“When You Thought Me Poor” by Alice Walker shows the abhorrent prejudice taken towards African Americans. This poem caught my attention because it opened my eyes to the cruelness and unfairness of racism. The poem commences with Walker rightfully complaining about the injustice of being unwelcome and condescended upon, because she is an African American woman. In the beginning, Walker starts with nothing, but by the end of the poem, she “owned too much and too many of everything.” Walker refers to herself as the sun, strong, and powerful which inspires others to follow in her successful footsteps. Initially, “When You Thought Me Poor” is somber, but quickly turns into an encouraging, uplifting story. “When You Thought Me Poor” is free verse
