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Everett uses literary elements, especially irony in Page 1 of the story. One example of irony is when the white college boys tell him to "Play Dixie for us! Play Dixie for us!" (Para. 2). This is ironic because they are telling Daniel, a black man, to play a song about picking cotton and the confederate south. Another example of irony on page 1 is when Daniel "Meant what he sang." (Para. 4). Not only is the singing of the song ironic, but that Daniel embodies the song while he is singing. The college boys were trying to make Daniel feel uncomfortable, but they were the ones who walked out of the bar. This contributes to the deeper meaning of the story because Daniel, along with other Black people are being resilient despite the treatment that they are being given.

ES

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Everett uses characterization on Page 2 to convey that "Daniel didn't much care for the slaps on the back, but he didn't focus too much on the energy on that. He was busy focusing on what he had just played." (Para. 1) This shows that Daniel does not really care about the praise or hate he gets from others due to his playing. He just cares about what he does play, which means he doesn't care what other people think about his craft, all that matters is how he feels about it. Another example is how Everett uses plot structure when Daniel "... had a dream in which he stopped Pickett's men on the Emmitsburg Road on their way to the field and said, 'Give me back my flag.'" (Para. 2) This starts the shift of Daniel wanting to fly the Confederate flag proudly, despite being a black man. This is conflicting since the confederacy was fighting for slavery during The Civil War, yet Daniel still wants to show the flag.

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Page 3: Irony of the flag, Characterization of Daniel

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Page 3: Irony of the flag, Characterization of Daniel

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Evidence: "There were several trucks he liked and one in particular ... a full rear cab window decal of the Confederate flag."

This contributes to the irony of the story because a historically racist flag towards Daniel is on the car, but despite this, Daniel singles it out as the one he likes. This shocks everyone because he does the opposite of what someone would think he would react like. By owning the flag and proudly showing interest in it, this reveals how ironic Daniel buying the car is during this time.

Evidence: "He looked up to see a blonde woman looking on from behind the screen door of the back porch."

This adds to Daniels characterization of him being unbothered and calm. Even though he is given odd looks from those in the neighborhood, he pays them no mind. Instead of getting worked up and angry about it, he ignores it and continues on with his business.

HC

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Evidence: "I'm not buying the truck. Well, I am buying a truck, but only because I need the truck for the decal. I'm buying the decal."

This shows an important plot development in the story on how Daniel is not buying the truck because he needs the truck. He does this because he just wants the decal on the back of the window to try to make people feel uncomfortable as well as confused. He also wants the decal to try to claim the flag as his own to make it seem not a racist symbol.

Evidence: "I've decided that the rebel flag is my flag. My blood is southern blood, right? Well, it's my flag."

This piece of evidence contributes to the setting of the story as he wants to claim the flag as his own. Daniel being black should not like the flag for what it represents towards black people during the civil war. But he is trying to claim it as his own to change the culture/ atmosphere of the flag to change the meaning of the flag. Since he is southern as well as black it creates a sense of irony.

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Characterization is present throughout page 5. "Why shouldn't I want it?" and "The black power flag on the window." is evidence of indirect characterization.

These quotes are indirect characterization of how Daniel is extremely stubborn. When Daniel says why shouldn't I want it, he is replying to Barb who asks about the Confederate flag. He isn't letting the flag disturb him, and he is using it to make everyone else feel uncomfortable. When he calls it the black power flag, he is trying to stand his ground and accept the flag, yet again to upset and disturb others. His characterization starts when the people at the club tell him to play Dixie, and when he sees the way it makes the boys feel, he then gets the thought to do it again. When he calls the Confederate flag a Black power flag to Travis, he gets a really awkward reaction from Travis and his wife. He embodies racist symbols, especially the Confederate flag, displaying his stubbornness and his toughness.

ES

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Everett uses setting on Page 6 to show how problematic Daniel displaying the Confederate flag on his truck is. Despite being "... in the parking lot of a 7-11 on Two Notch Road" which is in South Carolina, a confederate state, the people that have a problem with the flag are two white men. This shows how much of a problem flying this flag is because people who didn't support the confederacy were in one of the places it was originally proudly shown. Another example is characterization, which is shown when Daniel tells the young black teenagers to "Get a flag, fly it proudly." This implies that Daniel is willing to teach young black teenagers to show off the confederate flag, despite its past history and meaning. When he does this, even the two white guys back off because they likely feel disturbed by what Daniel had said and done.

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Page 7: Imagery and Symbolism of the flag

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Page 7: Imagery and Symbolism of the flag

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Evidence: "Quietly dismissed from its station with the U.S. and state flags atop the State Capitol. There was no ceremony, no notice. One day, it was not there."

The flag being silently removed symbolizes the dynamics of power shifting from a traditionally racist flag to something black people can own and be proud. Flipping this structure proved successful when the confederate flag was removed. It being done quietly symbolizes how they are ashamed but will not fully own up to it, since they only took it down after black people reclaimed the flag.

Evidence: "The marching band of South Carolina State College, a predominantly black land grant institution in Orangeburg, paraded with the flag during homecoming."

The imagery in this helps the reader picture how large scale this movement became. By singling out all the scenarios in which confederate flags were used in a way that would not be expected, it reveals how much the power really shifted. This complete ownership of the flag shows the power they hold through their actions.

HC

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Everett uses literary elements such as irony, symbols, and selection of detail to portray Daniel’s relationship with his town. Daniel's relationship with his town contributes to the deeper meaning of the story by expressing how his actions and beliefs contrasted with his town and changed the cultural norms.