Ayanna Pressley's Mother's Day Speech: How Did She Use Language to Make Her Point?

Ayanna Pressley

In a brief speech on the United States House of Representatives floor, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley used a ceremonial occasion, the approaching Mother’s Day, to urge Congress to pass better policies for mothers. She used the rhetorical figure of anaphora to link a series of accusations. Anaphora means to link sentences with a common word or phrase, such as when Scotty on Star Trek said, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” Pressley’s anaphora made her speech seem elegant and, well, rhetorical. The repeated phrases tie her points together.  Nevertheless, her speech would have carried more punch if she had better managed the anaphoric sentences.

Pressley accused American policy of praising mothers while refusing to support them. She headlined that we need to act, not just talk:

“Mr. Speaker, mothers across America don’t want a Hallmark card. They want policy change.”

She then gave a series of statements, all in parallel language:

“We tell mothers that caregiving is their greatest contribution, and then undermine them at every turn.

“We tell women that motherhood is aspirational and the greatest contribution they will ever make, while for many a safe pregnancy is a privilege and not a right.”

Each “we tell” stated an unfulfilled goal that society offers to mothers. Each statement then showed how society suppresses those same goals.

Anyway, Pressley continued:

“We tell mothers that the work of keeping that baby warm, safe and fed is the highest calling, and then we allow negligence and policy gaps to create a baby formula shortage in the midst of a pandemic as mothers panic to meet a most basic need.”

Notice right away, however, that Pressley’s overwhelming verbiage suppressed her emotional impact. She could, for example, have said: “We tell mothers that it is a high calling to keep the baby fed, but we negligently allow mothers to panic during a baby formula shortage.” Same point, but sharper. The shorter, crisper sentence sounds more like a public speech, and less like a government report. More memorable.

Continuing, Pressley said:

“We tell mothers that they must work like they don’t have children and parent like they don’t work, while we fail to pass a universal paid leave policy thrusting mamas and caregivers back into the workplace and mere weeks after their babies are born.”

That’s an excellent point and I heartily agree. The “we tell” reminds listeners that society makes promises to mothers, one after the other, but fails to fulfill them. Again, wordiness buried the message. Maybe this instead? “The lack of paid maternity leave thrusts mamas and caregivers back to work much too soon.” A good speaker knows that you should never use 20 words if 10 words will do the job better.

Pressley actually said “we tell” seven times in a speech of less than six minutes. That was potentially formidable. However, we liberals tend to overstate our points, don’t we? Good speakers try to be sharp and crisp. Memorable phrases need to stand out without getting buried under unnecessary words. Most good speakers use short sentences, with an occasional long sentence for variety. The “we tell” phrases would have carried more power if they had been crisper, which would have packed them together with less stuffing in between.

Let us think about how pithy statements help us remember great speeches. Lincoln: “Of the people, by the people, for the people.” Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Roosevelt: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” No wasted words there!

Yes, sometimes we need to explain our points. Of course. But before we explain them, we must state our purpose clearly, sharply, and precisely. Our spoken words must strike for attention. Our words must be clear. Our words must be concise. Our words must show power.

Finally, let me wish a wonderful Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there. Loving and attentive mothers. Mothers who can’t function because life has crushed them. Good mothers. Mothers who struggle. Adoptive mothers. Foster mothers. Older siblings who raise their brothers and sisters. A wonderful Mother’s Day to all mothers blessed with adoring children. A wonderful Mother’s Day to mothers whose children have forgotten them. A wonderful day to every woman who wanted to be a mother but never had the chance. Thank you, every one of you; we wouldn’t be here without you. 

Remember that it is fine to recommend policies during a ceremonial speech. Speakers do that all the time (see links below). Thank you, Ayanna Pressley, for reminding us how important mothers are. 

Happy Mother’s Day 2024!

by William D. Harpine

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Earlier posts:

Vice President Mike Pence's Speech at the Marine Barracks: Policy without Proof?

Lady Gaga Spoke and Sang for National Unity in 2017

Tyler Perry at the 2019 BET Awards: "Helping Someone Cross" as a Metaphor for Reaching Out to Help

Copyright © 2024 by William D. Harpine

Image: Ayanna Pressley's congressional website