Circumstances

This speech is a commencement address, which is a traditional speech made to the graduating class of a university. The speech was delivered at Bowie State University, situated close to the city of Bowie, Maryland in the US. Demographically, Bowie’s population has a slight African-American majority (per 2010 census), a fact which may be useful when studying the speech. 

Despite the limited direct audience, the speech was also made in response to certain issues within American society, making it relevant in a much wider context. 

The speech was made in 2013, which was the first year of President Barack Obama's second term in the White House. Since Barack Obama was the first African American to become President, it makes sense that issues of dis...