President Barack Obama’s speech on race, given in Philadelphia on the 18th of March, 2008, was not just a campaign speech; its theme was an issue that America cannot ignore, and it’s one that has been at the forefront of the national conversation time and again.

This book places Obama’s speech in its political and historical context and includes commentary on its part in the national conversation about race, analysis on the six parts of the speech, and an examination of how Obama conveyed his meaning through vocabulary, grammar, poetic devices, and structure.

The book provides insight not only into Obama as a speechmaker but also into Obama’s approach to questions of race, to social and political conditions and problems, and to the way forward for the nation, as he discussed the common goals and aspirations of both white and Black communities, as well as the path along which Americans must travel to achieve unity and a better future for all. The speech is distinguished by its adult and nuanced approach to difficult topics and by its respect for the intelligence of the voting public. It is a speech that many historians believe will be remembered for many years to come.

This book measures 8.5 x 11 inches, but it also comes in a standard trade paperback size (6 x 9 inches). That version is titled Where the Perfection Begins. (See below.)