The ethos
of Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come is used to signify that a change in
society will come and he uses his musical content to demonstrate the theory
behind the lyrics of his song. The content of the song really does illustrate
the pain of being a person of color during the 60s and how people of color
yearned for change in the way the system worked. People wished that the change
will come and Cooke is confident in his lyrical manifestation that a change
will eventually present itself as people will learn to live with one another
and live in unison and harmony. The content of the song is that change will
come and this speaks volumes because it correlates to different facets of
American life during the 60s specifically segregation and violence, primarily
the Vietnam War. Change will come and change did come as the Civil Rights Act
of 1964 was signed and the Vietnam War was ended setting the platform for the
world to progress into a new era.
-Ikenna Mba
-Ikenna Mba
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ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you that Cooke's main audience was the African American community, but I also think that he knew how to speak to the opposing white community with his lyrics here. The title of the song, while hopeful, also says that change with regards to civil rights of African Americans is inevitable. Simply, resisting the "change thats gonna come" is useless, and I think Cooke wanted his haters to know it. It definitely was meant more to keep morale in the African American community high during discouraging moments, but I think that it also told the white community that people like Cooke were serious about the movement and planning to give up easily.
ReplyDelete-Brenna
I agree with how Cooke creates ethos within the song but the post could use specific examples within the song of how he establishes this ethos. Also stating Cooke's extrinsic ethos as a renowned song-writer and prominent voice in the '60s would help to fully understand the ethos of "A change is gonna come".
ReplyDelete-Chris Burns
I liked the addition of the message of the song, however I wish you added a little more to describe and establish Cooke's credibility on the issue of the war. Maybe adding his popularity as a famous songwriter or his strong following might be of use to establish this.
ReplyDelete