NAME CLASS DATE

THEME - Representation

AMC – BAC TYPE – ELECTIONS

Write a commentary on the three documents (minimum 300 words): taking into account their
specificities, compare and contrast the way the documents deal with the theme “representing a
nation or a cause”.

DOC 1

DOC 2

ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER - WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BLACK LIVES MATTER?

The group is still doing important work, but after Donald Trump became president liberal America stopped
paying attention

May 21st 2020

THE WAY Tef Poe sees it, nothing has improved in Ferguson, a mostly black suburb of St Louis, in the past
six years. It was there that the rapper and activist co-founded Hands Up United, a campaign group, in
2014, after a policeman shot dead a local teenager, Michael Brown. Mr Poe became a voice of Black Lives
Matter (BLM) as police clashed with protesters. He recalls a flurry of public interest, the “trendy movement”,
and enthusiasm of hangers-on who saw activism “as the new Nike Swoosh”.

Today he is more guarded. He feels that TV news exploited him, dwelling on violence and drama, while
liberal sympathisers online did nothing to improve conditions on the ground. (…) Public interest has drifted.
Ms Abdullah recalls how for two years she would speak daily on national television about BLM and black
rights. Producers stopped calling, she said, the moment Donald Trump was elected. Some sympathisers
have also been waylaid by
other causes, such as supporting Bernie Sanders’s presidential run. “The general public has
 become a bit other causes, such as supporting Bernie Sanders’s presidential run. “The general
public has become a bit
other causes, such as supporting Bernie Sanders’s presidential run. “The general public has become a bit
exhausted,” she concedes.

Another way to look at it, argues Eitan Hersh at Tufts University, is that nearly six years after Ferguson, BLM

counts Another way to look at it, argues Eitan Hersh at Tufts University, is that nearly six years after
Ferguson, BLM counts
Another way to look at it, argues Eitan Hersh at Tufts University, is that nearly six years after Ferguson,
BLM counts as a rare success just for surviving, considering that it first existed mostly online. He has
studied how most
as a rare success just for surviving, considering that it first existed mostly online. He has studied how most
as a rare success just for surviving, considering that it first existed mostly online. He has studied how most
digital social movements, especially left-leaning ones, fizzle soon after they draw attention to a particular
problem.
leaning ones, fizzle soon after they draw attention to a particular problem.
leaning ones, fizzle soon after they draw attention to a particular problem. (…)

In contrast, “BLM is very concrete and practical. It has a clear goal and is trying to tackle a salient problem,”

says Mr In contrast, “BLM is very concrete and practical. It has a clear goal and is trying to tackle a salient
problem,” says Mr
In contrast, “BLM is very concrete and practical. It has a clear goal and is trying to tackle a salient problem,”
says Mr Hersh. He too reckons its local actions, such as when activists turn out to speak at public meetings
with police, are its
Hersh. He too reckons its local actions, such as when activists turn out to speak at public meetings with police, are
its
Hersh. He too reckons its local actions, such as when activists turn out to speak at public meetings with
police, are its most important contribution. Meanwhile, though core members stay committed
Meanwhile, though core members stay committed—Ms Adbullah says black people
Ms Adbullah says black people
don’t have the “privilege” of feeling exhausted by a campaign for civil rights the way “non don’t have the
“privilege” of feeling exhausted by a campaign for civil rights the way “non-black folks” can—BLM’S
don’t have the “privilege” of feeling exhausted by a campaign for civil rights the way
“non wider allies, who are typically white, well
wider allies, who are typically white, well-educated and liberal-minded, seem to have lost
interest minded, seem to have
lost interest.

DOC 3

rom Obama's Victory Speech, November 4th 2008

Excerpts from Obama's Victory Speech, November 4
1. If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still
wonders 1. If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are
possible; who still wonders
1. If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still
wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy,
tonight is your
r founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your
 r founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is
your answer.[…]It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this
election, at this
answer.[…]It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this
answer.[…]It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at
this defining moment, change has come to America.
defining moment, change has come to America.[…]
2. This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind
tonight . This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on
my mind tonight
. This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind
tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in
line to make their
is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make
their
is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to
make their voice heard in this election except for one thing
in this election except for one thing – Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old. She was born just a generation
She was born just a generation
past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her

couldn't vote past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone
like her couldn't vote
past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her
couldn't vote for two reasons – because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.
a woman and because of the color of her skin.
3. And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America
. And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America – the heartache and the hope; the
the heartache and the hope; the
struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed struggle and

the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American
struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed creed: Yes we
can. At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them
creed: Yes we can. At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them
creed: Yes we can. At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to
see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can. When there was despair in the dust
bowl and
stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can. When there was despair in the dust bowl and
stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can. When there was despair in the dust bowl and
depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new
sense of
s the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of
s the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense
of common purpose. Yes we can. When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she
was there
common purpose. Yes we can. When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there
common purpose. Yes we can. When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she
was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a demo
to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can. She was there for the buses in
cracy was saved. Yes we can. She was there for the buses in
 Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people

that "We Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a
people that "We
Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people
that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can. A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berl
A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected
A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berl
by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and

cast her by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a
screen, and cast her
by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and
cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she
knows how
vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how
vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows
how America can change. Yes we can.
4. America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do[…]. This is our
moment. America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do[…].
This is our moment.
America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do[…]. This is our
moment. This is our time […]Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United
States of America.
This is our time […]Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States
of America. This is our time […]Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the
United States of America.

Barack H
Barack H.Obama , 4 November 2008
YOUR TASK
Use the guidelines to analyze the file.
Add anything you think is relevant to analyze the file with the theme under study.
Add anything you think is relevant to analyze the file with the theme under study.
Organize your answers into three parts to analyze the treatment of the theme “
Organize your answers into three parts to analyze the treatment of the theme “representing a
representing a nation or a cause” in
this file (how is the question asked ? What answer is provided ? …
this file (how is the question asked ? What answer is provided ? …)

Always analyze at least two and if possible three or all of the documents in every part. Do not choose an

outline Always analyze at least two and if possible three or all of the documents in every part. Do not
choose an outline
Always analyze at least two and if possible three or all of the documents in every part. Do not choose an
outline that would analyze the documents apart from one another (ex
that would analyze the documents apart from one another (ex – part 1 = document 1 / part 2 = document 2, etc…).
part 1 = document 1 / part 2 = document 2, etc…).
In order to answer the question, you have to compare and contrast the documents i.e consider them as a file
 and not on, you have to compare and contrast the documents i.e consider them
as a file and not
on, you have to compare and contrast the documents i.e consider them as a file
and not separately.
DOCUMENT 3
aragraph 1
 Analyze the tone of this paragraph and justify with
elements from the text

aragraph 2 from ‘This election had many firsts’ down

to ‘color of her skin’
 What makes this election so special ? Quote the line

aragraph 3 from ‘and tonight’ down to ‘yes , we can’

GUIDELINES  Why does Barack Obama refer to this woman on this
pecial occasion ? Who or what does she stand for ?
INTRO - U
 Quote and explain the 4 elements that he mentions as
 Analyze the chronology o having been seen by her in the XXth century
documents.  What do do  Explain why Barack Obama keep saying “yes , we
origin ? topic ?) an”  Barack Obama refers to key fights and
eople in American history
LAVERY / SEGREGATION / THE GREAT
DEPRESSION / THE NEW DEAL / THE
MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT / WOMEN ‘S FIGHT
FOR EQUAL RIGHTS / MARTIN LUTHER KING /
WORLD WAR II / LANDING ON THE MOON
hoosing from the list above , pick out the events
referred to in the text under the right heading below
and justify your choice by quoting from the text .
) The events concerning the Afro Americans
) The events concerning the population as a whole

aragraph 4 from “America” down to the end

 What message does he give throughout the speech
and that he repeats as a conclusion to his victory
speech ?
 Who or what does he want to represent in this
speech ? (a nation ? a people ? a fight ?
Something else ?)

DOCUMENT 1
 What special event does
document 1 illustrate ? What is the
key idea of
this document ?
Analyze the three pictures in the
cartoon – what do Rosa Parks, MLK
and Obama have in common ?
Compare the captions, the way they
are pictured (their position) and the
number of people around. What can
you understand from your findings ?
 DOC 2
 Read the title and the first sentence
and explain what the article deals
with. (theme)
 Read the title, the first and the last
sentences (underlined in the text)
and state what the journalist is
assessing. (journalist’s key idea)
 Explain about the change underlined
by the journalist, and the moment
that change occured.
 Does the journalist think that the
change is understandable and
justifiable ? Why or why not ?
 In your opinion what is the tone of the
article ? (Use the journalist’s key
idea for help)

ALL DOCUMENTS
 Use document 1 (cartoon) to explain what Barack Obama means when he says “this election has had
many firsts” in document 3 (the speech)
 Compare and contrast the tone of document two and document three.
 Considering the issue under study (making oneself heard) and the chronology of the file, what answer
does the file provide to this idea of making oneself heard to defend a cause ?