Revisiting History: Shaping the Future of Oratory By Iqrom Teslim

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HITLER! War. Mass murderer. Racist. Demagogue. That’s what people perceive him to be. But in my view, he was also a leader and one of the greatest public speakers in history. Now, hold up! I promise I’m not crazy, nor am I a fan of his actions. But we can—and should—learn from his techniques as a speaker. Again, just to be clear, I’m talking about his abilities, not the atrocities he committed. So, let’s take a quick visit to the past.

 


Adolf Hitler, the world's most hated and destructive leader, got millions of people to follow him and commit horrific acts. Was it voodoo? Bribes? Threats? No! It was his ability to convince people, using powerful, emotionally charged speeches. His storytelling skills incited violence against minorities, particularly the Jewish people, and fueled the war effort. Now, I’m not praising the violence he incited, but his speeches demonstrated just how powerful words can be. Humans are often more driven by sentiment than logic. We’re drawn to things that appeal to our emotions, not boring, fact-filled talks.

As I said before, I’m no fan of Hitler’s actions, but man! You’ve got to give him his flowers as a speaker. He could communicate, incite, persuade, and ultimately unleash terror through nothing but words. If he could use storytelling to sway the masses toward such devastation, then who can dare say speeches aren’t powerful?

"Speaking and storytelling are powerful tools that can shape minds, inspire hearts, and change the course of history." Look at figures like Adolf Hitler, Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr.—they all changed the world, for better or worse, using the power of their words. For instance, without Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches, Black Americans may not have achieved the civil rights victories that enabled them to live freely among white Americans. This just shows how significant public speaking can be.

Another more positive example is Winston Churchill. His speeches rallied the British people and inspired them to keep fighting the Nazis. His words gave hope and instilled a sense of resilience and determination. Churchill knew the power of words and used them as a weapon to unite his country during a time of crisis. At that moment, he became their general—not with weapons, but with his voice.

As we reflect on the legacies of these speakers, we should be reminded of the enduring power of words to shape hearts and minds, influence collective action, and chart the course of history.

 

IT'S TIME TO VISIT THE PAST AND LEARN HISTORY TO RESHAPE THE FUTURE OF ORATORY.

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