Race in Poetry as a Tool of Self-Discovery - Research Paper Example

The theme of race in poetry and its significance as a tool of self-discovery Poetry is one of the most influential and widely used forms of art. Through poetry, change has been achieved throughout the world at different levels. Poets have been considered as the voice of common people through their compositions during times of struggles. Issues ranging from racism, crime, gender disparity, life, poverty, war, politics, abuse, economics and many other countless social problems have been addressed through the art of poetry and spoken word. As a powerful tool of change, poetry amongst the black Americans became prominent in the 18th and 19th century during the era of slavery. These poems were recited in the fields as the slaves worked while others were made into strong songs that not only united but also gave the slaves a sense of unity in their black heritage. The late 19th century and for most parts of the 20th century, poems from the black community and other human rights activists were used to bring down the racial divide between the whites and the black communities. Through poetry, a sense of self-discovery was ignited in African Americans and this was able to see them survive slavery and racial segregation. The theme of Racism is one of the most important themes in the history of the modern world. These paper will explore the relevancy of how racism as a theme has been handled in poetry successfully to instill self-discovery attitudes. The theme of racism in poetry Racism as a theme has featured in many texts by black poets. However, it is important to note that racism not only occurs when amongst the African American group in the United States. A number of poets from different races and on a global level have handled theme of racism in their texts. Racism can be defined as treating people indifferently based on their race or color of their skin. Denying an individual something or treating someone indifferently due to the color of his skin or origin, is against the basic human rights. In the US, the history of Racism goes back before the founding of the nation during the days of slavery. Africans were taken from their homes in Africa and turned into slaves to work in agricultural plantations while at the same timework as slaves in white homesteads. Working as slaves, African Americans were beaten, killed, tortured and treated like second-rate citizens. The emancipation proclamation in 1864 ended the civil war and abolished slavery while giving African American slaves the right to their freedom (Hathaway, Jarab &Melnick 37-44). However, the freedom that African Americans gained had its own limitations and most of them continued to suffer under racial segregation. During the Jim Crow era, African Americans were treated like second class citizens with poor jobs compared to their white counterparts, bad schools, a different transport system and many other things. However, it is important to note that it wasn’t only African America who were segregated against but also Asian Americans, Latin Americans, and even Native Americans. Poets from different races have tackled the issue of Segregation based on race. Racial sentiments and slurs will always lead the affected person to have a low self-esteem based on his color. During the eras of slavery and Jim Crow, many black Americans had lost their self-confidence and their identity. This was due to the differential treatment they received. Policies that were designed to kill the black man’s spirit through oppression were critical in destroying self-identity amongst the black people. However, since time immemorial, poetry has been used to promote a sense of self-identity amongst oppressed people. The oppression amongst the black people, the Asian Americans, Latinos, and native Americans was overcome through use of artistic means of expressions to bring unite and fight against oppressive policies. From the days of slavery, songs and poetry were exploited. Poems that were composed addressed the theme of racism from different angles. These poems were characterized by strong wording, which was used to show and give a sense of belonging by those who were oppressed. Other poems were used to show how oppressive the oppressor was. Others were used to scold those who had bought into the white man’s oppressive policies. Various black poets wrote pieces that would bring back the dying spirit of the black man so that he could rise against oppression and stand for his right. The wording in the poems was generally geared to instill a sense of belonging and hence advance attitudes that would lead to self-discovery of the black man (Wheeler 77-78). Self-discovery was a key in waking up the black man into a more powerful individual. The spirit of the black man had been killed during the Jim Crow era but through poetry addressing issues of racism, the spirit of the black man was rejuvenated. Poems about racism managed to instill attitudes that led to the self-discovery of the African American and later gave him the confidence of standing up against the oppressive policies. Through the strong poems, the civil rights movement was able to succeed in the 1950s to the 1970s into mobilizing the black community to attain full citizenry status (Wintz 89). Examples of poems that have addressed the theme of Racism Several poems that were written during the Jim Crow Era and during the era of the civil rights movement have been used below to show how racial discrimination invoked attitudes of self discovery in African Americans. These poems are discussed below. The White City is one of the poems by Claude McKay that holds strong resentments against the black oppressors. In this poem, the poet uses strong language to speak about the oppression by the white people. This has led to negative attitudes towards the white people. The negative attitudes that are enshrined in the poets mind are because of constant oppression from the white man. Claude Mckay detests the white men and his oppressive nature. He has rediscovered himself as an African but he is angry. Self discovery is not only positive but it can be as well as be negative as stated in the poem by McKay. Racial discrimination brought about these dangerous trends (Mckay 375). Countee Cullen in her poem Incident tries to recall an incident that happened to the persona when she was 8 years old. The effects and feelings of a racial slur stay with her many years after a white boy scorned her for being an African American. This is an example of a poem that shows how emotionally racism may affect an individual. The incidence is imprinted in her young mind for more than six months. Of all the things that she experiences in Baltimore, this one incidence stayed with her for a very long time.The theme of racial segregation is illustrated in the poem through an incidence that would have been considered trivial. However, the power and energy of the poem indicates how racial slurs can destroy a person’s attitude towards others. The persona has grown negative attitudes towards white people in the poem. Her attitudes perhaps may have led to her to rediscovery as a black person and hence leading her to write the poem (Cullen 373). Reaper’s by John Toomer is a highly symbolic poem that tries to instill a sense of fear amongst the black people that had betrayed the black community. In reapers, Toomer speaks of the anger in black people that has led them to resolve to violence against any traitor. He speaks of how black people have decided wage a silent unknown war against their oppressors and hence lead a backlash by destroying their agents. He speaks violently of how the African Americans used violence to weed out those who were seen to be cooperating with the white people. Black horses drive a mower through the weeds, And there, a field rat, startled, squealing bleeds, (Toomer 375 ) The rats that the poem refers to are the black people who have lost their identity and have become traitors against the fight for freedom from racial discrimination. Although the poem uses symbolic language to try and show how violence was mete out on betrayers, the message of the poem iwas generally to encourage and sway the black people who had fallen for white materialism to rediscover their black heritage. This was important in ensuring that the community remained united in their cause. The poem can be considered as a warning or a form of scare tactic aimed at creating attitudes of self-discovery amongst the black community. Sonnet to a Negro in Harlem is a poem by Helene H Johson written at the time of racial segregation in the United States. During this age, the African Americans were reffeerd to as Negroes by the white oppressors. In this poem, Johnson tries to scorn the African Americans who have embraced the city life and try to impress the White racists. Racial segregation has made the black man to hate the white man. However, the black man in the poem has refused to stand up against the oppressors who make him sweat for their own gain. Racism has made the black man to accept racism as his fate. He is subjected to torture and he has willingly agreed to these. Johnson admires the character in terms of physique of the black man. However, she is critical of the black man’s tendency to remain subordinate in their roles. She faults the black man for trying to adopt the culture of the white man. In this poem, Johnson addresses the issue of racism from the perspective of the oppressed. However, she does not blame the white man solely but rather tries to make the black man to rediscover his own identity. She says, “Small wonder that you are incompetent To imitate those whom you so despise” (Johnson 374) She tries to instill attitudes that will make the black man to self discover himself. Hence, it is clear that poetry during this era was used to encourage the black man into self-discovery. The theme of racism has been addressed to remind the black man to get back his old self. Langston Hughes is remembered as one of the most powerful individuals who championed for the rights of black people using his poetry. In the poem I, Too Sing America, Hughes tries to identify with the right of being an American. His poem is full of pride even at a time when the white man was oppressing blacks. The poem is a reflection of how poems during the Jim Crow era used to instill a sense of belonging amongst the people oppressed people at the time. He looks positively at the negative treatment as a source of strength to make him grow even more powerful. He says, “I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong.” (Hughes, 364) The persona in the poem is seen as taking positive attitudes from his sending to the kitchen. He however, self discovers himself as a stronger person when sent to the kitchen. In the above poems, the issue of race and segregation is clearly outlined. Racial discrimination as a theme occurred in four main forms. These are through differences and racial slurs due to color, discrimination due to differences in color, prejudice at places of work, schools, and stereotypes due to the race of a person. These may occur to anyone at any place. A white man in a black neighborhood may face racial segregation and this may not necessarily mean that racism occurred only amongst black people. Sentiments that these poems rise have been used to instill a sense of self-discovery amongst other racially segregated societies globally. The power and influence of poems with the theme of racial segregation have been Conclusion The pieces of poetry that have been chosen have very strong thematic relationships that revolve around racial discrimination. Through these pieces, the readers will go on a self-discovery journey that will remind them the ills of segregation. These poems remind Americans about the bumpy ride on which liberty and freedom was founded. To those who are racially abused, poetry on race will instill an urge to fight as it will give them the vigor to fight and defend their rights.. In conclusion, these poems take the pain and suffering that people went through to attain racial equality. Attitudes against racial profiling can be rediscovered by reading the poems that have handled the theme of racial segregation (Nielsen 14). Works Cited Delbanco, Nicholas and Cheuse, Alan. “Literature: Craft & Voice (Fiction, Poetry, Drama): Three Volume Set.” New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009 Hathaway, Heather., Jarab, Josef and Melnick, Jeffrey. “Race and the Modern Artist.” London: Oxford University Press, 2003 Nielsen, Aldon Lynn. “Reading Race in American Poetry: An Area of Act.” Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2000 Wheeler, Albert J. “Racism: A Selected Bibliography.” New York: Nova Publishers, 2005 Wintz, Cary D. “Black culture and the Harlem Renaissance.” Houston, TX: Rice University Press, 1988 Read More