The crowd seen in the picture is waiting for Robert F. Kennedy's body to pass on a train traveling from New York City to Washington D.C.. Senator Kennedy was shot on June 5, 1968 after delivering his victory speech in securing California in the democratic primary. While RFK's was General Attorney and Senator he established many programs in the 1960s that helped the powerless in America. During a decade of social change, Robert F. Kennedy was a guiding figure. He was committed to equal rights for African-Americans in polls, schools, and public facilities. Kennedy's 1968 presidential campaign centered around anti-war and anti-discrimination. It was often said that RFK was the only person who'd be capable of uniting the American people. Kennedy's viewpoints gained him a lot of loyal followers but also many opponents. The assassination of Robert F. Kennedy shows the challenges social reformists faced. This picture represents the only a small part of RFK's followers that are seeking change and who will continue to fight.
Emily Camardo
Works Cited:
Berman, Andrew. "This Day in History: Robert F. Kennedy." Off the Grid.
Greenwich Village Society For Historic Preservation, 05 June 2013. Web.
03 Oct. 2013.
<http://gvshp.org/blog/2013/06/05/this-day-in-history-robert-f-kennedy-assassinated/>.
"Bobby Kennedy Is Assassinated." History.com.
A&E Television Networks, Web. 03 Oct. 2013.
<http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bobby-kennedy-is-assassinated>.
"Robert F. Kennedy." John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. Web. 03 Oct. 2013. <http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/The-Kennedy-Family/Robert-F-Kennedy.aspx>.
Really nice background of Robert F. Kennedy. I think this is a very good description of the rhetorical situation associated with this picture.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great background info. Everything you said really helps to emphasize the impact RFK had on much of America, even after he was killed as can be seen in the photograph. I also love the incredibly diverse group of people gathered together to mourn the loss of someone who meant so much to so many different people. How wonderfully powerful.
ReplyDelete-Corey Ferrick
I think it is also interesting to note that 80% of the people in the photograph are African American. You did a fantastic job giving the background information about the photograph. It is clear that RFK was very popular among African Americans and they were heartbroken to see that he had been assassinated.
ReplyDelete