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1. By the end of the song I felt like I was almost going through it, sometimes when listening to music it can create that sense of imagery that makes you feel like you’re going through what the artist may be going through in said song and I know obviously that i’m not in that struggle however that is just the way the song had made me feel. My initial thought was when she said I was born by the river I thought of a vine and the other song( I forgot what it was called) but it felt reassuring because you could also feel that sense of hope she was putting out there. Lauryn Hill is the artist is the who made the song “ A change gonna come” and the stakes that may have been taken in performing this song is that she really put herself out there as a black women and I think it may have been more of a statement relating to the struggles that black women have and she was really open about it but I’m sure that with the risk she took things more likely went well and there was reward to it but she was able to get her message across.

2. My first interpretation of the song is that it seems like as a young person the artist has always been going through a struggle where they have only been able to do enough to just get by. Even as time passes the author always has hope and knows that his time will be up eventually and his spirit doesn’t fade. Reading the lyrics deepened my feelings because I felt like reading it gives you more time to think about and comprehend what they’re actually saying when compared to listening to the song you sort of have to listen to pieces and pick what you like or what stands out to you however you can see the piece as a whole when referring to the lyrics. I can relate to the song in a sense of believing that things can get better and having that hope, as a college student it feels like hell especially with what’s been going on here but I have to tell myself constantly that my days gonna be good, or good things are going to happen and most of the time that’s all that I need to get by.

3.  Sam Cooke is the artist who wrote “ A change is gonna come” because he wanted to write about the struggle of those around him and himself who all were going through far worse racism to the point that they could only hope for better days. Some stakes he had in writing this song is that because of the time period it was possibly losing support he had from others because putting this out with the meaning he had could be frowned upon by the white community and possibly even cause trouble, However the black and maybe other minority communities may have heard this and it could have gave them a sense of hope and bring people together.

4.  My feelings have changed after working part A-C because it starts you off listening to the Lauryn hill version so at first I’m feeling that it’s a nice song maybe something I’d just listen to randomly but then it’s asking me how I feel about it and to interpret it. Going into part b and looking at the lyrics I’m interpreting the lyrics instead of just listening to it and I feel that I have an understanding of what he’s trying to say but reading it allows for better interpretation because I have more time to analyze the piece as a whole. With part C I was able to gain more knowledge about the actual meaning and purpose behind the song as it gave you background information when telling you to go on wikipedia. My original interpretation is important because I’m able to see where my mind was at without any prior knowledge but after learning about it I can see how my thoughts changed and developed by the time I got to part c. This also allows me to compare my original thoughts with the facts presented to me and synthesize new connections between the two. You can connect both artist as they are both minorities who are going to some sort of struggle and this connection is important because you can see how she took what he had and put her spin on it to put further emphasis on what he went through but that spin added on her struggles which may have allowed for a different audience who heard it from her to connect.

5. A big way that this activity has related to the class lecture this week is that when I was writing I went to put more effort into detail when answering the questions, however I feel like doing that has made my work turn out better. Another thing in relation to what we talked about is the multiple relation model. In class we discussed what different reading was and doing this activity was actually a little fun and made me enjoy the work instead of dreading it. Being able to do a song and not a lot of reading has allowed me to work better and work with more of the multiple representation model instead of looking at things for just an answer. We discussed in class why using something that students can relate to may help them work better and this activity did exactly that. It's helpful to do something more interactive than reading to get work done but my mind functions differently when it comes to reading and listening to music.

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When listening to "A Change is Going to Come." by the end of the song I felt very calm due to her voice being soothing. I thought about a sense of freedom and release the song gives off. I have listened to this song before, and every time I do I can picture her words. Lauren Hill is the artist of this song and stakes she had when performing probably were very high due to the sense of her being a black woman sending a message to her people.

What I can interpret from this song is that it represents a message and a reminder to the African Americans saying times will no longer be the same. When reading the lyrics it created emphasis on the words being said. Personally I can say I relate to this song from the journey of my ancestors, realizing how far we've came from proves the dedication to grow. When researching more into the original author I am aware that he was murdered due to the high stakes of this song. I believe the stakes were so high due to the power this song held. Sam Cooke the original artist when performing you can feel his voice and the pain in it.

My thoughts on this song haven't changed I believe this song gave hope to the people which it did by become an anthem for us. Thinking on the song even more, the aftermath of its creation demonstrated how great of an impact it left. My original responses are as important because my thought process is the base of my learning. I can connect to these artist because the times that we are in today "A Change is Going to Come" still holds its meaning and we can use the Haitian people coming into America. This song shows in situation like those, will change in our favor. I can connect these two great artist because they both used this song in times needed. When in despair this is the motivation symbol the artist use to comfort those aro8und them.

This connect to the Haas/Flower article by the message they carry. This week we read and got the chance to learn when knowing more about the author and the motive we can comprehend the structure of their work. For example listening to Lauren Hills version than the original by Sam Cooke, in those moments the song used represented and stood for the battle we were facing. Then also getting the meaning of the lyrics and reading more into them it brings more insight to its words. The lecture just emphasized the concept of how using music or just anything different can help get the message out to audience and the connections in which helps their understanding process.

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Andra Day - Rise Up [Official Music Video] [Inspiration Version]

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A. Throughout the first half of the song, it conveys hope during a struggle. Lauryn Hill sings about her life-changing for the better in the future. But through the second half, the optimistic approach continues but when she pleads for help and seeks change she's neglected. The song not only made me sympathize with her but also inspired me.

B. My initial interpretation deepens as I feel like the song is not only just about the writer. The writer is still having hope as she and her people continue to fail or be knocked down. They would rather live and struggle in those conditions and have hope for better than dying and experience the unknown. The lyrics speak of “it's been a long time coming” to explain that there has been betterment but it does not stop there. As we can see, the writer and singer were two different people which explains a continuous generational struggle but they still hope for future generations, like my own.

C. Music played a big role as motivation during the Civil Rights Movement. For an African American writer to write a piece like this was not only inspirational during this time but also dangerous. As the deep hate throughout the country that was already shown to Sam Cooke could have resulted in even more awful troubles, like death.

D. As I listened to the song more my thoughts and feelings didn't change completely. But as I integrated more information with the song my understanding began to deepen. My initial reaction and interpretation are just as important as my final because it is what I built on. It was the starting foundation for my conclusion. It brings structure to my thoughts and helps further my knowledge. The fact that there are renditions of these songs shows that Lauryn Hill relates to Sam Cooke. It shows that the struggle still prevails because it was released in two different periods.

E. Haas & Flower talk throughout their article about the reading process and the way text is consumed. I believe this ties into “ A Change is Gonna Come” through interpretation. Many people will listen to this song and can gather different interpretations and gain meaning from the song or the same meaning but through different parts of the song. Just like in the experiment carried out by Haas & Flower, where they selected a text and gave it to readers to interpret and see if they would use rhetorical strategies. We then learned they all consumed the same text differently, the same way we could have different consumption of the song. Not only consumption, but we used rhetorical strategies by outsourcing, drawing connections, and inferring.

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Part A: When I was listening to "A Change Gonna Come" the guitars in the background made me feel very mellow. It reminded of the first time I heard the line "I was born by the river". The song itself had given me an early 2000's vibe. I felt like the "change" Lauryn Hill was talking about revolved around racial equality. Doing a little research on Lauryn Hill I found that she is a singer, rapper and song writer who made R&B music with her group The Refugees or The Fugees. After their break up Lauryn Hill dropped her solo album "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" which became her #1 best selling album. I feel like they would probably face some back lash from whatever record label they were working for since covering a song about the struggle of black probably wasn't something people wanted to listen to.
Part B: My initial interpretation of the song was that it paints a picture of Lauryn Hill during this time period. After reading the lyrics I feel like she's talking about change for her and her family's financial situation. Lauryn's mom might've had to work multiple jobs to keep a roof over their heads. When she said, "I go to my brother and I say, brother help me please. And he winds up knocking me back down on my knees," it reminds me that people within the black community tend to hurt each other instead of lift each other up. I do feel that way sometimes; black folks should uplift each other because if we don't who will?
Part C: Sam Cooke was a singer and song writer who wrote "A Change is Gonna Come" based off of his struggle as a black man in America. When he talks about reaching out to his brother and his brother knocking him down he's referring to the white man knocking him down. As a black artist in the 60's, Cooke probably knew that he would face a lot of backlash for this song, but he knew the importance for this song to be put out into the world. This song describes the hardships for black Americans while also hoping for a brighter future.
Part D: When I first heard this song I only heard the "I was born by the river" part and didn't think much of it. Now I realize that this song was made to capture the hardships of black folks while hoping for things to get better. My responses on parts A and B are important because, even though I wasn't born in the 60's or 90's, my responses show that I've learned more about a historical song from my culture. My grandpa would listen to this song all the time and I knew it had some sort of cultural significance but I never payed attention to it. Both artists used this song as a way to talk about what they went through. Whether it was being kicked out of a "whites-only" motel or living in a poor community. They both used this song to talk about their struggles as black folks. These connections are important because, for a young black person like me, I recognize that the same struggles described in this song are the same things black people go through today. White people still have the authority and power to knock us down. If it's not letting us into certain places it's making policies to make us change how we are to fit their standards. While making these connections it's also important to note that there is hope for a better future; we just have to make that change.
Part E: With this activity I've had to listen to this song over and over to get a feel for what it was talking about. Taking notes of how I felt about the song made me feel a personal connection to the subject of it. Integrating my own personal feelings with the song helps me understand it better. Looking up what a "tenement" was helped me understand what Lauryn's living situation might've been like. Being a rhetorical reader means being able to analyze a text to get a better understanding of what you're looking at. In doing so I realize that, while being in a constant fight for being able to live freely, it's important to keep hoping for a better future.

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A) By the end of the song I felt a sense of encouragement because through the song she continues to say "A Change is Gonna Come". My initial thoughts about the song are that it has to do with discrimination in the black community. I believe the "change" she's talking about is a change in society and how society views and treats people of color.
Lauryn Hill is a singer and songwriter who happens to be a black women. I think because she was a big minority in the industry it really gave her the stakes to write a song like this. She was a black women who had experienced discrimination and wanted to see change.

B) My initial interpretation of the song was that it was about the struggle of African Americans in society and in past times. I felt it was an encouragement that things will change and get better for all people of color. After reading the lyrics I was taken by surprise because Hill was actually talking about her childhood. She begins explaining how she grew up seemingly poor, "my mother she could hardly pay rent". She explains how it was hard living in these conditions but she felt that a change would come.  After reading I began to feel for Hill, feel her pain through the lyrics and really feel the power of the song. I can relate to the song in the sense that I too have had to believe that a change was coming when times were hard in life. In a sad season of life I always encourage myself that I will get through and see better days.

C) Sam Cooke is an African singer/songwriter. He lived through Segregational times and the Civil Right's Movement. He was inspired to write this song due to many events but mostly when him and his friends were turned away from a "white-only" motel. He wrote about the struggle of African American's nationwide and his own struggle, living through those hard times. He preaches that a change is bound to come for African Americans.

D) I now have a better understanding of the meaning behind the song. It has a very powerful and encouraging message. It carries the weight of the struggle and discrimination of people of color nationwide. I now have a certain respect for the song, a sense of gratitude for it. My original interpretation is just as important because it shows understanding. I understood the basic's of the song's message. Cooke's message in the song was a lot broader than Hill's, however, both messages were meaningful in their own ways. Both messages were influential for people, weather they be people of color or people living check to check.

E) This activity called for a lot of rhetorical strategies. I think it directly relates to the Haas/Flower article because of this. Rhetorical strategies include relating text to personal experiences, seeking out key points or striking phases, or thinking of what the text's influences and points are. When listening to the songs, reading their lyrics, and answering the questions, I was forced to do all of these things. Using these strategies helped me understand/interpret the songs a lot easier. I was able to obtain the meaning of each piece and formulate responses very quickly.

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A. This song is a very emotional rollercoaster. It is a series of anecdotes that portrays a discouraging and saddening mood with a defeated tone. Black women, in general, tend to receive a lot of backlash when it comes to expressing their feelings and traumatic experiences, especially in the musical industry. Lauryn Hill performing this song proposes the risk of being looked down upon or scolded by the general public, but at the same time, receiving support from other people who may be experiencing similar situations.

B. My initial interpretation was that this song was about the emotional trauma that the African American community is facing. As I read the lyrics, the consistent repetition of the phrase, “A change gon’ come,” throughout the song lets the audience know that there is hope for a better future. I would give this song a great rating because even though your initial thoughts might be negative, there is a hidden message in the lyrics that requires deeper thinking and analyzing to actually unveil.

C. Sam Cooke, could have been more stakes because of the time period. This song is very vocal about not only the racial tension between white and black Americans but the complexities within the black community.

D. My interpretation of this song has changed drastically. I went from feeling sorrow and discouragement to feeling like there is actually a change that is coming. In America, there are many things that render black people from actual liberation. Although it is sad that social issues such as racism is very prevalent in today’s society, it is nice to know that there are people that are still fighting and hoping for change. Lauryn Hill’s remake of this song was like the revival of a revolution. When you are looking at things from the outside looking in for the first time, it can sometimes be overwhelming and you might not understand the message or purpose clearly. It is important to acknowledge the significance of my answers from part A and B just as much as part C because I am able to connect both answers and improve my critical thinking skills. You can connect these renditions because problems that have been discussed in this song has been ongoing for so a very long time. It is important to make this connection so we are able to study the passionate history of Sam Cooke and apply it to the modern day radical mindset of Lauryn Hill. We are able to see the growth of black people.

E. This activity is related to our lecture because in many ways, we have been making connections between different pieces of texts. I have been enabling my mind to do rhetorical analyzing, much like what was discussed in the Haas/Flower article, and think deeper about what I am reading. In this activity, I realized the amount of rereading that I had to do in order to get a hold of the meaning. Doing that not only helped me gain new information every time, but also helped me broaden my initial thoughts about the song.

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1. There is a sense of understanding that no matter what has happened or happening we have to carry on.  My initial thought of the song was how empowering it is, to know that Lauryn still has the will to go on and that she didn’t let society shake her is very inspirational and maybe that is why she sang about her struggle to show other people like her to keep pushing because things will change. The song focuses on the struggle Lauryn Hill and other African Americans go through. She highlights in the song that even though she and others have been through this, she believes that change will come. I believe that she performed the song to show that there is still light at the end of the tunnel.

2. Sam Cooke talks about the racism and discrimination that he and every African American had to endure. He gave us the motivation to keep striving. I already felt connected to the song from the beginning but what deepened my feeling for my feeling is in the third verse. In that verse, he talks about how he tries to go places but they tell him don’t t come back because he is not welcomed and that cut me pretty deep to know that my people weren't allowed to go somewhere as simple as a movie theater. It made me feel so grateful for the people that come before me to fight for my rights so that now I can do something as small as go see a movie and don’t have to worry about being kicked out. I think we lose sight of how far we have come and that even though we still have a long way to go we should remember the small victories.

3.  Sam Cooke wrote the song around the time of the civil right movement, he wrote the song to show the struggle of what African American was going through and how we must stick together. By writing the song “A Change Gonna Come” he also was telling his fellow brothers and sisters that they keep their heads up and keep pushing because one day things will change. I believe that the song was very necessary during this time because this was around the time African Americans were losing hope and to have this song to help them remember what their fighting for, only helps them gain the strength they need to keep the fight up.

4. My feelings have only changed slightly from when I got a better understanding. In the beginning, I felt empowered because Lauryn was singing about change and that made me want it to. As you learn more about a certain topic we get a better understanding  which also can lead to a new interpretation and feeling toward the subject .when we got the lyrics I  was better able to further dissect the song and analyze the lyrics to see the deeper meaning. We were also able to get a better analysis of the text when we got to hear the original song and get background on the original artist. Through all of this, we can make a  more in-depth interpretation of the song. This shows that to fully understand something you need to know the background of it. By both Lauryn Hill and Sam Cooke singing the same song it shows the fight that we have been fighting all these years and we still haven't got the change we are looking for, so I hope until we do this song we will be our anthem for change.

5.  The Haas/Flower focus ongoing in-depth with an article to have an in-depth understanding. by being able to have a better and broader understanding we are about to have a detailed and accurate interpretation. We saw this when we were able to see the lyrics and have the background. In this, we were able to grasp the message better and give a better explanation than just hearing a song would. This is a prime example of rhetorical strategies as while, taking all the information we learned  and make in-depth responses

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"Stand Up" - Official Lyric Video - Performed by Cynthia Erivo

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A.

Whenever I listen to this song I feel moved; not only by the frequency of her voice but with the emotion and word choice in her lyrics. This song is made to provide hope and the possibility of a light at the end of the tunnel. Lauryn Hill is the voice behind this version of “A Change is Gonna Come”; however, the original version was sung by Sam Cooke. Any time an artist remakes a version of an iconic piece of musical literature there are high stakes and pressure for the remake to be just as good as the original.

B.

My interpretation of this song is that a person is going through a time of struggle. Even though they are continuing to run into situations that give more struggle to their life, they hold onto the optimistic thoughts that eventually a change is going to come in the end. Sitting down and reading the lyrics versus listening to them allows me to digest them more and formulate my own personal connection to the meaning of the lyrics. Whenever I approach hardships I try to hold onto the thought that eventually, things will get better. My grandpa always tells me that life is full of hills and valleys. Whenever you are low, remember that eventually, you will be up again.

C.

The original writer of the song is Sam Cooke, who wrote this song about his struggles in the Civil Rights Movement. The stakes would have been high publishing this song as this would have deterred his white audience. The response that would have resulted could have been as small as fewer viewers for this music or even a large as threats to his safety.

D.

My feelings or knowledge of this song have not necessarily changed since analyzing the lyrics. However, my interpretation of the meaning is now much deeper. I always knew the meaning of the song; however, looking at the lyrics on paper (rather than auditory style) allows me to break down this song as a piece of literature rather than simply a form of auditory entertainment. As far as connecting part A with part C, I had already known that Sam Cooke was the original writer of this song. However, I still acquired a new understanding of the song lyrics after reading them thoroughly. I see the song as a musical landmark that was built by one musical genius and recreated by another musical genius. This piece speaks volumes to the idea that no matter the struggle, there will always be a way out.

E.

Our class discussion heavily relates to the process of analyzing this song. When I listen to the song for my own personal leisure or am reading the lyrics on my own this is categorized as content reading. I am simply processing the lyrics just to get the gist of it. I am obtaining the basic idea of the lyrics; however, there is no further interpretation. When I just as of now read the lyrics for school purposes this would be categorized as rhetorical analysis. Upon reading, I was asking myself questions that would help me further derive the meaning of Sam Cook’s lyrics. What was his struggle? Why is a change going to come? Incorporating these questions into my digestion of the reading helped me develop a much deeper understanding of what the song truly means.

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A.) The ending of the song gives me a sense of hope. To me, it talks to resilience and the strength we all have inside of us to continue the challenging journeys in our lives. And on a bigger scale, it makes me remember the challenges my ancestors faced, how far we've come as black people, and how far we will continue to go despite the systems that work against us in this country.

Sam Cooke originally wrote this song, but the artist performing this song is Lauryn Hill. As an African American woman, she can speak to poverty and her mother barely making ends meet. I also believe she connects back to her childhood and present success as an artist, her journey, and the hard work she put in to be the person she is today.

B.) My initial interpretation of the song is no matter how hard life gets, it is vital to keep going forward. Life will always get better, and challenging moments are only mere moments; they won't last forever. Sometimes, the people around you don't always have the best intentions for you. According to the song, "When I go to my brother And I say to be, other help me please But he winds up knocking me Back down on my knees, oh." You will have bright moments and dark moments, but keeping a mentality of hope and faith is what keeps you aligned with your purpose and journey.

Reading the lyrics helped me deepen my understanding of the song and my initial feelings. I understand a song better when I understand what the artist is saying. I can then make my interpretations and connections—reading rather than just listening helped me realize what the artist was trying to get across and life. And how each of our journeys is different but the same, in the matter of personal development and evolving as human beings as we encounter overcome tough times. Reading the lyrics helped me reflect on my own life and my strides to be the person I am today.

I relate to this song because there are moments where I didn't believe in myself or believe I could be in certain elevated positions in my life. I also had times where depression and anxiety took control of my life, and I felt like I couldn't get myself out of the space, especially during  COVID-19, as a virus was taking people's lives. Even though we are still battling COVID-19 and its repercussions, I feel like we are in a better place than we were a year ago. I believe we will be in a better place this following year because tough times don't last forever, and as people, we are born to overcome whatever life throws at us.

C.) The original artist is Sam Cooke, an American songwriter and singer. Sam CCooke'sstake in this song talks about the struggles he encountered as a black man in the Civil Rights Movement.

D.) My knowledge of the song changed because the way I read it connected to my own life. As I read the song lyrics, I recognized the pain associated with being a black man or woman in America from the beginning of time and to this present time from both renditions of the song. It shows the pain that has been here; the pain has never left our hearts and minds. Yet, the pain is what fuels our purpose most of the time. I have a vision board hanging over my desk, and in the middle is a piece that says "Feeling Pain, Finding Purpose." Analyzing the song definitely helped me understand what it meant and still means to Black in America. It also opened my eyes to the continuous fight we have to live our lives safely. The song will always speak to the undying spirit and will continue to have as we work to create a better world. My initial response is just as crucial as this current one because it still speaks specifically to the struggle we all have in life, especially with people of color.

E.) This assignment and activity relate to lecture material because we synthesize the information and create personal connections as we read and write. As the lecture material stated, "True reading and understanding involves integration. It involves you constructing your own meaning and integrating those conceptions into your perception and allowing your values, opinions, memories, thoughts, and emotions to wrestle with the content." "hen creating personal connections with a text, you can develop a deeper understanding which will cause you to retain information to connect with the world around you, which to me is the reason for reading and writing. It helps us become adherent to current events and our history, making us move forward to create impact and change in the world. Knowledge is one of our greatest assets, and with knowledge comes great responsibility.

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A.) After listening to Lauren Hill’s song I felt her struggle on a deeply personal level. I felt chills as she bared her soul out talking about her experiences of being black in America. Listening to the song put me in a somber mood, but at the same time I felt at ease. The words and the way she sang made me feel like I was in her shoes, living through her life. The name of the artist is Lauren Hill, known for her rhythm-and-blues hip-hip songs. This song brought out a newfound vulnerability to her that inspired many similar black artists to keep waiting for their chance. The song shows a personal side to Hill that many people hold dear.

B.) My initial interpretation of “a change is gonna come,” was her hopeful feelings of prosperity and freedom from the shackles her society has on her. She wanted to be able to wish for a day  where she did not have to worry about her “poor mother” not being able to pay the rent. Reading the lyrics made me realize the deeper meaning of the vision she had for Black America. She exclaimed that “it’s been too hard living and I’m afraid to die,” signifying the pain and hardship of being black in America. Never knowing what’s to come, having to worry about police brutality, racial discrimination and the setbacks already instilled in her for the fact of being a woman. Personally, I am both a black woman in America still dealing with gender disparities and prejudice for my race. I am a biology major, aspiring to be a doctor and sometimes it feels like nobody believes in me due to the fact that the being a doctor is stereotyped as a “males job” or that I am not capable enough to go through with hard work that comes with this successfulness. I reaffirm myself that I am capable of doing what I set out to do. A change will come a day at a time.

C.) The artist of the original song is named Sam Cooke. He was an American singer/songwriter who inspired many with his song “A Change is Gonna Come,” now a Civil Rights anthem.  It is considered one of his most influential songs, incorporating most of his personal life experiences in this song. He reflected most of Black Americans struggles, addressing the social problems that African Americans faced in the 1960s. The lyrics "I don't know what's up there / Beyond the sky" allude to Cooke's skepticism about justice in society, but he is hopeful.

D.)  After hearing Lauren Hill’s cover and Sam Cooke’s original to the song “A Change is Gonna Come,” my perspective of this song remained constant. In the beginning, I felt this song was an influential anthem for black people living in America waiting for a new awakening to their life. As I reread the lyrics and deepened my understanding of the song through Cooke’s point of view, I gained more knowledge and felt more inspired. The emotions and feelings I felt in the moment initially listening to this song is just as significant. Both songs are made from a different point of view but share the same wishful thinking that I felt even before I knew the song was originally by Cooke. The connection between both renditions of this song stills shows the urgency and desire to overcome the social/economic problems facing black people. “A Change Is Gonna Come” is still gradually growing, earning a reputation as a civil rights anthem. With Hill's cover deepening this song with her rendition, more people can connect and feel influenced.

E.) Re-reading the lyrics and deepening my understanding of the song, relates to the rhetorical reading lecture. Synthesizing and integrating the concepts of “A Change is Gonna Come,” allowed me to add my own personal experiences into this activity. I created my own framework of reference by connecting my life as a black woman in America. Reading from an “aesthetic” point of view allowed me to “live” in what I read, especially when I referenced my personal struggle of being a biology major. I often questioned if I was capable enough to study, capable enough to be good. But finding myself and knowing my worth was reaffirmed.

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The best is yet to come- padlet assignment 

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A.    This song is one with deep meaning. As I listen to this song, I am touched by the storytelling she does. By the end of the song, I feel a whirlwind of thoughts. It makes me think about my own personal life and gives me encouragement on the future. The artist in this beautiful piece is the “Fugees” group consisting of Lauryn Hill, Wyclef and Pras Michel. The delivery of the song is very heartfelt and full of emotion.

B.    The initial interpretation I had of this song was that the person was speaking from a place of enthusiasm of the future regardless of pass struggle. You can tell from the beginning of the song that the person has been through struggles but continuously tried to carry through. I believe the reading of the lyrics did not change my outlook on the song but instead deepened it sometimes reading gives more understanding that just listening to it. As I read the lyrics, I envisioned a story. Personally, as I listen to the song it reminds me of how wonderful my life has become compared to how it was. It makes me grateful for the strength to overcome all the struggles, and how far I’ve come. It also serves as a reminder that if I do go through something, a better time will come. Because the best is yet to come.

C.     The original artist is Sam Cooke. The meaning of this song after listening to the original is even deeper than I thought it was. He writes this song speaking as a black person who had been treated lesser than he should but has faith that a change is yet to come in his life and the life of black people.

D.    After hearing both renditions of this song I only feel stronger about my interpretation. My initial feelings of the song might not have necessarily been a wrong interpretation, but I was thinking more on the surface. The song is a whole movement on its own about something so vital to the lives of black people. My initial response is still valid because I was still thinking about the general struggles that every human being goes through which for me personally as a black person still includes the discrimination, I face every day simply for being black. I was thinking more in general that no matter what we go through, there are better days ahead. When we go through situations there would be an end we should look forward to even if it may not be right that instant. After going through things in life there would be a day soon ahead that well look back on it and realize how strong we are. Both versions can still be connected because they all talk about overcoming. They’re both relatable to human lives.

E.     This song relates to the Haas/Flower article because with this piece we must get a sense of understanding of the text that we are reading initially to be able to give it a connection to something else. This could be a connection to your life. This happens when you give yourself the chance to engage with the text. Having some sort of engagement with the text gives it the chance to get a relation to your personal emotion or thoughts. This was very evident to me as I listened to the song- both renditions, as well as carefully reading the lyrics to this song. I got the chance to understand the text and later give it a connection to my life through the emotion that it triggers within me.

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A.) There is a wave of nostalgia that comes over me while listening to the song that lasts until the end of the performance. Lauryn Hill has always been a loved and respected artist, but it's always hit or miss when performing a cover of a loved and respected song such as, “I Was Born by the River ''. There is fear in changing up the arrangement with such a known song, because it may not be accepted since there is such an acknowledged version.
B.) These lyrics are meant to invoke a sense of relief after having struggled tremendously, though the raw emotion that is present in the lyrics has the strength to bring about tears to the listener. Though I am familiar with the song, having a fresh look at the lyrics shows more insight of the pain that is being experienced by the narrator. Evidently the lyrics are spot on, sadly. There have been times in my life where it felt like there were too many struggles and instances of pain for me to be able to handle. There being some hope for a  better tomorrow allowed for me to continue on.
C.) Sam Cooke was a poignant African-American singer-songwriter from the Civil Rights era. His meaning behind the song was an acknowledgement of the racism of the time and the push for racial equality that was inspired during this era. However, the acknowledgement was a threat to his personal livelihood through the dangers of calling out racism as well as the threat of losing an important percentage(the white people) of his fanbase.
D.) The understanding of the song that I have hasn't been interrupted after further research into the song. The struggles of black people in America were ones that controlled the everyday focus of one's lives. Segregation, racism, racially motivated violence, all struggles that were faced. Though segregation isn’t as casually witnessed anymore, there are still consistent bases of racially motivated violence as well ever present blatant racism. A struggle that is still being fought and will continue to be fought until there is genuine acceptance of change. My original interpretation is still important because it was my interpretation. As with all music and literature, the understanding of the piece is all up to the knowledge of the consumer and the ability of the author to push through their idea. Both the versions give the same message but they help to be consumed in “different” ways. It's easier with the more contemporary, Lauryn Hill sound to appeal to a younger generation and to be understood in the younger generations' struggles. But throughout the black community the original, Sam Cooke is acknowledged and understood to be a song of the black struggle. The connection allows for the infinite recognition and acceptance of the song throughout the different generations.

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A. By the end of the song, I felt hopeful alongside Hill. I think she bares her vulnerabilities regarding her past in order to move forward and succeed. The audience can connect to her struggle and relate with her because of this. It connects especially to the struggles of being black in America.

B. As someone who can relate to struggling towards a better life, the idea of encountering many roadblocks and continuing on despite them is very evocative. That persistence is especially needed for black women in today's society. This is also very similar to "the come up", a popular topic in hiphop that discusses the advancement of personal/spiritual, mental/emotional, and financial well-being, especially from rough and disadvantaged beginnings. Reading the lyrics didn't change my emotions towards them, as Hill sang them so clearly to begin with that they were already solidified within my mind.

C. Sam Cooke wanted to write a song addressing racism, specifically the struggle of blacks in America. Despite it being a far cry from his typical music, he felt in that moment that it was his duty to speak on the issue, even going so far to say that he wanted to make his father proud. As a black man in America -- especially as a successful, black man in America -- he was still subjected to the same systematic racism and pain that any black man was. Despite his "come up", he still had to experience disproportionate struggle and felt the need to speak on that and express hope for the future.

D. Obviously, knowing that the song was written by Sam Cooke and not Lauryn Hill does affect my judgement about the song, but not much. I realized the song was about racism and the struggle of being black in America. The "come up" I was addressing earlier is marked -- although not defined -- by blackness. As such, my feelings remain quite the same. Both interpretations, however, are equally as important because the singer's attempt shapes the ultimate meaning of a song as much as the lyrics do. Hill is singing about her struggles just as much as Cooke is singing about his, and both of their struggles connect to the overarching struggles intertwined with blackness. Cooke initially wrote this song to reflect the pain of an entire race, so it's intentionally ambiguous. This allows artists, like Hill, who choose to cover it to fit their own story between the lines.

E. This relates to this week's lecture through integration. Lauryn Hill, when listening to Cooke's rendition of the song, allowed herself to fit her own story and meaning into the lyrics. By applying her own meaning, she made it her own. This didn't limit the expression of her experience but enhanced it, and connected it to a bigger idea. This is a perfect representation of rhetorical reading.