Answer:
Emmitt goes to Burn Corn, Alabama, in order to learn more about his family history and heritage. Through conversations with his parents, he learned that his grandmother, Erma Lee Watson, was from that place, so he went there to talk to locals in order to get familiar with the history of his family in more details. Luckily, there were some people there who knew who he was and who could help him.
(The question refers to <em>Who Do You Think You Are, </em>on NBC)
It means that he has abided by certain mores for his whole life and by using the literal example of “pulling a thorn”, he’s saying, “there’s not one person who i haven’t helped, that’s what makes us brothers. When they need me i help them, and when i need them they help me.” It is interesting because he’s explaining that just because it’s not normal for you doesn’t mean it’s not my version of normal.
Insert commas after "angry", "bitter", and "hateful" to separate them
How I would feeling peace again is probably playing more video games. I just get up when I get knocked down. I don’t really cry for others.