Racism is a frequently discussed topic in essays and public speeches because, despite numerous attempts to promote the idea of an equal society, it is still a problem in the United States. David Williams introduced a powerful speech “How Racism Makes Us Sick” where he covered the peculiarities of discrimination and measured its impact on human well-being through the prism of education, income, healthcare, and personal judgments. Williams’ speech is an effective attempt to present racism as a rigged system that determines the lives of some racial groups in the United States; the speaker succeeded in choosing memorable examples and quotes, using appropriate gesticulation, and relying on effective visual ads.
The content and delivery of “How Racism Makes Us Sick” are properly organized. He began with a bright real-life example to attract the attention of the audience, telling about Clyde Murphy, “a great husband and father. But despite his success, personally and professionally, Clyde’s story had a sad ending” (Williams). That black man died at the age of 62 because of a blood clot in his lungs. Such a beginning showed that Williams was going to touch upon social and healthcare issues.
He used simple and clear words and presented the results of credible studies and reports. His articulation and pronunciation (vocal elements), confident behavior and gesticulation (physical elements), and language use were at a high level, making this speech comprehensible and interesting even to non-native speakers. Williams relied on his personal experience and recent government decisions to support the fact that racism is a vital issue of today’s society with its benefits and shortages.
Although it was an oral presentation, it seemed that the author remembered each line of the prepared essay. The difference between public speaking and essay writing was direct contact with the audience and the feeling like he talked to each listener personally without an intention to get positive feedback or A+ but to inform and express his concerns. His perspectives were well introduced in the speech: as a black man, he experienced all those unconscious discrimination outcomes. Williams believed in a safer future where “each one of us can be a ripple of hope” so that we “dissent because America can do better”. His words provoked collaboration between such fields as health care, social work, education, employment, and politics.
As a developing learner, I find this speech as a good example of how to raise such provocative themes as racism in the United States and not to be obsessed with prejudice. Williams helped me grow as a person free from biases but focused on searching for a solution. The expected consequence of this speech for me, as well as for society, is to re-evaluate attitudes toward minority groups and realize how dangerous oppressions can be for these people’s health. I want to combine my future practice with the investigation of the link between health problems, social concerns, and political decisions to promote the creation of a better society.
In general, I want to recommend Williams’ TED talk for others because of several reasons. First, it contains interesting statistical data and examples of how racism determines American society today. Second, while looking at Williams, an unexplainable desire to stand by his side at that very moment appears. Finally, this speech combines all crucial elements of public speaking, including a strong introduction, a memorable ending, supporting stories, and correct behavior.
Work Cited
Williams, David R. “How Racism Makes Us Sick.” YouTube, uploaded by TED, 2017. Web.