Practice 6-D p.134

I think Black Elvis is a metaphor for pride and the meaning behind this word. Pride is definitely a relevant theme in this passage due to the strife and struggle that Black Elvis has seemed to have endured. The people around him - Juanita and the two boys he runs into at the beginning - all seem to live in a world without a lot of money or happiness. In order to maintain a healthy, worthy life, they have to be proud of what they do and what they accomplish each day.

Black Elvis maintains two jobs just to ensure that he will have some extra pocket money and some emergency cash. However, when the two boys ask him for money he shows his pride and decides that he has enough to sacrifice some for them. In fact, the whole passage reveals the pride that Black Elvis feels. "He was Black Elvis. He had a show to put on" (69). He considers himself to be important and strives to entertain and succeed. He proudly keeps his picture from the newspaper on the wall next to his bed. Black Elvis, at first, seems a little disappointed that a new man might be taking his spot, but before getting upset he decides that "that [is] negative thinking. You couldn't let yourself fall into that" (70). He plays a song that no one expects and awes everyone. He does not even know exactly how to play "Amazing Grace" but he stands up there and acts like he does. He shows his pride and because of that, Butch and his audience are proud of him too.

The name in itself- Black Elvis- is a show of pride. Elvis was legendary and to imitate him successfully would be hard for anyone, especially someone who looks nothing like him. As the name states, Black Elvis had this to his disadvantage. He dressed like Elvis, but in order to convince anyone that he was worthy enough to try to imitate "The King," Black Elvis had to perform even greater than an imitator who looked like Elvis. This name represents difference and change, but also the pride that has to accompany these concepts in order for any good to come of them.