Space Race Interpretation Reflection
	The Space Race between the United states and the Soviet Union was a very fervent and groundbreaking period for the world, and although it challenged everything that was known about science, it was perceived through very different perspectives. Gil Scott-Heron, an African-American jazz poet, musician, and author wrote the song “Whitey on the Moon”, expressing his opinion of the Space Race, as well as the hypocrisy and injustice in America. While African-Americans living in the time period faced poverty, the United States government was funding millions and billions of dollars into space endeavors.  Through the usage of his profanity, questions, and anecdotes, Scott-Heron is able to create a frustrated voice expressing discontent, false hope, and disdain to convey his message and invoke sad and sympathetic emotions to his audience. By describing his adversities and misfortune, he creates an emotional connection with the reader. Scott-Heron’s language, although incorrect, forces the attention on making the reader understand his anger towards his current lifestyle as a result of the United States government, and that is what I initially did.  He makes the reader wonder why instead of helping its own citizens suffering in poverty, the government chooses to spend an exceptional amount of time and money on sending a white man to the moon, a seemingly impractical endeavor.
Focusing on audience, Scott-Heron is definitely focusing on the oppressed people of color, rather than the white Americans. Rather than showing respect to them, Scott-Heron refers to the entire population of white people as “Whitey”, without considering the possibility of an unfortunate white person. Such racism and unfortunate anecdotes allow for people like him, African-Americans, to connect and understand Scott-Heron’s point of view. Also, instead of ensuring he uses large, powerful words, Scott-Heron uses slang (“upping me”)and improper grammar (“I can’t pay no doctor bill”)Through song, Scott-Heron is able to add emotion that everyone can understand (frustration and disappointment), and with his breaks between words, or lack thereof, and drums, he can add drama and power, creating an overall impactful display.
In John F. Kennedy’s Moon Speech to Rice University, Kennedy appeals to the antagonist group of Scott-Heron’s song, the “Whiteys” Most, if not all, students at Rice University, as well as the press and other audience members attending the speech, are white, most likely due to the racism and segregation that wouldn’t be officially disbanded until two years after the speech. When Kennedy asks his questions of the purpose of going to the moon, or doing any other great accomplishments, they are only events relatable to an educated white population, and not the black population. In Scott-Heron’s song, his life of poverty is told, but Kennedy makes no mention of those suffering in the U.S.. Kennedy also uses higher level vocabulary and grammar, which was mostly uncommon to colored people during time period.
Looking at the content of the Speech, Kennedy lists several events and things of grandeur, such as crossing oceans, climbing mountains, very large numbers, facts about celestial bodies, etc.. This helps increase the intensity and impact of the speech, providing impressive yet factual and substantial evidence to impress the audience. The fact that such impressive accomplishments were already achieved, going to the moon shouldn’t be that much harder. In his delivery, Kennedy put emphasis on the repeated word is his anaphora, an example of rhetoric to help portray his message, near the end of his speech as well as adds large movements. Along with his position of presidency and powerful voice, Kennedy is able to convey his optimistic beliefs in the Space Race, just as Scott-Heron is able to express his pessimistic views of the Space Race.