Another City

The essay that my group was assigned was "Minnie Riperton Saved My Life" by Luis Alfaro. The author talks about his life in Los Angeles and how his love for soul music that help him be himself. He talks about how his parents are still living the way that they used to live when they live in the central valley and how it embarass him a lot. He also talks about how these musicans such as Marvin Gaye or Barry White made him feel good inside. But when he listen to Minnie Riperton, something about her voice and her song, lights him up inside. I really like reading the essay because he talks about how that it is hard sometimes to show people the real you and how it gaves an insight of how some mexicans might go through when they moved into a new surrounding. I also like how he love to listen to blues music. I never thought someone who is young and can really understand the music.

What I understand in this essay is the way he compares the music from the blues and the mexican music his culture listens to. They both have a common themes about "missing a home, land, and a man" (pg.15). I also understand how it is hard to be your true self but have to change for other people so you won't get made fun of. Another thing that I understand about this essay is that sometimes our parents might not be able to leave who they are behind and be something just because of where they live. The only thing I question about this essay is how does Minnie Riperton saved his life. I don't know if he mention it about how she does it but I don't see it at all in the essay.