The purpose of this speech is to expose the evils of the world—slavery, starvation, discrimination, dehumanization, and slaughter—all created by human beings. Kennedy highlights the lack of decency and compassion that reflects the imperfections of human nature. He argues that all people should unite around one thing: the common fate we share in pursuing whatever happiness and satisfaction we desire in life. This means clearing up past grievances and resolving present conflicts. Kennedy presents the youth as the answer, offering them wisdom about what can be done in a constantly changing world and emphasizing the great responsibility that falls upon them. He shows what one man or woman can do in opposing injustice, sending out ripples of hope that can tear down even the mightiest walls.

The rhetorical situation calls on people around the world to find common ground in building one another up rather than resorting to aggression and violence to solve problems. Robert F. Kennedy is himself a source of ethos—he is one of only a few people who grew up alongside President John F. Kennedy, and he references his brother in the speech: “That is the way he lived. That is what he leaves us. My brother need not be idealized or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life, to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it.” Kennedy highlights what his brother accomplished and what he sought to address.

The speech follows a deliberate structure: it begins by describing the inhumane acts of the world, explains what could resolve these disputes, presents the youth as the answer, and concludes with the legacy John F. Kennedy wanted to leave with the world. A notable use of anaphora appears in the repeated phrase “saw… and tried to,” which reinforces the pattern of witnessing injustice and taking action. Kennedy maintains the same pitch throughout, adding emphasis through pauses and careful word placement. He keeps a firm posture and maintains full eye contact with the audience.

Robert Francis Kennedy (1925–1968) was the seventh of nine children born to Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Kennedy, and the younger brother of President John F. Kennedy. After serving in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946, he graduated from Harvard University in 1948 with a degree in government and earned his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School in 1951. Kennedy managed both his brother's 1952 senatorial campaign and his successful 1960 presidential campaign. He served as U.S. Attorney General from 1961 to 1964, becoming one of President Kennedy's closest advisors. After JFK's assassination, Robert was elected U.S. Senator from New York in 1964. He was assassinated on June 5, 1968, while campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Robert F. Kennedy delivered the "Ripple of Hope" speech—formally known as the Day of Affirmation Address—on June 6, 1966, at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. The National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) invited Kennedy to speak at their annual Day of Affirmation of Academic and Human Freedom. South Africa was in the grip of apartheid, with Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid leaders imprisoned on Robben Island. Ian Robertson, the NUSAS president who extended the invitation, was banned by the government just one month before Kennedy's arrival. Though hesitant to allow the visit, the South African government granted Kennedy a visa for fear of snubbing a potential future American president. Speaking to approximately 18,000 students, Kennedy drew powerful parallels between South Africa's system of racial oppression and the ongoing civil rights struggle in the United States. During his five-day visit, he also spoke at the universities of Stellenbosch and the Witwatersrand and met with Nobel laureate Chief Albert Luthuli, who was living under a government banning order. Many historians consider this Kennedy's finest speech; the phrase "ripple of hope" is inscribed on his memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.