The Golden Age of the American Soapbox
Across the country, impromptu speakers drew crowds and arrests alike, turning public oratory into a defining feature of civic life.
“A Time To Speak”: Annotated
On September 15, 1963, a bomb killed four Black children in Birmingham, Alabama. Who threw that bomb? Each of us, argued Birmingham lawyer Charles Morgan, Jr.
Jimmy Carter and the Meaning of Malaise
In July of 1979, Jimmy Carter delivered a presidential address that was more like a sermon, urging America to reflect upon its meaning and purpose.
Barack Obama and the Nommo Tradition of Afrocentric Orality
A scholar analyzes two of Barack Obama's commencement speeches, using West African nommo oratory as a guide.
The Delightful Language of Commencement
Commencement speeches have inspired, motivated and captivated many. Just what makes the words found in them so wonderful and life-affirming?