Yi 1 Hongkun Yi Professor Morris English 2367 2/11/2020 Power of Identity: Barak Obama’s 2004 keynote speech to Democratic National Convention America is a magical country that creates a home for all people from racial and ethnic backgrounds. People of all directions of the world all the United States of America their home either by birth, naturalization and many other forms towards the acquisition of citizenship thereby creating a country with diverse characteristics of humanity. But in the deepest crown of people living in the country, each has their uniqueness in personality that define their manner of interaction with other people around either from the same community or outsiders. Personal identity, therefore, plays an essential role in social life as it forms (Biography.com) the basis of self-perception, which creates the ground for interpersonal interaction, such as working together with other people for a greater good. The keynote speech delivered by then-Senator for Illinois, Barak Obama, at the 2004 Democratic National Convention presented Obama’s self-identity and how his identity could serve to unite the country which was greatly polarised on politics (Buncombe). He used his personal story of origin as an allegory of American history and that he could represent the face, feeling and social status of the country. Obama’s multi-racial identity could easily juxtapose the multiracial society of the United States and the struggle his family went through in search of a better life could translate the average American life in their daily activities towards making their experience better. It is his presentation of the speech that effectively presented his self-perception which created his unique identity that resonated with the feelings of the larger American society. According to Biograhy.com, Baraka Obama was born out of a Kenyan father and an American mother. His father, Barak Hussein Obama Senior, had visited the United States on an education scholarship program when he met Obama’s mother, his fellow student, and bore Barak Hussein Obama Junior. Unlike in his mother's side of the family that enjoyed a family of average economic status, his father’s family was more impoverished that could not afford the essential things in life despite its hope for a good experience for its members. Obama’s father could not stay with the young family in America after his scholarship was over. His grandparents struggled through service to the country in the World Wars and the factories to ensure food was available and education was attainable the family with a hope of a better future. Barak Obama, therefore identified himself as a perfect definition of American society since the country is a composition of a complex unity of communities with diverse backgrounds of origins and cultures but with sameness in the struggle for the betterment of their lives through in what is identified as the American dream. The United States of America draws its identi.

1. Yi 1
Hongkun Yi
Professor Morris
English 2367
2/11/2020
Power of Identity: Barak Obama’s 2004 keynote speech to
Democratic National Convention
America is a magical country that creates a home for all people
from racial and ethnic backgrounds. People of all directions of
the world all the United States of America their home either by
birth, naturalization and many other forms towards the
acquisition of citizenship thereby creating a country with
diverse characteristics of humanity. But in the deepest crown of
people living in the country, each has their uniqueness in
personality that define their manner of interaction with other
people around either from the same community or outsiders.
Personal identity, therefore, plays an essential role in social life
as it forms (Biography.com) the basis of self-perception, which
creates the ground for interpersonal interaction, such as working
together with other people for a greater good. The keynote
speech delivered by then-Senator for Illinois, Barak Obama, at
the 2004 Democratic National Convention presented Obama’s
self-identity and how his identity could serve to unite the
country which was greatly polarised on politics (Buncombe). He
used his personal story of origin as an allegory of American
history and that he could represent the face, feeling and social
status of the country. Obama’s multi-racial identity could easily
juxtapose the multiracial society of the United States and the
struggle his family went through in search of a better life could
translate the average American life in their daily activities
towards making their experience better. It is his presentation of

2. the speech that effectively presented his self-perception which
created his unique identity that resonated with the feelings of
the larger American society.
According to Biograhy.com, Baraka Obama was born out of a
Kenyan father and an American mother. His father, Barak
Hussein Obama Senior, had visited the United States on an
education scholarship program when he met Obama’s mother,
his fellow student, and bore Barak Hussein Obama Junior.
Unlike in his mother's side of the family that enjoyed a family
of average economic status, his father’s family was more
impoverished that could not afford the essential things in life
despite its hope for a good experience for its members. Obama’s
father could not stay with the young family in America after his
scholarship was over. His grandparents struggled through
service to the country in the World Wars and the factories to
ensure food was available and education was attainable the
family with a hope of a better future. Barak Obama, therefore
identified himself as a perfect definition of American society
since the country is a composition of a complex unity of
communities with diverse backgrounds of origins and cultures
but with sameness in the struggle for the betterment of their
lives through in what is identified as the American dream. The
United States of America draws its identity from European,
Asian and African immigrants who started to live together
among the indigenous of the land on various individualized
purposes. However, the attained independence of the American
from the British throne in 1776 formed a primary identity
among all people in the country towards unified aspirations for
better living through equity and equality (The Department of
State -The Office of The Historian).
Obama opens the speech by presenting himself as a descendant
of the poor minorities with minimal opportunities in society,
just like the experience of most non-white people in the
country. However, his identity connected both the minority and
the majority communities of the country. He claimed that his
presence in the more prominent political platforms was unlikely

3. given his humble background. He provided his identity by
narrating his two words of parents that shared so little. He
described that “My father was a foreign student, born and raised
in a small village in Kenya. He grew up herding goats, went to
school in a tin-roof shack” and that his mother “was born in a
town on the other side of the world, in Kansas.” The two
families had too had “big dreams for their [children], a common
dream born of two continents,” and they worked very hard to
find every opportunity to better their lives. He presents himself
as a person out of two different worlds and therefore a symbol
of diversity. He also a product of a near impossibility as his
father attains prestigious higher education despite coming from
a humble background besides fathering a child with a white
woman in a world the resented black people. His identity,
therefore, is multiple, both white and black, poor and rich, and
he could readily represent the views of the standard American
society. Obama’s story resonated with the majority of
Americans as they could identify with his life.
The speech provides the identity of others as improper
behaviors that bring division, lack of cooperation among people
who can otherwise come together for mutual goodness. He
claimed that “I stand here knowing that my story is part of the
larger American story” that he had been pushed to feel small
growing up as a child with a funny name, from black community
with poor background and therefore not entitled to enjoy
opportunities similar to majority groups in society. However,
his parents gave him “an African name, Barack, or “blessed,”
believing that in a tolerant America, your name is no barrier to
success,” which represents the collective identity of Americans
as one people with similar problems and equal opportunities in
every aspect of life. His quoting of the declaration of
independence as men are created equal and therefore entitled to
enjoy an equitable and fair treatment in life for the same
prosperity emphasizes his connecting of his two worlds to
American history in an allegory.
Although the speech diverted to suit its political context of that

4. moment as a campaign tool for John Kerry’s presidential
ambitions, it assisted in public understanding Obama’s self-
perception, and his identity as an individual who connects
closely with every person in the country. his unique and yet a
commonly representing story among Americans as a descendant
of conflicting worlds that find common grounds in the struggles
for betterment is encouraging and unifying. His story narrated
the experience of both the poor and the wealthy Americans from
the racial divide as he transferred hi personal identity to the
identity of the larger American family for unity and cooperation
in their endeavors. Identity, is, therefore, provided in the speech
as fundamental in shaping human performance in their
individual or collective spaces.
Works Cited
Biography.com. "Barack Obama." Biography, 9 Mar. 2018,
www.biography.com/us-president/barack-obama. Accessed
3 Feb. 2020.
Buncombe, Andrew. "The Speech That First Alerted the World
to Barack Obama's Brilliance." The Independent, 16 Jan. 2017,
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/barack-obama-
key-note-speech-democratic-national-conference-dnc-dreams-
of-my-father-boston-us-a7520291.html. Accessed 3 Feb. 2020.
The Department of State: The Office of The Historian.
"Milestones: 1776–1783." The Department of Sates: Office of
the Historian, 2020, history.state.gov/milestones/1776-
1783/declaration. Accessed 3 Feb. 2020.
Personal Success Plan Checklist and Worksheet
Walden’s Personal Success Plan offers students a blueprint for
professional and academic success. Life can interrupt even the
best made plans, but the Walden University staff and faculty are
here to help.
Use this checklist and worksheet to seek and use your newly

5. acquired academic knowledge with the additional resources we
provide for your success.
Under each category you will find many components that you
can use like a checklist. Then you will find a space to fill in
some information about your goals in this category. Talk about
your plans in this area: have you already done this? What do
you need to do? How will you do it? When?
Finally, at the end of this document is a space for you to write a
few paragraphs about your short term and long term goals.
Emergency Management
(Resources available via your academic advisor)
Complete Authorization to Release Information form.
(Note to Academic Advisor: please locate, under “Program
Forms”), to establish an emergency contact.
· Learn about the Student Assistance Program.
· Learn more about Walden drop dates (if necessary, you will
need to complete a Withdrawal Form); understand what a leave
of absence means.
· Learn how to contact Disability Services for any ongoing
medical concerns.
What are your plans for Emergency Management? Discuss
what, how, and when you’ll accomplish these tasks as part of
your success plan. (address at least 2 of these)
Family Life
· Clearly explain your educational goals to your family and

6. closest friends.
· Identify childcare options, if necessary, so you are able to
focus on your school work.
· Establish a dedicated study area and print your course
schedule, so you know what is due on a weekly basis.
· Discuss your new academic priorities to those who matter
most to you.
What are your plans for Family Life? Discuss what, how, and
when you’ll accomplish these tasks as part of your success plan.
(address at least 2 of these)
Classroom Management: Walden Resources Available
· If you need to request an extension on an assignment, contact
your instructor within the classroom and provide evidence for
your request.
· Review the class syllabus in Week 1, note all due dates on the
schedule so you can see potential conflicts with work and life
obligations.
· Review Walden’s Academic Calendar.
· If you have questions or concerns about classroom
expectations, contact your faculty and your advisor.
What are your plans for Classroom Management: Walden
Resources Available? Discuss what, how, and when you’ll
accomplish these tasks as part of your success plan. (address at
least 2 of these)
Self-Enrichment

7. · Plan a routine to take care of yourself.
· Develop a support circle of friends and family to encourage
you to move forward in your degree.
· Identify a health mentor (colleague, friend, health
professional, or guidance counselor) to whom you can go to for
guidance.
· Make time for healthy food decisions and regular exercise.
What are your plans for Self-Enrichment? Discuss what, how,
and when you’ll accomplish these tasks as part of your success
plan. (address at least 2 of these)
Technology Support & Plan
· Create a plan for if your internet goes out or your computer
goes down; know how to back-up assignments.
· Identify the software that is new to you that you need to
practice; recognize any gaps in your technology tool kit, and
ask about additional resources.
· Locate a technology mentor to help you (face to face or
virtual; learn about Walden’s student support services).
What are your plans for Technology Support & Plan? Discuss
what, how, and when you’ll accomplish these tasks as part of
your success plan. (address at least 2 of these)
Professional Guidance
· Establish a financial plan for your time in college.
· Consider your program and potential career path during and
after your degree.
· Update your resume (Walden’s Career Services offers a free

8. software called Optimal Resume).
· Identify and catalog your professional skills; determine what
skills are necessary to obtain your professional goals.
· Sign up for a Walden Career Services Webinar.
What are your plans for Professional Guidance? Discuss what,
how, and when you’ll accomplish these tasks as part of your
success plan. (address at least 2 of these)
Time Management
· Schedule an appointment with your advisor, and look closely
at your competing obligations.
· Contact and review resources on time management at
Walden’s Career Services Website.
· Utilize time between terms for designing an action plan; work
to make school a crucial space in your intellectual life.
· Make steps to create a space for learning in your life, and
never miss an opportunity to gain useful knowledge when it is
presented to you.
What are your plans for Time Management? Discuss what, how,
and when you’ll accomplish these tasks as part of your success
plan. (address at least 2 of these)
Short Term and Long Term Goals
· Think about why you are here at Walden.
· What do you hope to gain: academically, professionally,
personally?
· What do you hope to learn and apply?
· How do you think you can plan to include social change in
your personal and/or professional life?

9. · What specific ways to this class and the assignments you’ve
completed help you form these goals?
Use this space to write at least 2-3 paragraphs about your Short
Term and Long Term Goals.
© 2014 Laureate Education, Inc. Page 6 of 6
Collaborative Writing Project
Peer Review Worksheet
Collaborative Writing Project
Peer Review WorksheetPeer Review Worksheet
Name of author ________________ Name of
reviewer__________________
1. Introduction: How does the first paragraph introduce both the
paper’s topic and the writer’s approach or general conclusion?
Is the first sentence attention-getting and relevant to the topic?
2. What can you identify as a thesis statement? Suggest, if
possible, a way to improve the introduction or thesis statement.
3. Structure: Can you identify the organization of the paper
from the main idea of each paragraph? What are the main
concepts explored in the paper? Does each paragraph make a
relevant point that is distinct from what has already been
covered? What are the main conclusions?
4. Clarity/Style: Did you find distracting grammar, punctuation,
spelling, or word usage problems? Circle them and identify any
patterns or themes you detect. Is the tone of the essay formal? If
you find awkward sentences, try to explain why they don’t make
sense to you.

10. 5. Resources: Does the author clearly identify his/her sources?
Is proper in-text and reference format used?
6. What is/are the paper’s greatest strength(s)? Explain.
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