The Man in Black

Remember the image we said Johnny Cash wanted to portray. Why do you think he went by the nickname "the man in black?"

As a class, read a short biography of Cash detailing his persona as the "Man in Black" and his identification with marginalized people, including Native Americans and prisoners.

Play audio clip of “Folsom Prison Blues” (1968). Explain that while Cash first released the     song in 1955, this version is from a live performance for the inmates of Folsom Prison and        was recorded in 1968.

            7) Discuss in groups:

            1) What kind of imagery does Cash evoke in the song? 

            2) In this recording, Cash is performing before an audience of inmates. However, “Folsom Prison Blues” became one of his most popular and famous songs. Why do you think this song might appeal to a wider audience?

            3) Does this song seem to align more to Alger or Steinbeck’s vision of the American Dream?    How?

              Share with class

Formative Assessment: S. write a paragraph summarizing what they have learned about the “American Dream” and what it means to various people.

Closure: Define American Dream aloud and share paragraphs from above.

Vocab: Marginalized