Characterization)

Evidence: "I've got my books and my music."

This bit of conversation helps tell the reader about the kind of person that Daniel is. It goes to show how he prefers to keep to himself and that he believes he does not need money or an occupation. This lends to the reader's understanding of Daniel and his actions throughout the story.

Plot Structure)

Evidence: "They didn't know what to do. So, the goddamn flag is flying over the State Capitol. Don't take it down, just take it. That's what I say."

This gives way to the plan that Daniel has had throughout the story. It begins to talk about the reason that Daniel is buying the truck and singing the songs. Daniel's plan is to take the meaning of these symbols instead of trying to get rid of them.

Page 6:

Irony)

Evidence: "What are you doing with that on your truck, boy?" the bigger of the two asked.
"Flying it proudly," Daniel said, noticing the rebel front plate on the Chevrolet.
"Just like you, brothers."

This little exchange of dialogue is ironic. Daniel is confusing the gaggle of rednecks by exclaiming "Why yes, I am flying this flag proudly, like I should!" This is where we really start to see the cogs in Daniel's plan of taking the meaning of the symbols begin to turn.

Setting)

Evidence: Daniel played Dixie in another bar in town, this time with an R&B dance band at a banquet of the black medical association.

This scene gives us a description of the setting so that we can understand the absurdity of Daniel's actions. It is this absurdity that is allowing his plan to work. The pure humor and ridiculousness of Daniel's performance sucks away any standing that the hate in the song had.

Not only does the author use characterization to emphasize the meaning of the story, but the author also uses plot structure to emphasize exactly what Daniel is going through. In page 3, Daniel is trying to purchase a car to prove that like others, he has the finances and intelligence to be able to do that. He is proving that he is equal to those that underestimate him because of his race. The author specifically states, "
Daniel heard the quality of the exchange between Travis and Barb, but not the words. He did hear Barb say, as Travis pulled open the door, 'I couldn't tell over the phone?", This sentence proves the ignorance of those around him, and how Travis was not expecting to sell the truck to an African American.

[Setting]

• Evidence: "he went to a joint near the campus of the University of South Carolina and
  played jazz"

• Story starts at the joint near the campus of the University of South Carolina where Daniel is playing jazz with some old folks. The described surrounding makes it seem like a calm place with people coming to enjoy their night, no hints at racism so it seems like a safe space to some extent until some random boys decided to mock Daniel and told him to play Dixie, atmosphere shifts to a more intense one while everyone is waiting on Daniel's response.

[Characterization]

• Evidence: "frat boys in the back... stormed out, a couple of people near the door chuckling at them"

• When Daniel plays jazz, some white boys tell him to play Dixie in an attempt to offend him. Instead of being offended, Daniel plays the song like it belongs to him which offends the white boys as they storm out of the building. As he watches them leave frustrated, Daniel realizes that he can take things people consider offensive/racist to African Americans and make it a part of his identity which inspires him to do more things.

Evidence: "Black people all over the state flew the Confederate flag"

Elaboration: This shows the extent of the change in plot from the beginning to the end of the story. The change is how at the beginning, things that were used against black people such as the song dixie or the flag, they are now used by black people to show strength. This develops the idea of using others weapons against them.

Literary Elements:

Evidence: "The symbol began to disappear from the fronts of big rigs and the back windows of jacked-up four-wheelers."

Elaboration: The author uses symbolism in this to develop the idea of using others weapons against them. This is shown because in the beginning of the story the flag and the song was a weapon of racism. However in the end it ends up being used as a sign of strength for black people. And in this quote it shows how when the flag(racism) is in the person it was meant to hurt, it looses its meaning and power against them.

[Foreshadowing]

• Evidence: "had a dream in which he stopped
  Pickett's men on the Emmitsburg Road on their way to the field and said, "Give me
  back my flag."

• Vivid imagery of the dream that Daniel further supports the fact that Daniel is slowly becoming obsessed with the idea of claiming discriminatory or racist things as his own and make it part of his identity. Things like old slave songs or confederate flags are becoming a symbol of power and a memory of all the struggles instead of it being simply discriminatory and racist. This dream foreshadows how Daniel willingly buys a truck with a confederate decal on it.

[Symbolism]

• Evidence: "Daniel regarded the rebel flag decal covering the rear window of the cab, touched it with his finger. 'That thing will peel right off' Travis said"

• Confederate flag decal is more than just a detail about the truck, it becomes a symbol of cultural environment during this time. Travis finds the decal not as significant as Daniel finds it because for Daniel it is a symbol of history of racism and exclusion that he can't just forget that easily. It supports the theme of appropriation and cultural resistance by showing how some things in life even if they seem insignificant can carry deep meaning

The author not only uses dramatic irony on page 4, but also uses the setting as a way of setting the tone to convey Daniels motivation to rebel against what others think. This is most dominantly shown by the scene of Daniel driving the truck, driving past surprised pedestrians. "
They stared at him, were still watching him as he turned right at the corner. The truck handled decently, but that really wasn't important", The detail of the truck itself not being important emphasizes that Daniel's purchase was never about the vehicle itself, but proving himself equal.