Each of these three pieces of writing used forms of writing and ideas that some of the other pieces we’ve read have. One thing that really stuck out for me was the use of repetition in each of the writings. Just like in previous writings, two of these songs used repetition to make sure that the point of the song was showed. The repetition gave the main idea more meaning and made the message stick with the reader. Another thing that one of the songs, We Shall Overcome, did was convey the message of hope and freedom, just like some of the other pieces we’ve read. We read a couple of pieces that talked about how the people believed that some day they will be free and all that they have to do is keep believing that someday that will happen. This is exactly what this song did and its main message was that someday we shall all be free. The song Strange Fruit did a great job of comparing the hanging of black people to fruit on trees. What the author seemed to do was created a hidden meaning that said that the way that black people are being treated is just like how we treat fruit, but in a much worse way. This song compared to a couple of writings we read that used metaphors to show the message they wanted to tell. One last thing that the poem Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round did was telling the message that nothing should keep you down. It was saying that no matter what may get in the way you should always keep marching, which is what most of the pieces we’ve read discussed

John Henry Comparison

I would have to say that there is little that is similar between the pieces Ballards and the other two songs by NAS. Ballards was more of a story with hope in the beginning that John would beat the white man in a race. The beginning gave a somewhat sense of happiness (or at least happier than the NAS songs). In the end however John beats him but still ends up dead. The tragic ending is the only connection I could really make between the two pieces of writing. Nas created songs about what a hard life it is and what surrounds them. There is some sense of hope in the songs because some of them discuss how things are really bad, but they could be a lot worse. Nas also made you feel like the “main character” in the songs was basically on their own. The character didn’t have anyone supporting them or cheering them on through the hardships that he or she faced. Ballards on the other hand made the reader feel as if they weren’t alone and that people were there to support them and do anything. It seems as if NAS is trying to show us how hard life is when you’re living on the streets with bums outside of where you sleep. I felt that Ballards was trying to tell the story of what happened to John, but didn’t try to show us what a hard life he had. The piece did however end on John beating the white man but still dying, sadly due to his own actions.