Many African American women stand as a testament to their fight for their rights and their warranted place in society. These women, despite the challenges faced due to racism and sexism, continuously break barriers and prove the people who do not believe in them wrong. One of these notable figures was Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman to run for president. Through her presidential candidate speech, she uses repetition and an appeal to the American democratic ideals in order to position herself as a qualified and credible candidate. Her use of repetition allows Chisholm to acknowledge her audience, thereby, making her a candidate for the American people. She begins her speech with the continuous emphasis on “I am not the candidate …show more content…
Furthermore, she ends this repetition by stating that she is not “the candidate of any political bosses.or special interests.” The American public has long seen candidates run with endorsements and goals not necessarily aligned with American interests. She wants to convey to her audience of Americans from all backgrounds that she is not influenced by others, whether they have similar backgrounds to her or even endorsements. This reinforces her independence as a politician, showing her audience her integrity to the American people. Furthermore, Chisholm continuously restates “we’’ and ‘’our” when she discusses similar viewpoints and when defining who “we” are as Americans. Through this use of parallel structures, she is able to foster a sense of community and shared purpose. This can invoke a sense of inclusivity with her audience, giving her a chance to bond and relate to an