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Alexis Thomas: Using Rhetorical Reading Strategies- "A Change is Gonna Come" 

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Alexis Thomas: Using Rhetorical Reading Strategies- "A Change is Gonna Come" 

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A. By the end of the song I felt optimistic and hopeful because of how the song uplifts at the end discussing that even after all of the struggles there is still hope for the future and a push to move forward. My initial thoughts on the song was that it would just discuss struggle and how they felt and what they endured during that struggle which was why I was sad but, towards the end I was more optimistic. The artist is Lauryn Hill and her stakes in performing the song was I guess to pay tribute to the original artist of the song while also wanting to tell her own personal story through it.

B. My initial interpretation of the song was that it was only about the artist's own experiences and struggles. After reading the lyrics it made me realize that it wasn't just about him but, about the feelings and experience of what him and others a part of his community went through but, also about the hope they have for the future. I  relate to some of the lyrics in the song. Like being in a place where you're trying your best to just get by and accomplish something but, there's like forces that prevent you from getting there and you're tired.  I can relate my personal experiences to the song.

C. The artist of the song is Sam Cooke. His stakes in writing the song were from various encounters he had with racism, about the Civil Rights movement, and racism in America as it pertained to racism towards African Americans. This inspired him to write this song about how these experiences with racism made him and the African Americans feel but, keeping hope that in the future these experiences can end.

D. In the beginning my initial interpretations were that it was about his own personal struggles, feelings, and experiences. After reading more into it and getting more background on the song, it's actually about racism towards African Americans including his own encounters with racism and how it affects them. While also holding onto hope that the future will be different. My original responses in part A and part B are just as important here as part C because it shows a perspective and view change. Of how when you get more background information you can get a better understanding of things. Both artists have their own experiences but, one thing they have in common is that they're both Black and with the song being about racism in America the song has the same meaning for her as it did for Sam Cooke. Even though Lauryn Hill put her own experience in the beginning of the song and changed the tune of the song most of the lyrics are kept the way it was originally written and in that way it is important because I think Lauryn wanted to pay tribute to the artist and put her own spin on it but, knew the song had an important meaning and real life experience to tell that not only related to her but, of their race.

E. The activity is related to both the lecture materials and the Hass/Flower article because it was about rhetorical reading. How instead of just reading for context we should read and think more critically. In this activity we weren't just supposed to look for answers to questions by listening to the song. We also had to relate it back to our own experiences, think of what the artists' motivations for these songs were, think of our original interpretations of the song, and how after reading more background information and listening to other versions of the song what our new interpretation of it is and come to a conclusion about what the real meaning of the song was. In this way of using rhetorical strategies in this activity, we were able to get a better and more detailed understanding of the song.

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Rhetorical Reading Activity.

Complete activity below through a new padlet profile.

Work through all of the multi-media interactive components, label each of your responses according to section letters below A-D, and then find a meaningful multi-media element to add to your padlet.
The media (picture, song, drawing etc...) should be significant in some way or symbolic of,  what you learned here. Come up with a creative title and include your name in a by:line, after the title.

A.  Listen to the song while paying close  attention to what feelings and thoughts arise as you listen to the song. (3-4 sentences).

How did you feel by the end of the song? What are some of your initial thoughts?

Who is the artist and what stakes do they have in performing of this song?

B. Read the song lyrics here. Then in 4-5 sentences: (Do not do any outside research beyond reading the lyrics, in this section).

What is your initial interpretation of the song?

How did reading the lyrics change or deepen your initial feelings?

How do you personally relate to the song?

C. Conversational Inquiry (2-3 sentences)

Let’s say you Googled the song to find about information about it and the original author. Visit the wiki here.

Now watch the original version of the song here.

Who is the artist and what stakes do they have in writing this song?

D. Synthesis: The creation of new meaning – After working through parts A-C (7-8 sentences)

How has your feelings, knowledge and interpretation of the song changed?

Why is your original response/interpretation in part A and B just as important here as part C?

How can you connect both artists/song renditions, and why is this connection important?

E. Meta-reflection: How is the activity in anyway related to the lecture material from this week and/or the Haas/Flower article? (5-6 sentences)

F. Include a multi-media element that is significant in or symbolic of your experience here, come with a creative title, and DO NOT FORGET YOUR NAME IN THE BY-LINE

E. Share link to Padlet profile on BB by Thursday, 11:59pm on BB.

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Chloe Mason: What's The Estimated Time of Arrival? - "A Change is Gonna Come" activity 

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Chloe Mason: What's The Estimated Time of Arrival? - "A Change is Gonna Come" activity 

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A. After listening to Lauryn Hill’s rendition of Sam Cooke’s classic song “A Change Gonna Come”, I felt an overwhelming sense of calm and optimism. I found myself singing along with her, as the motivational words struck a sense of hope within me. Throughout the song, I paid close attention to the subtle musical arrangements like The “Caribbean” sounding ad-libs and the guitar she added to personalize the song. By performing this song, Lauryn Hill made herself vulnerable to potential criticism from those who could potentially believe that such a legendary song shouldn’t be remade.

B. Upon hearing this song, I immediately interpreted the tone as potentially traced back to historical roots because of its soulful nature. Phrases such as “Somebody keeps tellin’ me don’t hang around” reinforced my interpretation of this song being written during a time of racial turmoil given my previous knowledge of Sam Cooke’s race in America. I find encouragement from this song, and I relate to the overwhelming feelings of despair that can often leave me thinking my situation won’t improve. I am often reminded that better days are just around the corner.

C. The artist behind “A Change Gonna Come” is singer and songwriter Sam Cooke. Sam Cooke was an African American singer who composed this song amid the civil rights movement, after a confrontation with racism. While his experience as a black man in the south influenced his music, he was hesitant to incorporate race in his music, out of fear of losing his predominantly white fanbase; today “A Change Gonna Come” is considered one of the most influential songs in his discography.

D. Learning about Cooke’s inspiration for writing this song, and the risk he took by releasing it at the height of his career, not only deepened my respect for him as an author but I found mutuality with him. I deeply connected with his fear of losing the support of white people, and that fear almost deterred him from speaking out against the problems facing his people. For those of us who have spent time in predominantly white spaces, the notion that we have to be “likable” and not “step on any toes”, can often silence us. My original interpretation of the song came from a broad contextual understanding of the song, and I lacked knowledge of the personal element that inspired the music. But knowing about the political climate in which the song was written, helps to lay the foundation for the rest of the story. Both artists singing the song, have faced racism in different forms and find hope amid the pain. Both of them singing the same song illustrates the longevity of the message and shows the viewers that there is more change and work that needs to be done.

E. This activity required me to apply the new rhetorical reading techniques that the Haas/Flower article introduced. The activity could only be done if you read rhetorically, by asking questions about the writer, inquiring about historical context, tracing the material to your own experiences, and questioning how the writing will impact audiences. I had to utilize these skills when reading the lyrics to the song but also reading the background on Sam Cooke. The Haas/Flowers article teaches about active participation while reading and understanding why or how writing impacted you or influenced your decisions and doing so helped me to analyze why the song elicited certain emotions. The overarching theme of this assignment was to apply active participation with the song to better understand the singer's musical decisions and the impact of those decisions on the viewers.

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Danielle McCollum: What makes us scared to live is what keeps us from dying

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Danielle McCollum: What makes us scared to live is what keeps us from dying

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A. Some initial thoughts I had while listening to this song was how Lauryn hill described some of her personal and family problems. She finds a way to relate her issues back to real world issues and how they can affect her motivation. The message in this song speaks volumes because in spite of the bad outcomes and mishaps in her life she still looks toward a better and brighter future. The artist, Lauryn Hill, holds a powerful place with her music because she is able to get to people which remains true with this song.
B. From reading the lyrics I see Hill’s struggle and rough journey to find herself and what she can become. She speaks on running like a river how even though death seems nice, her fear of the unknown keeps her alive. Reading the lyrics deepens my initial feelings because I view the song as a cry for help but also as a lending hand. It shows that with strength that one can conquer through a tough time even when there seems to be no hope. I find myself relating to these lyrics because I could draw from societal issues and how there will always be a fight in my battle to a better tomorrow. This speaks specifically to my experiences with being a black woman in America and how it makes my journey tougher in life but the outcome so much more rewarding.
C. The original artist Sam Cooke made the song in a time where the message was rather important especially for black people in America. By making this song, Cooke establishes the issues in America that black people have to face and how having hope for change is important for the morale of black people.
D. After hearing the original version I view the song in a less personal matter and a broader perspective for worldwide issues. My initial thoughts were based on how life’s challenges can knock a person down but having the motivation to prosper would make it worthwhile. As I drew from my own personal experience, I started to view the message as something more serious in the improvement of racial injustice in America. My response in part B is an example of those racial injustices which are similar to my comparison made in part C for around the time the song was made. I can connect both artist’s songs because they both express similar issues and problems that need to be resolved. One can be viewed in a more personal way and the other in one that affects a larger group. But, the similarities speak on the bigger picture of developing a new understanding in communities about what needs to be changed. The connection between the two songs sheds light on the importance of the topic and how it can be revised to specifically fit your life and your own personal injustices.
E. The activity is related to the lecture this week because we talked about issues dealing with social injustices in the classroom. The ted talk that was assigned with journal 3 spoke on the many ways to speak english and how many minorities had a way of speaking language that was not welcome in the classroom. This simple use of stereotyping can be an example of something that is meant to hold us back in society. It’s an example of racial injustice that gets overlooked because it isn’t as prominent but it affects young black minds all the same and can hold them back. The path to a standard education will be made difficult for them because they are kids who grow up with slang instead of well manufactured sentences in daily conversations. Having to juggle multiple ways to speak English applies added pressure when entering new environments and making connections which also can hold someone back.

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a. By the end of the song, I felt at peace and hopeful.  Lauryn Hill’s use of storytelling takes the listener from a feeling of despair and hopelessness and provides the listener with ways that she gets support and feels better.  Lauryn Hill as the artist and performer of this song has the stakes of moving the audience emotionally and helping them understand the gravity of the lyrics and the emotions that go along with them.
b. My initial interpretation of the song is that Lauryn Hill has experienced lots of hardships in her life and but throughout all of her struggles, she has maintained a positive mindset that keeps her going when life gets hard.  Reading the lyrics deepened my initial feelings because I could see the repeating motif that she knew change was going to come and it kept her hopeful.  This idea sounds really simple, but it’s also very meaningful and inspiring and also helps to convey the song’s central message of hope.  I personally relate to this song because many events in my life have caused me to lose hope.
c. The original artist is Sam Cooke and his stakes in writing the song are that he, like many other African Americans during that time period faced racism, and he wanted to make a song that brought hope to blacks at a time when it didn’t seem like things were getting better.  Sam Cooke has a duty to tell his personal experiences with racism in a way that his audience can relate to and resonate with and provide a sense of optimism and keep people inspired to keep pushing for social justice.
d. My feelings and interpretations of the song have changed after relating the lyrics to the real-life events that are happening.  To hear a song reminding you to remain hopeful and optimistic and hearing about how the song was inspired by a negative situation with racism and turned into an anthem that inspired millions of people is really inspiring.  My original interpretation of the song in parts A and B is just as important as in part C because Lauryn Hill’s version is synthesized with her own meaning and interpretations as a modern take on the song.  My interpretation of both songs is still meaningful because I can see the through line of hope for the black community throughout the decades, and how its importance has changed and taken different forms.  Both artist’s songs can be connected by the idea of hope for change in the fight for black social justice and even in the struggles that we all face.
e. This song is important to the article we read by Haas and Flower because it shows the discourse with a text in action.  Sam Cooke takes the real-life events and writes about them and Lauryn Hill hears the song and thinks about the meaning in a modern context, wrestling with the idea that change is going to come and what that means for her generation and the struggles they face.  She then writes her own lyrics with the same chorus of the song but changes the verses, inserting her own life experiences.  She also responds emotionally in the performance of the song.  Both Cooke and Hill integrate their life experiences and emotions into their writing, signifying that rhetorical writing is taking place.

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Asante' Marrow: Don't wait.. Don't worry.. Just do.. With purpose

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Asante' Marrow: Don't wait.. Don't worry.. Just do.. With purpose

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A.      My initial thought of the song was, change is on the way. The first words sang were, “A change is gonna come”, which just about summed up the song as Lauryn Hill continuously said. I kind of got the idea to not think about the time, or how long it takes, just know that differences are coming. She says, “it’s been a long time coming…” Implying that you can’t just sit and wait for it. You wont know what’s coming, but don’t be scared of it either. By the end of the song I felt faith, to know that I wont just be stuck in one spot even when I don’t know which way to go.

B.      After physically reading the lyrics of the song instead of listening, I feel like I heard more of her problems. When listening, the main thing I heard was that she believes change is coming. While reading I got that she’s been running, trying to look for change maybe. It’s hard for her to exist, but she doesn’t want to go yet, because she’s afraid and clueless of what’s next. It’s not safe to go some places, and she has to fend for herself. I personally relate to the song because I can say I’m afraid to die. Same as her, I don’t know how I’ll feel, what I’ll see, or what will happen.

C.      The author of the song is Sam Cooke, an African American who’d experienced discrimination when trying to make a reservation for a hotel, also within the rest of hi life. The song could’ve bought him hate, as far as white people were concerned with the words written. The song did bring him much recognition, as he spoke out against the unfair acts towards himself, and all African Americans.

D.      In the beginning, I felt Lauryn Hill was almost giving a motivational speech. The words were quite simple, but inspiring at the same time. When I read the lyrics, I sought out more problems she faced, instead of just the idea of change. After reading about the Sam Cook, I found a deeper meaning. It was more personal and of a whole new context. My original responses in part A and B are just as important because the led to my response in part C. As I read through each, I was going to go back and change my responses, but they are meaningful so I didn’t. Each one was like a step to the next, to pull out my true understanding of the song. A comparison within both artist is that they struggled some how, but found a way to overcome the issue. Hill’s response was to wait and believe that change is soon to come. Cooke went and wrote a song to express his feelings and as a way to defend his people. They are both important because although they have different personal meanings, they are about a general idea.

E.       This activity is related to the Haas/Flower article because the main idea I pulled out the article is that, reading and writing is whatever you make it. There are certain ways to use certain techniques, but no right or wrong answer. It’s how thorough your understanding or point is. Or what you choose to express, however you choose to. I got to not consider it knowledge-reading and knowledge-telling, you have to come up with meaning and think outside of what you’re given.

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A.  By the end of the song, I felt uplifted. My initial thoughts were that this song was meant to share past hardships and get people through hard times. The artist preforming this song is Lauryn Hill. The song she is performing is a classic by Sam Cooke. Her listeners expect her to do the song justice and bring a fresh take on its meaning and harmonies.

B. The song and its lyrics forces its listeners to prevail through their hardship. The lyric deepened my initial feelings by allowing to focus on the individual experiences with people in his life that Sam Cooke sang about. For example, his brother. This song resonated with me because I talk to family  members and friends about when I feel like giving up and after I went through with the action.

C.The original artist is Sam Cooke. This song became a civil right anthem during the 1960s which is how it is known throughout the African American community.

D. The meaning of the song evolved in my eyes. Its significance became deeper when I found out it was used as a civil rights anthem. I originally thought this song was used to get people through hard times, but It was much more than that. This song pushed an entire race's movement toward rights that have been historically denied forward. It fueled the fight for civil rights, justice and high expectations for future generations. My original interpretation in part A and B is just as important as C because it shows the difference in my knowledge with context and new interpretation. All parts can reflect the average person's feelings towards the song.

E.

Both the readings and the activity stressed the importance of critical thinking. Many times we are reading for context and not a higher understanding. Higher understanding urges us to make more connections and deeper thinking. This week activity and reading focused on racial injustice as well. “Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke talked about racial injustice and how there is a light at the end of every tunnel.

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A Change is STILL Gonna Come - Sydne Anderson 

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Sydne Anderson - A Change is STILL going to come - "A Change is Gonna Come" activity 

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Sydne Anderson - A Change is STILL going to come - "A Change is Gonna Come" activity 

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A. This song awakens a full body experience of emotions whenever I hear it. It is so powerful in its message and its delivery, that everybody in the African American community feels this so deeply. Initially, I feel great sadness and heartbreak for my people and the journey we have come and the battle we are still fighting. By the end of the song I feel a sense of gratitude, not in the sense that our fight is over; but in the fact that I am learning about this song now as I sit comfortably in my home at my four year university, that my people have some so far in their fight. The artist, Lauryn Hill, is a very popular black r&b artist and she took upon the risk of recreating a song that is so heavily valued and respected in the African American community.
B. My initial interpretation of the song is definitely a plea for help or a shedding of light on the reality of living as an African American. The words that stuck with me was the hook when he is saying “it’s been a long time coming” and that “a change is going to come.” When I hear these words I hear the disparity and exhaustion in the voices of the entire black community. I was able to read these lyrics and see them as an actual conversation and account of words that actually came from the mouth of a black man, not just hearing this tune as a catchy song. I feel personally connected to the song in the sense of being within the black community. I do not go through the exact same struggles that my community did during that time, but I definitely feel the weight of these experiences as it is still impacting my community today.
C. After researching the background information in addition to what I already knew about the song in its originality sung by the great Sam Cooke. Sam Cookie was a very influential and talented musical artist during the 1900s. Like the average Black man during that time, he faced hardships as it related to racial injustice. In this song he wanted to use his voice and talent to shed light on this struggle, something he knew everyone in the African American community could relate to. In writing this song he took the risk of expressing the truth about the black American experience, during a time where our opinions were not widely accepted.

D. Being truthful, my interpretation of the song did not drastically change over the course of this assignment. I grew up in a house with my grandfather who felt the impact of racism and brutal acts of hatred against black people greatly. He relates to Sam Cooke and his music because of his life experiences, so that is all I grew up listening and learning about. I was very familiar with Cooke and this song, and the weight the words and song have on my community. Since the beginning of this assignment until now, I still believe this is one of the most powerful songs in the Black community as it relates to our long fight for equality and justice. My original responses in part A&B are just as important as part C, because one was before I read the lyrics and background history of the song but in both instances my feelings about the words are valid. Lauryn Hill and Sam Cooke are both very influential black artists in the music industry who use their art to paint the African American experience. I see Sam Cooke's version of this song as the original exploitation of the injustice African Americans endure. Similarly, I interpet Lauryn Hill's remake of this song decades later as a reminder that Black people are still going through these hardships, and still pleading for a change. Lauryn Hill uses her art as a continuation of the hope in the Black community as we still fight in white America today.
E. This activity is directly related to our class discussion this week of Rhetorical Reading by Haas & Flower. Earlier this week we learned about the importance of rhetorical reading, and not reading to absorb information and mindlessly read it back but to digest it. An important term mentioned in our class discussion this week was the idea of integration while reading, to gain a genuine understanding of the text. We were given a song to sit with and digest and a multitude of questions that enabled us to pull our emotions and interpretations out of the text. We practiced the element of Rhetorical Reading as we integrated our personal feelings and connections with words and what was presented to us. We were able to gather a deeper understanding of Sam Cooke and Lauryn Hill’s purpose of the song after we read the history and origin of the song and combined it with our personal experiences and what we already knew to be true doing these times.

F. above
G. Submit

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A. By the end of the song I felt inspired and optimistic. This song seems very powerful because the message is that no matter what she was going through, she was looking forward to better days and a positive change. From the beginning, I noticed that she was talking about family and her struggles but I enjoyed how she took a positive turn and introduced being optimistic and looking forward to better days. I initially believed that this song was going to be about a future change however this song was hoping for a better future despite her past struggles.
B. I initially thought this song was looking forward to change however after reading the lyrics I realized there is a much deeper meaning. This song is about having Hope. While listening to this song, I was focused on the tone and vocals and didn't truly listen to the lyrics nor message. This song seems to capture aspirations and determination from the singer and how she has been knocked down many times, but still believes that change is going to come. Personally, I have been through tough times and through events that I didn't believe I would make it out of however, my family would constantly remind me that change will come and I will get through these adversaries.
C. The original artist of this song is Sam Cooke. He is an African-American man that lived through segregation that made this song to give other African-Americans hope that change will come. Sam was warned by many that this song was not going to perform well however he did not care. He saw the potential in “A Change is Gonna Come” and wanted to create a song that documents how he truly feels.
D. My feelings and interpretation of this song have changed dramatically. Knowing that this song has a deeper meaning than I previously interpreted really changes the entire tone of the song. From getting this background information, I can feel the song and understand its significance. My response to part A,B and C are equally important because seeing my interpretation between learning more information of the song is interesting to go back on. This proves that reading something once can cause us readers to misinterpret text. With Lauren Hill’s modern interpretation it shifted the entire energy from Sam’s version. Being able to recognize that shift and understand the connection of both songs to racism, despite the singer, illustrates that the black community is still fighting for change and social justice. Even with different time periods, both interpretations have strong meanings.
E. This activity is related to the article we studied this week because not only does it talk about racial discrimination but it breaks down rhetorical reading. Having us read the lyrics, study the background and document our initial interpretations and thoughts is what we as readers should be involuntarily doing while taking in new text. Throughout this activity, we were forced to think critically and dissect the text to find the true meaning. We had to take the text, relate it to ourselves and use our own personal experiences in order to further understand the message. This activity overall assisted us with the process of rhetorical reading and helped us apply the technique.

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Kaedriana Turenne: It may not come when you want it, but it’s always on time

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Kaedriana Turenne: It may not come when you want it, but it’s always on time

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A. By the end of the song, I felt joyful and empowered. I felt relief. The repetitiveness of the “It’s been a long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come” made me feel hopeful. My initial thoughts of the song, was that it was going to emphasize on struggle and grief and the suffering that has been endured. Yet it spoke on the ‘greener grass.” Lauryn Hill is the artist and the stakes she has in performing the song is backlash from people who might not appreciate the fact that she is paying tribute to a song about pushing through struggles of s leavers or prejudice.

B. My initial interpretation when reading the lyrics is that, his life was hard. And he never got to see the greener grass. That he was dealt the wrong hand every chance he got. And he fought to survive. Reading the lyrics makes me realize that he was still optimistic despite his trials. I relate to the song because personally, I’ve never been a victim of slavery, yet I have been a victim of racism. And knowing that even though it’s been a long time and it will be a longer time, change is coming.

C. Sam Cooke is the artist, who made this song. The stakes of him writing this song are ones of it reaching the wrong audience. His song directly reflects the struggles he feels and the struggles he faces. So by him writing this song he was able to put that into words, and hope it would impact the ones he needed to.

D. My interpretation and feelings of the song changed because at first when listening, I thought the song was more positive than it actually is. The song is actually sad and full of optimism. Parts A and B are equally as important as part C because part C explains some backstory as to what Sam went through, which brought a whole new meaning and a new truth to the song. I can connect the two renditions of the song because they bring about progress. In Sam’s. erosion of the song, it is almost as if the tone or the base of the song is changed to highlight the emotional sorrow of the song even in his cadence. Where as to me, Lauryn adds a more upbeat tempo to the song. Although it is in the same tune, it almost sounds as if it is in a different key. This more lively rendition makes me believe that some change did come. And that although we aren’t there yet, we’ll get there. And change won’t come exactly when we want it to. Mostly when we need it to, but change is always on time.
E. This writing activity is about rhetorics, similar to the Haas/Flower readings. Where the answers you’re looking for, or even the questions you’re not looking for, will not come to you without asking questions. Without trying to dig deeper to peel of the idealistic layers of what you thought, and reveal deeper connotations. Which is exactly what we did here i. relations to this song and the lyrics along with both renditions.

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Janiah Walker: For every dark night, there's a brighter day. "A Change is Gonna Come" activity

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Janiah Walker: For every dark night, there's a brighter day. "A Change is Gonna Come" activity

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A. I feel very calm and moved by the end of this song. The mood of this song makes me feel emotional because of how it sort of touches your mind and heart. My initial thoughts of this song was that it was a little sad, but change was on the way. The artist of this song is Lauryn Hill, written by Sam Cooke. The stakes she had in performing this song was moving the audience in her own way to really express the writer’s work.
B. My initial interpretation of the song was that there was going to be a significant change in whatever Lauryn Hill was describing and singing about because of the title. Reading the lyrics deepened my initial feelings because there is going to be change, but in a more specific way. In her song, she talks about how she didn’t think she was going to be able to be resilient, but she made it through. She also talks about the hardships that caused the change. For example, people knocking her down. I relate to this song because this song is reassuring and I’ve been in situations where I had to reassure myself that things were going to change.
C. Sam Cooke wrote this song after being turned away from a “white’s only” motel in Louisiana. His experiences inspired  him to write it. The stakes he had in performing this song was fully showing and bringing awareness to the struggles he’d experienced as a black man. There was also a risk because during this time there was also a lot of violence, and people could’ve backlashed. This backlash could, and probably did, heavily effect his career. Him writing this song kept the hope for change in his life.
D. My feelings of this song have changed because I now see the interpretation of it differently. I see it in a different perspective. It isn’t necessarily about a living situation that needed to be changed or just a mindset, but a whole society. My original interpretation in part A/B is just as important as here in part C because further shows how my perspective has changed. Lauryn Hill and Sam Cooke are two different people with different experiences and lives, but they do compare. They’re both black with issues that came about due to this fact. They’ve both faced racism that has affected their point of views and career. They also have experiences in their life that differ, but all resulted in them wanting change to take place. This connection is important because since they have similar experiences with racism in America, other black people in this country can also relate to wanting this change and experiencing the hardship. Although Lauryn didn’t write this song, she showed her connection to the writer by performing it in a way for listeners to feel comfortable with and understand.
E. This activity is related to the lecture this week dealing with the Haas/Flower article because it’s reenacting the rhetorical reading strategies with this text specifically. It’s putting critical thinking and being an active reader into action. Listening to the song alone, reading the lyrics, and then reading the background of it all put these strategies into play. Relating what’s learned through this back to our own experiences is also another strategy. The Haas/Flowers article teaches about active participation in reading. In this activity content strategies are present because we get into what the song is about. Function strategies are also present because we are pulling lyrics from the song.

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A. My initial thought of the song was that it has a very strong message of overcoming depression. This really made me feel a connection to this song. Due to this I felt very hopeful and upbeat by the end of this track. Loren Hill had the stakes of being sure she expressed the proper tone and message with this track and I think she did it exceptionally well.

B. My initial interpretation was that this song's theme was about overcoming depression. After reading the lyrics I learned that this song was not only about persevering through sadness but also overcoming being the ugly duckling that doesn't fit in. I personally relate to this as a philosophy major at Howard University. My mother and father wanted me to choose a more job oriented major, but I honestly couldn’t see myself graduating if I took on a major like those. My dreams and personality have never lined up with the workforce, but I’ll keep moving forward and find a way despite everyone's doubts.

C. Sam Cookes had the stakes of vile racism which shaped the writing of this song.  He and his colleagues had a very horrid experience being turned away from a whites only motel. That shaped how he felt and one can begin to feel how he did through this track.

D. I feel so inspired by this track after this assignment. I feel much more connected to blackness and the struggles we had to triumph through as a people. In my original responses I thought this song had little to do with race, but now that I know about the racial aspect it means a lot more to me. My original responses are just as important as my developed response because they highlight my natural initial thoughts on the subject matter. These thoughts would be much less authentic with the influence of other knowledge present. All and all, I thought the tone of both of the renditions of this track were beautiful. Lauryn Hill and Sam Cookes create such a compelling and touching story through their singing voices and diction. I’m glad they were able to appropriately convey such a powerful message to inspire the black community in our times of need.

E. This activity can be related to rhetorical reading. I had to make use of rhetorical reading before I had a full understanding of the purpose Sam Cookes was trying to convey. Reading the author's background allowed me to better understand him as a person. I also learned about the events that caused him to write this empowering song. I’m thankful that he felt compelled to uplift his fellow black brothers and sisters.

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A. As I listened to Lauryn Hill’s “A Change is Gonna Come”, by the end of the song, I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed at the world we live in. We live in a world that’s polluted with problems that affect people internationally, nationally, locally or even in your own house and though we hope for change, we don't always receive it. Sometimes it's the people closest to us that are keeping us from the change or just the source of problems. This environment is sucking the hope out of people’s hearts.

B.

My initial interpretation of the song is that it’s time for America to change how they treat black people. It’s also time for black people to stop being afraid and pushing their fears of what may happen if we speak out about this unfair treatment. I personally relate to the song because of its overall meaning that we need change in our lives. I relate especially now hearing that barely even a month after my brother’s legal issues were resolved, he finds himself, once again, a victim of our justice system in america. I just don’t understand how after so many years of operation, our law enforcement can’t seem to figure out how to change their operations so that they punish the real criminals of society.

C. Conversational Inquiry:

Sam Cooke wrote and recorded this song after he was turned away from a motel and then arrested for disturbing the peace. This happened because he was black. It’s sad how even today that this song is still relevant.

D. Synthesis:

My interpretation of this song was expounded on because initially I understood the song as change needs to come in America in general. But as I listened and read and watched the visuals, this song is about how we need to change how America treats black people. There is no reason why the black community should have to suffer in order to try to be great. It's worse because some are telling blacks to not speak at all out of fear. The interpretations I made in part A and B are just as important as part C because even though the song is old these interpretations still represent the world today as mentioned in part C. Both song renditions talk about change Lauryn’s version is mainly talking about the problems within the black household in America by using her family as an example. Sam’s Version speaks on the problems outside of the black home in America. They connect because Lauryn's version is the result of Sam’s version. This is important to know because if you don’t know the start of the problem how can you bring about change.

E. Meta-reflection:

This activity relates to our discussion about how Lyiscott used hiphop to teach. Though these songs aren’t rap i think the same concept still applies. Sam Cooke used this song to bring awareness to the fact that black people are still being treated bad and we need to bring about change. Because he put the message into a song the song has become a staple in the discussion of equality for black people. I have yet to meet a black person who doesn’t know this song or what the song is about.

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Anya Smith: Black Lives Matter Now and Forever

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Anya Smith: Black Lives Matter Now and Forever

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A.  I feel nostalgic when listening to this song. When I was younger, my family would listen to this song. It brings back memories of cleaning days and little family get-togethers. I  grew up listening to Lauryn Hill, so I naturally feel great whenever I hear her voice.

B. I initially thought this song was about overcoming hardships in life.  Whenever I would listen to this song, I would hear the lyrics, but I never really heard the lyrics. The author starts with the beginning of their life saying how they were “born in a little tent.” They came from an underprivileged background, and that is something I can relate to. I grew up in Jacksonville, Florida.  I grew up on one of the most notorious streets but my family was able to move. Our change came. The quote, “There have been times that I thought I couldn’t last for long But now I think I’m able to carry on”, is something that resonates with me. I often have thoughts that I should just give up. However, I continue to work because I know the life I could have.

C. The original singer and songwriter was Sam Cooke. This song was about trying to overcome racial inequality  in America. This song was created after Cooke was discriminated against at a hotel. This adds a deeper layer to this song. This also makes sense as to why so many of my older relatives loved this song. It was a song they could relate to.

D.I appreciate this song much more. Racial inequality is sadly something people of color still face in America. I can now relate to this song on an even deeper level. Although we have overcome some issues, there are still many other obstacles we must face.

E. After this week's class I found it easier to break down text. Learning the context helps understand the author’s environment and mindset. I learned not to read contextually and not just regurgitate information.

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Nilaja Williams: Different Day Same Struggle

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Nilaja Williams: Different Day Same Struggle

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Reading Rhetorically: A Change Gonna Come
A: The end of the song gave me a hopeful feeling. It made me feel like I can get through my hardest days because there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. My initial thoughts on the song was that it would talk about how when going through a hard time in life it can seem never ending. However, life isn't static so I expected the song would go on to say that change was coming and it would be a change for the better. The artist in the song is Lauryn Hill and I think her stakes in performing this song is that it holds up to the original version.
B: My initial interpretation of this song was that it was a feel good song that tried to help people keep their head up when times get rough. Reading the lyrics helped me deepen my initial context. The lyrics provided more emotional depth to the song. It really pushes the idea of hope in the face of adversity. That’s a really important message to emphasize because hope keeps people going when the world is dragging them down. I personally relate to the song when it comes to my goals in my life. Throughout the pandemic it was really hard for me to stay focused on keeping up with school and I lost interest in my hobbies and interests. It can still be difficult to stay inspired and motivated sometimes but I keep at it because I know that this is a change that I can work through no matter how difficult.
C:  The artist of the song is Sam Cooke. His stakes in writing this song are that he is calling attention to the treatment that black Americans face in society. Cooke wanted to make a song that could give black people hope in spite of the adversity they were and still are facing. The song could have got him a lot of backlash but instead it brought him mass recognition.
D: My feelings for the song are a lot more personal now knowing the direct ties to racism and the Civil Rights Movement the song has. Knowing that the lyrics come directly from real life experiences make the song even more relatable and powerful because it tells a true story for so many people. First hearing Lauryn Hill’s version of the song it sounds like a general hopeful song, like a motivational speech put to music. My initial interpretations in part A and B are equally as important as my interpretation in part C because it shows how the song can be applied to different situations and it shows how much context and background can change the meaning of a piece of art. Both artists' versions of the song can be connected by the central theme they have of hope in the face of adversity. This is important because having hope keeps people from giving up and it brings forth change.
E: This activity can be related to the lecture material from this week in the way that they both stress critical thinking.  Oftentimes when trying to impart knowledge it was given to people with the intent that they accept the knowledge given to them at face value, especially in subjects that fall under the umbrella of social sciences. The lecture from this past week emphasized how people should engage with what they are learning to really understand what is trying to be imparted on them. This activity stresses the importance of critical thinking in the way that it makes us understand the history and influences that contributed to the making of the song as well as how different interpretations of the song can be equally important.

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Amir Shackelford: Forget the oppression of yesterday and embrace the optimism of today. 

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Amir Shackelford: Forget the oppression of yesterday and embrace the optimism of today. 

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A. After I listened to the song I felt happy and uplifted after listening to the song. I felt uplifted because the song highlights through all the struggle and pain you can still push forward and there is still a light at the end of the tunnel. The motivational words made me feel happy and optimistic for the future and gave me hope to push forward. My thoughts on this song: I love how she relates her personal issues to real world issues that are happening. And through all of her personal failures and mishaps that may happen to her in her life she will come out the other side better and stronger. The stakes she had in the song was first she was paying tribute to Sam Cooke’s original song in which she was making herself open to the criticism that might come with remaking a classic song. Also being able to move the audience with her lyrics and her emotional performance of the song.

B. At first I thought the song was about his own struggles and life and how he dealt with those problems as well. But after really listening to and looking through the lyrics I understand now that the song isn’t about just his experiences it’s about himself and his community’s struggles and experiences. It also has historical roots in racial disparities in the time of racial turmoil. I can definitely relate to this song because I go through a lot of hard and tough times in my life and sometimes the only thing that keeps me going is knowing that there are and have been better days and today isn’t that day but that doesn’t mean tomorrow can’t be.

C. The original artist of this song was Sam Cooke. He made this song in a time where the message was important for black people in America at that time and somewhat relevant to today as well. The stakes he had in this song is that he wrote a message song for black people in America in a time where we weren’t well represented and he had to deal with racism and people who were against the civil rights movement.

D. The beginning I thought the song was only about how he felt about his experiences, struggles, and how he dealt with those problems. But now that I looked more into it and understand the material a little more I understand now that he was talking about the black community as a whole and what we went through during that time and we can triumph over it. Talking about racism and struggles we as black people went through back then and how he said motivational words to uplift us to see a better future. My responses in A and B are important in C because it shows other changes in view over the song itself and the perspective as well. I can connect with both of the artists because they were both black artists in America experiencing different forms of racism and have had struggles and hard experiences. But both found ways to deal with those hard experiences and found hope in the midst of despair. This connection is important because you can see the similarities and differences between what was happening then in the original rendition of the piece and what was happening during the time of Lauryn Hill’s rendition of the song.

E. The activity relates to the Hass/flower article and the lecture materials because it focuses on the rhetorical reading. If you read rhetorically you know that you were doing this assignment correctly because we had to inquire about historical context, relating the material to your own personal experience, asking questions about the writer, and questioning how the writing impacted or will impact the audience. I had to use these skills when looking at the background of Sam Cooke and reading lyrics to the songs. We had to integrate our own experiences to think of our own interpretations of the song and the artist's motivations for the songs. Also how we came to new conclusions and interpretations of songs after reading more information about the person and the lyrics and listening to both versions of the song as well. We got a more detailed interpretation of the song by using rhetorical strategies when looking and listening to the song.