Elvis Presley Racial Struggles
Elvis Presley: Triumph Despite Racial Tensions and Internal Conflict
Abstract
This essay will explore the life of Elvis Presley and the obstacles that he has faced. It will begin by exploring the broader aspects of the time in which he lived in and its influences on him as a human being. Then it will describe the obstacles and triumphs he endured throughout his early childhood and young adult life, leading up to his death. It will also discuss the effect that the media and racism had on not only Presley 's music career but his image as a person as well. Finally, it will prove that Elvis Presley is a catalyst for change because regardless of what he was told he should do he knew what he was capable of and he exceeded past it. It will conclude …show more content…
Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi to Vernon and Gladys Presley (Elvis 1). From rather humble beginnings, young Presley was always very close to his parents. “He was deeply devoted to his parents, especially his mother Gladys, and was raised to have a strong faith in God” (Elvis 1). “Raised by loving , working-class parents, Presley’s family had little money, and they moved from place to place frequently” (Elvis 1). Despite being rather poor Presley had a wonderful relationship with his parents and although living through such a racist period in our history and in rather racist areas young Presley didn’t allow racism to affect his choices in music. “Elvis had moved to Memphis by his teens, where he absorbed the vibrant melting pot of Southern popular music in the form of blues, country, bluegrass and gospel” (Unterberger 1). Some of these music types mentioned were for specific races only but Presley listened and was influenced by all types of music during his childhood proving that he maintained his love for music despite the criticism he received for doing something a white man should not do. Influence by many major music genres, gospel especially was quite important to young Presley. “Presley attended the Assembly of God Church with his parents, where gospel music became an important influence for him” (Elvis 1). His obvious acceptance of the different types of music helped him changed the minds of many people later during his career because it proved to them that even though Presley was famous for Rock ‘n’ Roll he was also a deeply religious, something many fans were as
Abstract
This essay will explore the life of Elvis Presley and the obstacles that he has faced. It will begin by exploring the broader aspects of the time in which he lived in and its influences on him as a human being. Then it will describe the obstacles and triumphs he endured throughout his early childhood and young adult life, leading up to his death. It will also discuss the effect that the media and racism had on not only Presley 's music career but his image as a person as well. Finally, it will prove that Elvis Presley is a catalyst for change because regardless of what he was told he should do he knew what he was capable of and he exceeded past it. It will conclude …show more content…
Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi to Vernon and Gladys Presley (Elvis 1). From rather humble beginnings, young Presley was always very close to his parents. “He was deeply devoted to his parents, especially his mother Gladys, and was raised to have a strong faith in God” (Elvis 1). “Raised by loving , working-class parents, Presley’s family had little money, and they moved from place to place frequently” (Elvis 1). Despite being rather poor Presley had a wonderful relationship with his parents and although living through such a racist period in our history and in rather racist areas young Presley didn’t allow racism to affect his choices in music. “Elvis had moved to Memphis by his teens, where he absorbed the vibrant melting pot of Southern popular music in the form of blues, country, bluegrass and gospel” (Unterberger 1). Some of these music types mentioned were for specific races only but Presley listened and was influenced by all types of music during his childhood proving that he maintained his love for music despite the criticism he received for doing something a white man should not do. Influence by many major music genres, gospel especially was quite important to young Presley. “Presley attended the Assembly of God Church with his parents, where gospel music became an important influence for him” (Elvis 1). His obvious acceptance of the different types of music helped him changed the minds of many people later during his career because it proved to them that even though Presley was famous for Rock ‘n’ Roll he was also a deeply religious, something many fans were as