#7: Emotional Payoff

    We have all listened to at least one speech in our lives. Whether it be an old speech, like Martin Luther King Jr.'s “I Have A Dream”, or the promotion speech we listened to when leaving middle school, each one tends to hold a special place in our hearts. Why is that the case? Maybe, it’s a special line that was said. Maybe, the speech itself was given by someone who was invested in their cause. Either way, it comes down to the emotional payoff of the speech that dictates its efficacy.

    For example, let's take a look at Brent Staples's "Just Walk On By". This is a unique example because its emotional payoff comes in the form of sarcastic anecdotes, referring to racist people as his "victims" and such. Sarcasm throughout his piece does more than just get a laugh out of his audience, though. It also helps us realize how common racism still is in society. So much so, that "Black men trade tales" about "this all the time", according to Staples. 

    Let's steer back to the topic of promotion speeches. I think it is safe to say I cried when leaving middle school. I was devasated that this chapter of my life was coming to a close, and I would actually need to worry about my grades soon. What fueled my devastation, though, was a particular speech given by my Spanish teacher. She mentioned something along the lines that we all made an impact on her and she would miss us dearly. When reading this, it wouldn't exactly make me bawl like it did. Instead, it was her emotional delivery. Speeches are meant to be delivered, so obviously the delivery of it is very important. When the 'deliverer' is invested in the speech they are delivering, its emotional payoff is even more massive. 

    So, maybe that's why that middle school Promotion speech, or Brent Staples's "Just Walk On By" made us emotional. I cracked the case 😌