Hey all! The following is the latest and greatest submission for your response.
The poem you are about to read was written by a man named Vachel Lindsay, a poet from Illinois who is called the "father of modern singing poetry" in which the verses are meant to be chanted or sung. Here is one of his most famous, entitled "The Congo":
Their basic savagery
Fat black bucks in a wine-barrel room,
Barrel-house kings, with feet unstable,
Sagged and reeled and pounded on the table,
Pounded on the table,
Beat an empty barrel with the handle of a broom,
Hard as they were able,
Boom, Boom, Boom,
With a silk umbrella and the handle of a broom,
Boomlay, boomlay, boomlay, Boom.
THEN I had religion. THEN I had a vision.
I could not turn from their revel in derision.
THEN I SAW THE CONGO, CREEPING THROUGH THE BLACK,
CUTTING THROUGH THE JUNGLE WITH A GOLDEN TRACK.
Then along that river-bank
A thousand miles
Tattooed cannibals danced in files;
Then I heard the boom of the blood-lust song
And a thigh-bone beating on a tin-pan gong.
And "BLOOD" screamed the whistles and the fifes of the warriors,
"BLOOD" screamed the skull-faced, lean witch-doctors,
"Whirl ye the deadly voodoo rattle,
Harry the uplands,
Steal all the cattle,
Rattle-rattle, rattle-rattle,
Bing!
Boomlay, boomlay, boomlay, Boom,"
A roaring, epic, rag-time tune
From the mouth of the Congo
To the Mountains of the Moon.
Death is an Elephant,
Torch-eyed and horrible,
Foam-flanked and terrible.
Boom, ...
Boom, ...
Boom, ...
Like the wind
Hoo, Hoo, Hoo.
Whew! I know it's a lot, but bear with me.....this poem has been referred to as "a legitimate variety of African dialect" by some scholars of poetry. Other scholars of poetry have called the author racist due to his portrayal of Africans in the work because the author is white and the people of the poem are not just African, but seem to be images of stereotypical Africans.
With which opinion do you agree? Why? Tell me!!!
Your post is due by Saturday, March 13, 2010 by noon.
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I agree with the opinion that he is stereotypical. because he refers to the savage African tribes of witch doctors and cannibals like if you go to an African house hold you will get cannibalized. But it could not be stereotypical as he may just be referring to the ancient African tribes. But also at the time he wrote this America was segregated and he being white brought the attention that he was a stereotype by many of the African communities.
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ReplyDeleteI believe the author of the poem was not racist, but he just wanted to show how Africans acted and the way their culture did things. He also could have been showing the world that the people in Africa are just like us but have it harder in life. For example when he is saying they had to running through the jungle to find food is something we don't have to do. Us as Americans could just go to a store or market and get almost anything we want. So i think this poem is to inform the outside world how the Africans have to live everyday and not a race issue.
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ReplyDeleteMy personal opinion of this story is stereotypical. This sounds racist because once you really take this into deep consideration it sounds like he describing an African-American getting abused, like slavery. When I hear something like that of course it makes me angry but he's not the only one. The author uses words such as "fat black bucks". Stereotypical people say things without thinking and they don’t care. So that’s basically why I think this poem and the author is racist. Thank you for reading my blog :)
ReplyDeleteJaleel makes a good point though..
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ReplyDeleteIt might be true that some parts of this are "a legitimate variety of African dialect," but there are also parts that are racist towards Africans. The poem states that Africans are cannibals and have a lust(desire) for blood. At the begining the poem says that Africans are simple-minded and savage. This is just stereotypical towards Africans, sure in some places this may be true for some people, but this can be true about anyone in some places, it all depends on how you live and survive, if it is hunting for food or shopping for it; eating flame cooked food or grilled; it usually just depends on how you are raised and where. People are who they are, there isn't anything wrong(or right) with them, they just are who they are.
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ReplyDeletegreat point jaleel made a great point and I enjoyed reading it and I think your on to something.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the opinion where they say this is a stereotypical opinion about African Americans. He Just wrote what he thought they acted like and was. Like he said they was fat black bucks and Witchdoctors. I don't think we are like that now or ever was in the past. I would have observed how they act like, before i write anything about what i know
ReplyDeleteMy opinion about the author is that he is not racist or stereotypical. I belive this because i think the author is just tryn to write a good poem and he writes it lyk he sees it. So he write lyk that to capture how the africans feel and do.So this is what i think about this poem.
ReplyDeleteI think that the author said alot of statements that were a little sterotypical. I think that he doesnt intend on anything to be racist, although he does say a few things that are racist. In my personal opinion he could've stated the description of the africans in a more respectful way. He didn't have to refer to them as "fat black bucks". That comment was unnecessary. So, im inbetween on this poem. He said a lot of sterotypical comments, but i dont think that he intended on being racist.
ReplyDeleteGood point Nameless. I enjoyed reading yours.
ReplyDeleteI think that the author is not racist, but I do believe that he was just using his on opinions on how he thought Africans tribes lived there lives. In the author mind he knows that the things that Africans did that us Americans don't do. For example, Africans carry large baskets and vases on their heads to find food and water. They will go miles searching for water. American don't have to do that we have facuets that supplys us with water and if we need food we have to go to the store and buy it. So thats why I think the author based this poem on opinions based on the knowledege that he knows about the African tribe and us Americans.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I feel the poet is being racist, because his word usage for example: Then I saw a Congo, creeping through the black, cutting through the jungle with a golden track. . “Then along the river- bank a thousand miles.”I used this line, because it makes me think of the Underground Railroad and how Harriet Tubman helps slaves escape.
ReplyDeleteI think it could be a little of both.the author could just be pointing out facts an or telling a story.On the other hand this could a racist poem.Reason being is because the author states some pretty harsh a.k.a racist things in tha poem.For example lines 2,6,&7 shows racist content.To me this could have been a racist poem then again it might not.But my own honest opinion i thunk the author was trying to make this a racist poem without makeing it racist.Like making racist poiints but at the same time having surporting facts.But thats just my OP a.k.a opinion.
ReplyDeleteI think the author is not racist, but I do believe that author may be trying to be stereotypical. I have a feeling that the author may trying to tell the facts or a true story. He may say his own opinion how African tribe trying to get water of their own and living through poor place but then it completely different from American society as we get water from the faucet or shower. So as my opinion for this is that the author is not racist but may be trying to be stereotype.
ReplyDeleteI BELIEVE THE AUTHOR OF THIS POEM IS RACIST AGAINST AFRICANS, AND THIS POEM IS STEROTYPICAL. THE REASON I BELIEVE THIS IS BECAUSE THIS POEM DEPRIVES AFRICANS OF THEIR MORALE CLASS, AND DISPLAY THEM AS LOW CLASS INDIVUDALS. THE AUTHOR ALSO USES ADJECTIVES THAT DIPICT AFRICANS AS BEING MORE LIKE ANIMALS, INSTEAD OF NORMAL HUMAN BEINGS. IF THIS AUTHOR WAS NOT RACIST, HE COULD HAVE IMPLIMENTED SOME OF THE THINGS AFRICANS DO THAT SHOWS THEY HAVE CLASS, OR HE COULD HAVE INCLUDED THINGS AFRICANS HAVE DID THAT BENIFITS SOCIETY.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion I don't think the author of the poem is being racist, I think he is just expressing his thoughts. But I do think he is being stereotypical. I think that because he states” then I saw the Congo, creeping through the black, cutting through the jungle with a golden track." It seems he is saying the African Americans have to run through the jungle or woods to get food or water. This would be incorrect because at this point and time we can just go to the store and get what we need. But the author could be just saying how he feels or what he sees. But everyone sees everything different. I think he isn’t trying to be racist. But I also think he could have expressed how he feels in a more appropriate way. Or he could just be writing and not attending to offend anyone.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the poem is referring to Africans as savage, skull-faced, lean witch-doctors. So is the poem racist, no, stereotypical, yes, because the poet makes it seem like all Africans do this. Just because of one person and their actions doesn’t give him the right to give us the title of “All of them do this”. But maybe the poet isn’t being stereotypical, maybe he’s speaking his mind, there’s nothing wrong with that. Though at sometimes you need to know how to explain things, I mean for instance say if someone wrote a poem about the people living in Japan, that’s from that person’s perspective they didn’t actually go to Japan and see all of its surroundings and ask around to see what the daily life of the Japanese is like. Some people just automatically assume that this is what it’s like. Don’t be one of those people who assume, just get the facts before you get the opinions. So it would be better if the poet would just clarify things a little more, but he’s not racist, he just needs to work on his clarification. So in this case I agree that the poet is being stereotypical.
ReplyDeleteI think that the poet is being racist and sterotype at the same time. He is being racist because the poem talks about how the Aficans work hard in the beginning and I think that could be refer as slavery. Not only slavery but when the poet uses the phrase blood I think of death, so I think that the Africans are bing killed. Why not call the fat black bucks by Africans or by their names. But the poet can be sterotype because he could have not said all this things to all Africans. All he is telling is a story from what he sees and not from his point of view.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this poem was a stereotypical because the author is writing how the africans lived and what they did. I don't believe that the author was trying to be racist, even though there is a few lines in the poem that seem like he was being racist. Just because he is an white man doesn't mean that he is trying to go against black or african race. The reason why i believe that this is an stereotypical poem is because, if one person does something doesn't mean the rest of that race do it. For example, if there was a black male in a store stealing, it would be that particular person not everyone of his race stealing. Most people find it that people around us are similar to slavery which is basically what the author is trying to say but it isn't true because different people and cultures have their own way of helping their society and how to work for the things they want. At this point i think the author still isn't racist he just could have found a better way to express the way he thought of africans and put them in better words than what he did.
ReplyDeleteI dont think the author is being racist, I believe he is describing to us what he saw and how he felt about it. There is nothing wrong with stating your opinion but there is as certain point you can take it to. But he wasnt racist it just seems akward because he is not black.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Omar the author is just saying what he sees. He is not trying to be racist; thats just how it sounds. I do not think he, being a famous would write something racist to possibly hurt his career. Also, I don't think you can be stereotypical by telling the truth. The people just happen to be African, and he just happens to be white.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the author of this poem is really being a sterotype.He describes the Africans from his point of veiw.He decribes the Africans in ways that he has seen or heard.I do believe that everyone is free to have their own opion,but sometimes that opion can hurt others.I feel that he should have picked different words to depic the Africans,like instead of calling Africans black bucks;why couldn't he just call them Africans?Also why is he calling the Africans cannibals?It's not like they just feed on each other.This is why i think he is a sterotype.
ReplyDeleteWell to me he is not racist he is just going by facts. He is going by what they have done for years. If he was racist he would be talking about all blacks/africans.He is going by what everyone say about africans, even the blacks that dont live in africa.he is telling about what he sees.I dont think that he would want to end his career by being racist.The people just so happen to be africans and he just so happen to be white. If he wanted to be racist he could have just said that all blacks do those types of things.
ReplyDeleteI beleive in some ways that this poem is a legitimate variety of African dialct. However, i also believe that it is racist and stereotypical. This is so because in the poem, it is decribing an African American getting abused. I dont believe this is racist because the person who wrote it is white. I think this because of the way the author characterizes the African Americans as if they are not even human beings. So, i think this is both a legitimate variety of African dialect and a very racist, stereotypical poem.
ReplyDeleteI think that he is not trying to be too racist but he is being a little stereotypical, so I agree with what Jonathon Robles says. I think that he is telling us the basic cold hard facts by also stating his own opinion. He tells us how the African tribe lived and what the tribe did but he kind of goes overboard with the whole blood scene. He is also saying about how the people from the tribe don’t have that many rights which is a good fact that we all basically know dealing between black and white races. However in the way that he proposes the facts it can lead people to believing that he might be racist. That is all I will say…
ReplyDeleteI think that the author is not racist but he is being a little stereotypical, because the author is talkin bout how African lived and what they did for a living.He is going by what everyone say about Africans and I believe he is not describing to us what he saw and how he felt about it.But I also think Kiana exppplains a good poin too.
ReplyDeleteI don't think he is trying to be racial.To me he is just stateing facts.Like with the music that is just what African tribes do.I do think he goes over bord with the blood,but the other things he said is true.He is not being racial because he is a white man that tells what is gonig on in a african tribe.Black people do the same thing.He talks about the cattle and how they kill to eat there is nothing wrong with that.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think the author is being racist. I believe he is telling what is goin on in Africa and describing the action of the africans. I also think he is giving knowledge to people that doesn’t know anything about Africa. I believe he is doing a great thing. I agree with shontavia with this one.
ReplyDeleteI think the author is not trying to be racist, but i do believe that he was being a little racist because of the stuff he said about Afrian American and their dialect. He was trying to state facts thats why i dont think he is racist.
ReplyDeleteI think that the he was no trying to be racist. But he had said thing that make sound like that he was racist.For example he said "Fat black bucks". Some people may take that the wrong way.And feel that he is disliking the african culture.
ReplyDeleteMY OPiNiON iS THAT THE POEM iS AN EXAMPLE OF AFRiCA DiALECT AND TRADiTiON iTS NOT BEiNG RACiST OR STEREOTYPE BECAUSE iTS JUST TALKiNG ABOUT THEiR TRADiTiON THEY MiGHT THiNK iTS RACiST BEECAUSE A WHiTE GUY WROTE iT BUT iF A BLACK PERSON WOULD'VE WROTE iT PEOPLE WOULD'NT THiNK iT WAS RACIST AS MUCH AS THE WHITE GUY. AND iF YOU THiNK ABOUT iT ONLY AFRiCANS HAVE THiS TRADiTiON SO iTS NOT RACiST. THEiR JUST TALKiNG ABOUT THE AFRICAN TRADiTiON.
ReplyDeleteI do not think the author of this poem is being racist he is just expressing the way he feels about Africans. I can see how people might think he is being racist by saying they are cannibals and skull-faced people but he is just saying what he feels.
ReplyDeleteI think that the aurthor is not trying to be racist or sterotype i think he is just tryin to get a good ryme,but he just wanted to show how Africans acted and the true way of their culture. I think he was not trying to be racist jus trying to show the true culture of african-americans. i also think that the aurthor is only writting what he saw the people doing. i think some people just think that he was trying to be racist because of some things he said like "Fat black bucks"he could have been talking bout anything or just trying to find so good rhyms.
ReplyDeleteBy:Andres Rangel
I think that the author is not trying to be racist, is just the way that he says it that makes it sound racist. Furthermore, even if he is not trying to be racist he can sound like he's being racist, but not everything that sounds racist is racist.
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ReplyDeleteI don`t think the author is racist it was just the way he said it. But if you look at it from his pov it is just the way he wasa raised to talk. And it is the wasy he wrote this poem.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion i think the author is not trying to be racist.People only think that because of the way the author portrays the african american race.There is many ways you could take this poem because when youwrite a poem you usually express your feelings and that is what he is doing.He is not being racist because this is the way he feels and you cannot alter that perspective.
ReplyDeleteI think that the author is not racist. I do believe that he is stereotypical because not all Africans act in the same way as those who live in the wild. He is also comparing our lives as regular Americans too those who do stay in the wild. We can go to a restaraunt and order our food and also have it cooked for us. Where they have too go out and catch their meet and cook it. Their life is way harder than ours its like our life is getting handed to us on a silver platter. They have to work hard to survive, shelter, and feed themselves. On the other hand i think that the author is a little racist because of the saying "A roaring, epic, rag-time tune." It is known that African Ameicans love loud rap music this maybe the case, but just because they are Africans doesnt mean that they like loud music. He is using alot pf violent words as well becasue it is also known that African Americans can be violent. He is using stereotypes that are making him sound racist, but in reality I dont think that he is using my examples to be racist he is just going by what he hears. He should watch how he says things. My mother once told me a saying "ITS NOT WHAT YOU SAY BUT HOW YOU SAY IT!!!!"
ReplyDeletei think he being a sterotype because he is refering to African-Americans during slavery. He didn't have not one thing good or respectable or pleasant to say. He was just refering to slavery. Pain and suffering was mentioned, including the jobs they had. But thats it.....
ReplyDeleteI personally don't believe that the author is trying to be racist. I believe that the poem is sterotypical. He is describing what he has heard and seen. When you turn on the National Geographic channel, you also observe Africans doing their rituals and taking parts in the kinds of activities that the author mentioned. He believes that all Africans act in the same manner. It's a good poem and doesn't really mean any harm.
ReplyDeleteI think that the author was not trying to be racist. In my opinion he was being stereotypical, by describing the African Americans during that time of period. Just because the author is white doesnt mean he is racist, if it had been any other color person; even black it is just an opinion. Everyone has their opinion and way of expressing their thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI think the author was not being racist because he was just informing us on how slavery was and how blacks were.Even though it may appear seem as the author was racist exspecially since he was white he didnt have to particually talk about us(AFRICAN AMERICANS)the way he did because it was showing that they blacks been through alot basically(HELL) and the whites didnt have to go threw the pain and torture we went to. It seemed kind of unfair buI think the author was not being racist because he was just informing us on how slavery was and how blacks were.Even though it may appear seem as the author was racist exspecially since he was white he didnt have to particually talk about us(AFRICAN AMERICANS)the way he did because it was showing that they blacks been through alot basically(HELL) and the whites didnt have to go threw the pain and torture we went to. It seemed kind of unfair but not racist in a way the poem just could have been said or explained differently so it want like he was talking directly about us black folks in a neagative way>(THATS ALL FOR NOW)BYE
ReplyDeleteI do agree that " The Congo" is kinda racist, because it is like telling something that is not true about some African hartiage, but also some of it is true to, because they list and say somethings that is true bout they also exprees some raceail comments that does not need to be mentioned. But also they do make it seem kinda like they are not tryana be raceis but they are
ReplyDeleteI THINK THE AUTHER IS NOT TRYING TO BE RACIST I THINK HE IS TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHAT IT WAS LIKE DURING SLAVERY TIME AND HOW EVERYTHING WAS GOING DURING SLAVERY LIKE WHAT THE AFRICAN AMERICANS USE TO GO TROUGH DURING SLAVERY AND HOW HARD IT WAS FOR THEM .
ReplyDeleteI think the author was being sterotypical, because he was describing the African Americans during that time period. I also think the author was being racist because he said fat black bucks and tattoed cannibals he didnt have to put them out like that.
ReplyDeleteI think that the author was being both racist and stereotype. In my opinion, I think that the author was racist because it was not so nice how he suscribed the Africans by saying that they were 'Fat black bucks in a wine-barrel room.' I also think that the author was being stereotype because he was just telling us how the Africans live their lives.
ReplyDeleteI believe half and half with the poem, for one part I agree with it being a valid example of how tribes in African work and go threw their days but even though some of this is true, it is also sterotype and rasist, the author Vachel Lindsay, did put the way they lived their lives very volgor and harsh. He more than likly did not mean it that way, but it can be tooken the wrong way, depending on the person.
ReplyDeleteI think its a example of African dialect because they have a hard time working in that hot place. the way he said lines 15-22 sounds like a tradition this also shows an idea of the enviroment ,and how they hunt for food.
ReplyDeletei believe that this poem appeals to both sides of the arguement. the reason for this is that it varies with every persons opinion.
ReplyDeletei think that the author had alot of statements in the story and that were a little sterotypical. In facr he does intend on anything to be racist, although he says a few things that are racist. In In my personal opinion he could've stated the description of the africans in a more respectful way. He didn't have to refer to them as "fat black bucks" that was a big comment made in the poem . That comment was unnecessary. So, im inbetween on this poem. He said a lot of sterotypical comments, but i do think that he intended on being racist.
ReplyDeleteBy:Jamel Talley
I sortof do think that this author is a little bit racist just simply becuase of how he starts the 'poem?' off. But, as it goes on...you kind of change your mind? i guess. It's just also how he was raised to talk. I mean there are ways that we are taught to talk but there are times when we know when to talk a little bit more proper to have respect. He might have wrote this as of this way...but people just take it the wrong way.
ReplyDeleteI think this is stereotypical.Because anyone can beat on a congo and dance around a fire. Just because it originated in Africa, that doesn't mean anything. It's part of some African religions to beat on congos. In the first 10 stanzas it's telling about the average savage and what he/she does. People can look and act like a savage to have fun. Everyone who look like a savage isn't a savage.
ReplyDeleteThis poem is very stereotypical because it refers to African Americans as " fat black bucks". This poem however points out some of the struggles that African Americans had to endure.I think this poem will be called stereotypical by people because the author is white and he had some negative comments about African Americans and their struggles. I also do not think that the author intentionally meant to say those things to hurt or harm anyone.
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty I believe that the author wasn't being racist or stereotypical. I believe that he is only telling us about our roots and backgrounds about where we came from and how it was like at the time.
ReplyDeletei believe the author of this poem is not racist just because the author is of a different race an speaks these words of truth does not means he's racist that's like saying most African Americans like fried chicken that's not racist because if you think about it it is true and this is why i think the author is not racist.
ReplyDeleteI would say that this poem is racism related because the author is white, and he speaks about how an african american is being beat. The poem uses metaphors of how it sounds when an african american is being beat. It also uses repition of how the hits sound.
ReplyDeletei believe it is racist,because when they said fat black bucks is the way they describe the africans.And when they said they beat an empty barrel.It made them look stupid,because they tattoed cannibals danced in files.That is why i thank that it is racist.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion about the congo was i think its not trying to be racist. I think there is a man trying to write a poem and trying to tell his story. The congo is more of a jazz poem. I get no type of racist or bad feeling to that poem. The poem was pretty interesting with the onamonapia in it and i liked it. I do not get offended by that poem at all.
ReplyDeleteI do not think this poem is racist, however I do believe that it is stereotypical. The poet is just going by what he has seen on television or read in a book. Most movies and books do not show the other side of African life. He probably does not even know about the other side of African life and what they do. This poem is not racist because if a black person was to have written this poem, readers would no one would consider him racist at all because he is referring to his own kind.
ReplyDeleteWhen trying to understand this peom, I am torn between thinking that the author is racist because he calls the people he is describing " fat black bucks". But then again I don't think he is be racist because he is only trying to describe how he sees that persons daily life, or their duties durning the day!? I can also understand what people are thinking when they say he is talking down about stereotypical Africans because he is; for sure, talking about an African American but in parts of the poem he talks about voodooism and witches.
ReplyDelete-MEgan Cottrell
WELL MY OPINION OF THE STORY IS THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT IT EITHER WAY. HE SAYS SOMETHINGS THAT YOU MAY REFER TO AS RACIST BUT THEN AGAIN MAYBE THE AUTHOR IS BEING SARCASTIC. IT MAKES YOUR MIND WONDER...'DOES HE REALLY MEAN WHAT HE SAYS?' HE COULD JUST BE BEING IRONIC AND NOT MEANING ANY HARM TO SOMEONE ELSE'S RACE. THATS MY OPINION OF THIS STORY.
ReplyDeleteTHIS STORY IS IN BETWEEN TO ME. CERTAIN THINGS I VEIW AS RACISM,BUT OTHER THINGS AREN'T.I AGREE WITH CIERRA THIS DOES MAKES YOUR MIND WONDER,AND HE COULD MEAN WHAT HE SAYS. I PERSONLY DON'T THINK HE MEANT ANYTHING BY IT.
ReplyDeleteMY OPINION OF THE STORY IS THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT IT MANY WAYS.HE CAN SAY SOMETHING LIKE YOU MAY REFER TO AS RACIST BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TO DO IT AGIAN MAYBE THE AUTHOR IS BEING SARACASTIC. BUT IT MAKES YOUR MIND LIKE LEAVE "WONDER" WHAT HE MEANS IS THAT IF YOU COULD JUST BE IRONIC.
ReplyDeleteI think that the poem is racist because the author said in the poem he describe the Africans as ''fat black bucks''. But then you see he is not racist by saying other stuff in the poem that are not racist. I think the author just describing how they act and how their culture is. I think that the poem is half racist and half not racist.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that the poet was racits but he did make some racial comments in his poem. I also think that the poet shouldn't have described the Africans as cannibals that just makes them sound like killers. I think that people that see this poem will probably overreact to it.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the author of this poem is really being a sterotype.This for one is not tru about all african americans.To me really since he isn't african american and from the descriptions he say's in the poem,he doesn't know anything about african amerians.Then really he shouldn't be writting about anything that he has not really experienced.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the poetry was not racist.Even though what the boy got for his birthday was not really a real birthday gift.The son seemed like they worked him hard doe.But the poem does seem like he doesnt know about African Americans.But the poem really is sterotypical.He is actually talking about himself.
ReplyDeleteI believe this poemm to be not only stereotypcial but racist as well. I believe this racist because some of the things stated such as "fat black bucks" were offensive to me, being that I am partly African Amercain. This also made me feel singled out because of the color of my skin.
ReplyDeleteI think tradition because the person who wrote this could have studied their culture and the way of speak. The reason why I said this is that he is trying to show us how the Africans life is like for them. Most people would have said this is racist just because he is telling facts that this people work hard to earn money to feed their children. People this is not racist its true facts about them. He said that their work is like being in a bloody war because they work very hard until they can't work no more. Also talks about how the music is made and played.
ReplyDeleteI think that the author is not racist, but I do believe that he was just using his on opinions on how he thought Africans tribes lived there lives. Just because it originated in Africa, that doesn't mean anything. He is going by what everyone say about africans, even the blacks that dont live in africa.he is telling about what he sees;I dont think that he would want to end his career by being racist.There is nothing wrong with stating your opinion but there is as certain point you can take it to. But he wasnt racist it just seems akward because he is not black.
ReplyDelete