Leanne’s book is for public speaking what Oren Harari’s The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell is for leadership.  The book succeeds as an aid for those who find themselves speaking in front of audiences with any frequency. It also has a secondary benefit by providing a glimpse into the political philosophy its subject through his own words.

There are plenty of lessons to be learned from this book even if one doesn’t agree with Obama’s thoughts and beliefs, but the material has the potential to wear on those who differ with him on certain issues.  Say It Like Obama’s opening chapter begins with the full text of Obama’s 2004 Democratic Convention Keynote Address and ends with the full text of his 2008 acceptance speech.

I’ll start with what I like about the book.  For those who speak in public but have had little training, Say It does a good job of explaining rhetorical techniques employed by Obama that help him get his points across.

There are simple concepts like alliteration and asking rhetorical questions that are easy enough to grasp.  But then there are others like polysyndeton, epistrophe, and mesdiplosis that you’ve probably have never heard of, but once explained are evidnent in Obama’s speeches and adaptable for principals, pastors, or part-time bloggers.

My favorite section was Chapter 6, Driving Points Home.   Here the author examines how her subject uses repetition, the power of three (triadic extension), as well as slogans and refrains to make his message more clear.  Yes we can is used as an example of repetition, and you can picture Obama delivering these lines and even hear the crowd chant with him while going through this part of the book.  I also like the advice of giving “just enough” detail, using the right amount of information to paint a picture or convey a message.

One of the things that I would have liked to see more of was other speakers who have employed similar techniques as Obama.  Understanding that the book wasn’t written for today, down the road these words will appear much more fresh - especially for those who’ve heard the senator speak often in the last 18 months.

While mixing passages of Kennedy, Lincoln and (some) King to the discussion, a few more examples from these great speakers may have kept the author from having to make two points with one Obama speech.

My other issues was that some of the passages were just too long.  The book was at it’s best when it went down to the paragraph and sentence level.  Some Obama excerpts covered three or four pages. I’d imagine his political opponents could only take so much even in the name of becoming a better speaker.

For me, Say It Like Obama: The Power of Speaking with Purpose and Vision, now goes right beside the Powell leadership book on my bookshelf.  When crafting a speech, I’ll be able to pull specific techniques that will help me deliver my ideas more clearly.  Dr. Leanne succeeds in thoughtfully mixing public speaking and politics to produce a useful guide for all.

IT’S AMERICA’S GREATEST MYSTERY

Who Killed JFK?

Was it Oswald? Or someone else?
CJ Floyd thinks he knows…

BESTSELLING MYSTERY

AUTHOR

ROBERT GREER

returns to Dallas

for two

“don’t miss” author talks!

Sunday, April 20, 5-7PM

Author Talk, Reading, & Book Signing
Brooklyn - a jazzy place
1701 South Lamar
Dallas, TX 75215
214.428.0025

(cash bar and meal)

Monday, April 21, 10AM
Book Talk with Emma Rodgers
Senior Access Book Club

Methodist Charlton Medical Center
3500 W. Wheatland Road
Dallas, TX 75237-3460
214.947.7777

Meet Robert Greer and hear his fascinating take on what transpired all those years ago in Dallas.

The Mongoose Deception is the latest, lauded

CJ Floyd mystery. The next title in the series,

Blackbird, Farewell, is due in stores October 14, 2008.

For more information, please contact:

Caitlin Hamilton Marketing & Publicity, LLC

303-469-4464 ph/fax or oceanpoint_view@yahoo.com

Or please visit http://www.robertgreerbooks.com

Eastfield College’s African-American Read-in is scheduled for Wednesday, February 27, 11:28 a.m. - 1 p.m. in Building S, Room 100.

This year’s theme is words and music; those who wish to participate should prepare a 2-3 minute piece that includes a famous quote or speech by an African American.

There will also be a special tribute to The Black Woman. If you would like to honor an “unforgettable” African American woman who directly or indirectly had an influence on your life, please make time to join us. It will be time well spent.

For more information, contact Brynndah C. Hicks at 972-860-7076 or email your tribute to bhicks@dcccd.edu.

Dr. Vivi Monroe Congress, author of Manna For Mamma: Wisdom for Women in the Wilderness, will moderate the showcase in the Studio, located on the third Floor of the Central Library. Scheduled authors are:

• Barbara Porter Coleman, author of The Reservationist

• Valerie L. Coleman, author of Blended Families Anthology

• Cheryl Lacey-Donovan, author of Women – What the Hell Are You Thinking

• Michael J. Lockwood, author of Women Have All the Power

• Marion Napoleon, author of Lady Silverstone’s Darkest Hour

• Shewanda Riley, author of Love Hangover: Tips for Christian Singles

• Marvin D. Woodard, author of 101 Things a Black Man Should Know

A book signing will be held after the discussion and books will also be available for purchase.

Source: Pegasus News

Dallas South:  How do White Americans like the ones you studied feel about the concept of institutional racism?

Barbara Trepagnier: Most white people do not understand how racism works, which means they don’t understand institutional racism. The predominant white definition of racism is that it is deliberate and hateful. But institutional racism is often neither deliberate nor hateful.

People in all sectors of society make decisions based on the information they carry in their heads. For most white people, that information is distorted by stereotypical images and paternalistic assumptions. It is not surprising that many white decisions have negative consequences for blacks and other people of color.  

DS: There are a number of "liberal" or "progressive" white blogs that will not tolerate any accusation that their views regarding Barack Obama and the Presidential campaign are shaped by race.  Why is it so hard for liberal/progressives to imagine that their ideas and beliefs can still be affected by race? 

BT: I haven’t seen the blogs you are talking about, but I will say this: being accused (your word!) of racism is about the worst thing you can say about a white person today, especially someone who is racially progressive. Part of the problem is that the categories “racist” and “not racist” imply that people who do antiracist work are by definition “not racist.”

My work transforms the oppositional categories into a continuum that indicates that some people are “more racist” and others are “less racist” but no one is literally “not racist.” I believe that if the progressive blogger adopted this point of view, they would be much more open to seeing their own silent racism.

Think about it: If people define racism as hateful, they are likely to deny the accusation because they would never be hateful. I think the definition of racism today is very problematic and that the oppositional categories are part of the problem.

“Today, many white people sincerely believe that racism is hateful and rare. African Americans know that isn’t true because of their life experiences.”

DS:  Do younger white Americans (Gen X, Gen Y, and younger) understand the history of racism and how prevalent it was in American society?

BT: Shawn, I don’t think any white people, young or old, know very much about racism in this country—maybe white history teachers do! In school, students are taught about ending slavery, not about slavery. Students are taught about the civil rights movement, not about segregation. Our historical legacy is filled with racism, and it did not magically disappear because legal segregation ended with the civil rights movement.

DS:  What do you hope people will understand as a result of having read Silent Racism?

BT: I hope that well-meaning white people will begin to define racism differently. Today, many white people sincerely believe that racism is hateful and rare. African Americans know that isn’t true because of their life experiences. But whites who don’t have close friends who experience racism don’t see it unless it is blatant.

If well-meaning white people reject the oppositional categories and accept the racism continuum, a sea change will follow in the way people generally think about racism. Racism that is now hidden by the categories will be exposed. Well-meaning white people will stop feeling threatened by being perceived as somewhat racism.  

It is important that well-meaning white people see that we are all are part of the racial status quo, regardless of racial/ethnic category, and that whites benefit from it and hold it in place. Well-meaning white people have an opportunity to reject the traditional model of racism—that some people are racist and some are not—and acknowledge our part in how racism operates. Just as some well-meaning white people during slavery worked in the Underground Railroad and some worked with blacks to end legal segregation, we need to courageously stand up against the silent racism of our day.

DS:  Thanks Barbara!

BT: Thank you Shawn. I appreciate your thoughtful questions, and hope you will encourage people to check out the silent racism website at www.SilentRacism.com. There is a lot of information on the site, as well as a place to sign up for the silent racism email list.