Prior to the Civil Rights movement in the late 1950's and early 1960's, prejudice and segregation for African Americans was rampant. The race as a whole struggled to be equal to all others in America. Throughout time, many poets have used their voice to depict the equality struggle. Such poems as “Incident” written by Countee Cullin in 1925 and “Fredrick Douglas” by Robert Hayden in 1946 bring to light the raw emotions and ideals of what it was like for African Americans during times of harsh prejudice and slavery segregation prior to Civil Rights movement.
The effects of prejudice can make a huge impact on someone's life. Cullin's poem, “Incident”, depicts the lasting impression of what it was like to be the target of racial prejudice through …show more content…
Many African Americans fought for this freedom, yet most of them were never recognized in such valor as Martin Luther King Jr. In Robert Hayden's poem “Frederick Douglas”, the speaker shares what freedom means. “When it is finally ours, this freedom, this liberty, this beautiful / and terrible thing, needful to man as air,”(1-2) is Hayden's opening line to his poem. The speaker shows the glory of when freedom is won and how it is a necessary, just as air is to man. The speaker then goes on to state that slavery is more of a political gain than of a personal gain. He then proceeds to show the perseverance Fredrick Douglas would go through in order to see out that freedom would be won for all. “this man, this Douglas, this former slave, this Negro / beaten to his knees, exiled visioning a world / where non is lonely, non hunted, alien,”(7-9) In the end, the speaker demonstrates that even though Douglas' efforts would not be recognized in a grand way, Douglas knew that his efforts would live on in the hearts and lives he touched; “but with lives grown out of of his life, the lives / fleshing his dream of the beautiful, needful thing.”(13-14). Hayden's interpretation of freedom through the voice of the speaker shows how regardless of the outcome, freedom was worth fighting for. Equality should be for
The effects of prejudice can make a huge impact on someone's life. Cullin's poem, “Incident”, depicts the lasting impression of what it was like to be the target of racial prejudice through …show more content…
Many African Americans fought for this freedom, yet most of them were never recognized in such valor as Martin Luther King Jr. In Robert Hayden's poem “Frederick Douglas”, the speaker shares what freedom means. “When it is finally ours, this freedom, this liberty, this beautiful / and terrible thing, needful to man as air,”(1-2) is Hayden's opening line to his poem. The speaker shows the glory of when freedom is won and how it is a necessary, just as air is to man. The speaker then goes on to state that slavery is more of a political gain than of a personal gain. He then proceeds to show the perseverance Fredrick Douglas would go through in order to see out that freedom would be won for all. “this man, this Douglas, this former slave, this Negro / beaten to his knees, exiled visioning a world / where non is lonely, non hunted, alien,”(7-9) In the end, the speaker demonstrates that even though Douglas' efforts would not be recognized in a grand way, Douglas knew that his efforts would live on in the hearts and lives he touched; “but with lives grown out of of his life, the lives / fleshing his dream of the beautiful, needful thing.”(13-14). Hayden's interpretation of freedom through the voice of the speaker shows how regardless of the outcome, freedom was worth fighting for. Equality should be for