Creating community through symbolic discourse: An analysis of Jesse Jackson\u27s rhetoric at the Democratic National Conventions, 1984--2000

Abstract

The Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson has addressed the Democratic National Convention through five consecutive election cycles. Jackson\u27s political involvement works to challenge the majority value system. Each address aims to create a community consisting of minority voices in America by bringing them into the Democratic Party in hopes of changing national policy. Metaphorical strategy is used to symbolically create a community consisting of minority voices, the Democratic Party, and Jackson himself as the prophetic leader. Symbolically unifying the community against a common enemy strengthens Jackson\u27s community

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