Barack Obama's Eulogy for John Lewis Analysis Essay

As time flies by, people live and die, and soon be completely forgotten in less than a few generations. Leaving a lasting impression and being remembered by future generations, impacting them long after death, is an achievement few people can accomplish and is one for the history books. On July 30th, 2020, in Ebenezer Baptist Church, the spiritual home of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Barack Obama, and other close friends and family gathered together to commemorate the life and death of civil rights activist and former United States Representative, John Robert Lewis. Obama delivered a beautiful eulogy to observe the achievements of Lewis and inspire not only the in-person attendees but also millions of Americans on live television broadcasting. During the eulogy, the height of the Black Lives Movement and the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, leaving millions in a frenzy and in a situation no one would ever think of. Especially, the recent death of George Floyd and the increasing injustice and inequality of African-Americans and minorities, caused a spark in Obama to act and perform his powerful eulogy. Throughout the piece, his delivery shifts from sorrowful for the recent death of Lewis to compassionate as he describes Lewis’s struggles, achievements, and the ever-lasting impact Lewis made on our democracy and society. Lewis has personally impacted Obama as he was his inspiration and hero, which later turned into his mentor and friend. Lewis's accomplishments during the Civil Rights Movement motivated Obama to fulfill his goals in politics, become a US president, and impact citizens on a bigger scale. Obama aspires to be like Lewis and carries inside him to never be satisfied with the current situation in our society and to strive for something better than before. In his uplifting eulogy for John Lewis, President Barack Obama displays the devotion and acts of Lewis through his rhetorical choices in order to drive the people of America for a better today and future.

To show the countless examples of acts and services of John Lewis, Obama appeals to listeners and viewers through perseverance and sacrifice. Through the consonance, “As they knelt to pray, which made their heads even easier targets… he thought he was going to die, …the sight of young Americans gagging, and bleeding, and trampled, victims in their own country of state-sponsored violence”, one is reminded of the sacrifices Lewis took for a greater change (Obama 3-4). This illustrates the attacks John Lewis had during the Civil Rights Movement and the savage violence against his peaceful protests. Furthermore, Lewis’s willingness to create “good trouble” gives insight into how much he was truly invested in his beliefs. He would miss his graduation and travel across the country to make a statement to the government and the status quo. Obama continues to show the acts of Lewis through the consonance, “But the testing of his faith produced perseverance…we have to be vigilant against the darker currents of this country’s history…with their whirlpools of violence and hatred and despair that can always rise again” (Obama 5). This displays the true determination and endurance of Lewis, and what he experienced throughout his life did not deter him from his goals and objectives. Moreover, Lewis did not let anything get in his way to accomplish what he wanted, showing that anything is possible with enough effort and dedication. It shows that anybody can make a difference.

To exemplify more acts and services of John Lewis, Obama continues with accomplishments Lewis had throughout his life. Through the rhetorical appeal ethos, “When we do form a more perfect union…John Lewis will be a founding father of that fuller fairer, better America” (Obama 5). This depicts how much of an influence Lewis was on the history of the United States and how his contributions still make a difference after his death. In addition, his legacy will still be remembered throughout America and its citizens, showing his tremendous character and heroism. Likewise, Lewis’s acts are a stepping stone on which our society is built, which brings us closer to a better America. Obama advances his appeal to Lewis’s credibility through another example of ethos, “John was only 20 years old… he pushed all twenty of those years to the center of the table, betting everything…his example could challenge centuries of convention, and generations of brutal violence, and countless daily indignities suffered by African Americans” (Obama 3). This shows at such a young age Lewis understood the problems within our infrastructure and the eagerness to take on the problems head-on. Similarly, Lewis at a young age creates change gives inspiration to young Americans which could be the trivial catalyst for them to act now. To add on, Lewis’s credibility being built at such a young age shows his maturity and his courageousness during a time in which colored people were discriminated against and segregated.

To motivate the people of America and to continue Lewis’s legacy, Obama repetitively phrases on to strive and create changes today. Through the anaphora, “We are going to have to be more like John…Like John, we have got to keep getting into that good trouble…Like John, we don’t have to choose between protest and politics…Like John, we have got to fight even harder for the most powerful tool we have, which is the right to vote,” Obama reminds the people of America to be like John Lewis and be a difference-maker in society (Obama 6-7). Furthermore, Lewis is an example of a normal citizen making an enormous influence. Lewis is just like the rest of us who stepped up and took action when seeing injustice. Obama continues to inspire with the anaphora, “Once we pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, we should keep marching to make it even better…By making sure every American is automatically registered to vote…By adding polling places, and expanding early voting…By guaranteeing that every American citizen has equal representation in our own government…By ending some of the partisan gerrymandering” (Obama 7). This illustrates why we should keep on improving our democracy and should never stop. Stopping at just doing one impactful thing is not sufficient, the neverending process of improving is John Lewis’s legacy. To carry on, even in his old age and before his death, he never stopped going against the attacks on democracy. Never being satisfied defines his legacy and doing so honors it.

Obama’s uplifting eulogy for the numerous acts and deeds of John Lewis through rhetorical choices gives a call to action for the people of today and tomorrow. Through the use of consonance, Obama depicts Lewis with the utmost perseverance with constant, unselfish sacrifices. With the appeal of Ethos, Lewis is described with tremendous character and heroism. Finally, with the use of anaphora, Obama repeatedly nails it in to be motivated by Lewis and to honor and continue his legacy. Even throughout many years and generations, John Robert Lewis will be remembered in America and on the people he impacted. He will not only be remembered for the achievements he accomplished but for the way he achieved and created change with such tenacious effort. With the same determination as Lewis, do not wait and sit around for change to happen, stand up and make a difference right now.