore, there is a pressing need to address the problem of racial profiling and violence toward African American people in American society. In their TED talk devoted to the movement of Black Lives Matter, its founders Alicia Garza, Patrice Cullors, Opal Tometi, and Mia Birdsong unravel the challenges that the Black Lives Matter movement is facing, describe its goals, and outline the further steps that the movement is likely to be taking.
TED Talk Analysis
Purpose
The goal of the TED Talk in question was to provide insight into the main objectives, accomplishments, and strategy of the Black Lives Matter movement. The history of the Black Lives Matter movement, which the activists delved into in quite great detail, was particularly interesting to hear. Although the narrative of systemic oppression and the effects that it has had on the women that headed the movement were quite expected, the vivid details of the stories that were told made a huge impression. As a result, the main premise of the movement as the idea of equity in American society was distilled during the conversation.
In addition, to offer a better insight into the concept of the movement, the invited experts provided their perspective by describing their personal experience of racism. Namely, the recollections of the childhood trauma caused by injustice. Specifically, as one of the founders of the movement told about her house being raided as she was a kid, the understanding of the racism and injustice of the situation was staggering to her (“An interview with the founders of Black Lives Matter,” 2016). Thus, the main purpose of the TED Talk in question can be defined as providing the background to the movement and making the general audience aware of the goals of Black Lives Matter.
Rhetorical Situations and Evidence
The retrospect into the childhood of the narrators mentioned above can be seen as a powerful rhetorical device that allowed starting the conversation and transitioning to the main theme of it very smoothly and almost seamlessly. In addition, the inclusion of the specified details allowed the audience to relate closer to the participants and understand the goals of the movement better. In addition, the speakers incorporate the evidence from the latest events and occurrences related to the mistreatment of African American people, thus building the feasibility of their argument.
Style
The manner in which the participants introduced their argument and incorporated the rhetorical devices mentioned above in their speech shaped the flow of the discussion to a great extent. In addition, the composed fashion in which the conversation took place has helped to reinforce the message of the significance of peace and cooperation. Namely, the importance of addressing the lack of awareness about the subject matter by transferring the focus from representatives of the white American community to those of the African American background is essential.
Namely, the approach based on which the suitability of regulations and standards is defined primarily by its effects on the well-being of white people first needs to be reconsidered as the approach that is rooted in racism. Specifically, the needs of African American people will have to be recognized as equally important to those of the white community. Likewise, the visibility of African American people must be increased. Thus, the severity of the issues that the members of the Black community are facing currently can be addressed properly. The style that the participants of the conversation have chosen to contemplate the problem of racism, as well as the role that Black Lives Matter plays in its eradication, contributes to the perception of the issue and the understanding of its importance.
The combination of a clear delivery of the key information and the importance with which the news was delivered allowed to make the specified piece of information convincing. As a result, the participants of the specified performance were not subjected to any risks, including the risk of physical harm, which participating in it. However, it was the calm, composed, and imperturbable attitude that produced the greatest emotional impact on all these participating in the discussion. In the conversation that addresses a topic as heated as the problem of police violence and the inherent racism that allows for police violence to take place, one is expected to observe a significant amount of racism to be expressed by the members of the local community.
Conclusion
By exploring the concept of the Black Lives Matter movement in-depth, the participants of the TED Talk conversation have managed to convey the core principles of the change that the movement is expected to bring. Namely, the speakers voiced the demand for social justice and the significance of building relationships based on the concepts of equity and respect as the foundational ideas that the movement supports. The evidence used during the conversation, as well as the calm and composed style of communication used by the participants, has helped to further the dialogue and discuss the problem objectively. In addition, the passion with which the speakers addressed the problem at hand contributed to a more emotional and, thus, more profound perception of the issue.
Reference
An interview with the founders of Black Lives Matter. (2016).