Exercises

Progression 1 Exercise 1

(I interviewed a close friend to get an idea for this narrative)

You’re on your way home from work and stop at the store to buy some groceries for your father’s birthday. His favorite meal is simple, a well-marbled New York strip with a side of mashed potatoes, biscuits, and gravy. You have to wait in line because they only let in a few people at a time because of COVID-19 rules. You get to the front and the guard lets you in, you go to grab potatoes as it’s on your list when a shopper asks if you work here. Why? Because I am Latino you think? You tell the lady no, you just got off your shift at the auto shop and point towards an actual grocery store employee. The lady replies, “I am so sorry, your uniform looked the same”. Sure, you think. You continue on with your shopping and end up grabbing three delicious looking pieces of steak. You eventually gather up all of your items and make your way to the check-out line. You forget that you needed to grab gravy for the last part of the meal so you leave your basket in place and run to grab the gravy. When you return, the basket is off to the side and the line has cut in front of you. You ask why they moved your basket. They reply with the same, “Oh I thought you worked here” as the lady had earlier. You start to get frustrated and wonder why they seem to always think you’re a worker. You wonder why people are so quick to judge off of appearance and quickly buy your items and drive home.

Progression 2 Exercise 2

The topic that I selected is an album by Johnny Cash called Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian. I initially selected just one song from the album called Custer but the entire album is the same subject and created for the same purpose. The criteria that I am thinking of using is that it is first and foremost a collection of songs that are all unique and unprecedented for the times. Part of the special nature of the album is that it was an album that stirred the pot and was controversial. This was because Cash felt strongly about talking about the injustice done to Native Americans, this drove him to craft this album, much to the chagrin of his record label. This ties into my belief that art applies to many different people and can encompass many different viewpoints. Art is also a big part of interpreting and recording history. We can deduce and infer things about a society based upon the art of the time, especially when we have the context of the time period. Not only does Cash allow the listener to experience the events that have taken place against native Americans but he does so in a way that invokes the listener if they listen to the lyrics and absorb the notes played. It isn’t easy to get someone to feel and sympathize with something they have never experienced before. Art is exceptional at applying multiple perspectives and different interpretations amongst people, however, Cash is very clear in this album about the stance and message he is sending. He sings sarcastically and jokingly in Custer about his death at the Battle of Little Bighorn which is an artistic move that exposes Cash’s true feelings about the subject. I think articles of research I may be able to use is that of Cash’s autobiography if he references or talks about his creation and stance on the album. Using databases can also help find any articles or newspapers from the time that can offer any context. I am also thinking of finding articles that specifically discuss songs and albums that have done similar things that Cash does in this album. Doing this can help show that there is an entire genre or section of music that plays a role in raising awareness and contributing to a cause at the expense of the popularity of an artist. I am still thinking and brainstorming on the possible thesis that I can create to make the best paper possible.

Progression 3 Exercise 1

I am from hard work and loyalty

I am from love and sacrifice

I am from the sweat of my ancestors

Whose path created mine

I am from the belief that nothing is given

but is rather earned

I am from the sons and daughters of the Revolution

for which my family fought

I am from a war that divided our Union

which my family defended

I am from the sweet smell of banana bread

And cigarette smell of my grandfathers truck

I am from the rich and the poor

I am from the have and have nots

I am from the calming hand of my father’s wisdom

To the encouraging voice of my mother’s words

I am from the New World

And the Old

I am from the hills of Kentucky

To the coast of California

I am from the skill of my mothers baking

To the sizzle of my fathers grilling

I am from the place on top

And from the place on the bottom

I am

What I discovered in this poem is nothing new that I wasn’t already aware of. I have always been proud of my family’s history and achievements. I have always been proud of the land that I come from, and I always will. I live my life with the memory of my ancestors who endured the challenges to allow myself to live comfortably. I may not have contributed to where I was born, but my ancestors did. Without them, I am not me. Nothing will take away my roots, and nothing will take away from me. I know who I am and who came before me and am proud of all that has been accomplished.

I think this assignment will be critical in the way I craft my progression 3 paper. It was a perfect exercise for getting the juices flowing for our assignment. It functioned as a way to brainstorm and categorize possible thesis points and paragraphs. I think that after completing this exercise I will be better prepared to craft a meaningful and powerful paper on what makes me. Your past and present have an immense influence on the way you can model your life and it is important for understanding what to continue, and what to stop. In order to get better, you need to challenge the process and build upon the successes of your past.