Racial Discrimination among Poets - Assignment Example

Racial Discrimination among Poets The theme of racial discrimination is a well-known topic among poets and short story writers. But when the internal suffering of the character/characters due to the foretold theme become the author’s own life itself, the work gains immense emotional appeal. Here, one can easily identify that the poem ‘The boy died in my alley’ by Gwendolyn Brooks deals with the theme of racial discrimination which leads to individual transformation in the mind of the speaker. Also, the short story ‘What You Pawn I Will Redeem’ by Sherman Alexie deals with the theme of racial discrimination and other issues related to the same. Thesis statement: An investigation into the theme of racial discrimination by comparison and contrast between the poem ‘The boy died in my alley’ by Gwendolyn Brooks, and the short story ‘‘what you Pawn I will redeem’ by Sherman Alexie. Plots Brooks deals with the topic of brutal murder of a black youth in an alley, which was behind her home. The policemen came and enquired about the death. The questioning forced the author to ponder upon the fate of Afro-Americans who live in America. Besides, further questions helped the author to recognize her indirect involvement, i.e. her passive attitude towards the brutal murder. Again, the murder generates guilty consciousness in the author’s mind and an urge to fight against oppression and violence. But, at the same time, Alexie deals with the emotional story of Spokane Indian community and their hardships in the American society. The protagonist of the short story is Jackson Jackson, a homeless alcoholic American Indian, who lives in the streets of Seattle. The story develops through the attempts of Jackson to possess the regalia, lost to theft and once owned by his deceased grandmother. Besides, the pathetic story of Jackson reveals the depth of racial discrimination felt by a native community in his own motherland. The hardships suffered by the protagonists in both the poem and short story, and their attempts to withstand the same reveal that how these characters can improve themselves from the grave of racial discrimination. Themes Racial discrimination is the basic theme dealt by Brooks in her poem. The boy with no identity of his self represents the whole community of Afro-Americans in America. D. H. Melhem makes clear that: “‘allegorizes a tragic shooting in Brook’s neighborhood.” (Melhem 222) The plot of the poem is not imaginary but a real incident occurred in the life of the poet. Besides, the speaker is also an Afro-American but shows hesitation to act against the injustices related to racial discrimination faced by her own community. The opening of poem: “without my Having Known” (Brown 54) signifies that the boy is a stranger to the speaker but fully signify the pathetic condition of Afro-American community in the society. Deep investigation into the short story reveals that the primary theme is similar to the poem, i.e. racial discrimination faced by the native Indian communities in America, particularly, the Spokane Indians. In the short story, the protagonist namely Jackson admits that: “But we have dreams and families” (Alexie 1) he is homeless, college dropout, an utter failure in personal life, and a drunkard. But when he thinks about his family (community), he feels that he is not alone and past memories haunts him throughout his life. Coming back to the poem, the poet very well knows that her community does not possess any importance in the society and this leads to her passive attitude towards the boy’s murder. The very words of the speaker: “And I have killed him ever.” (Brown 55) uncover the attitude of the speaker. When a person faces the problem of racial discrimination, he/she fells that his/her identity in the society is lost forever. The words of the speaker reveal that: “I never saw his face at all.” (Brown 55) the boy symbolize the fate of her community and the viciousness of racial discrimination. The problem of racial discrimination creates faceless individuals in the society without any specific identity. Besides, the line: “I heard the thousand shots before” (Brown 54) reveal the helplessness felt by the speaker and the pathetic condition of Afro-American community in America. But, the protagonist in short story is not yet ready to give up and consider that his ultimate aim is to possess his grandmother’s regalia which symbolize the unending fight against racial discrimination. Again, the words of the protagonist: “I need to win it back by myself” (Alexie 3) makes clear that he does not like to get things granted and he wish to win back the regalia by his own effort. Coming back to the poem, the words of the speaker reveals that she also face the problem of racial discrimination but feel helplessness to fight against the same. For instance, the speaker’s words: “I have closed my heart-ears late and early” (Brown 55) very well reveals that the speaker is aware of the reason behind the murder but decided not to reveal it to the policeman. It is clear that revelation will not result in any change in the attitude of the society towards black minorities. Brown points out that: “Brooks’ poem is also a lament for a breakdown in community and a call to action”. (Brown 55) the poem can be considered as a reaction against the pathetic condition of Afro-Americans and an inspiration to the community members to fight against racial discrimination. In the story, the internal sufferings related to racial discrimination force the protagonist to lead the irresponsible life of a tramp. From his words itself, it is evident that he was a college student, had love affair with girls, and used to lead a happy family life. But some problems (say, racial discrimination) forced him to quit all and lead such an irresponsible life. When Officer William informed him that he decided to take him over to detox, he replied back: “It’s full of drunk Indians” (Alexie 6) that detox is full of drunken Indians. Besides, he pointed out that he does not like that place and it was terrible. These words reveal that Johnson does not like to see the pathetic situation of other native Indians who had become homeless wanderers and drunkards. Coming back to the poem, the issue of racial discrimination forces the poet to fight against the same and the brutal murder of the boy transform her from passivity to activeness. The concluding lines of the poem: “The red floor of my alley is a special speech to me.” (Brown 55) disclose that the poet is not satisfied with her passive attitude and decides to act against injustices, especially racial discrimination. So, it is obvious that the poem strictly symbolizes the transformation of a passive individual to an active one, who is now ready to fight against issues related to racialism. Brown reflects that: “The cries of “Father! /…Mother! /Sister! /Brother” are the poem’s emotional peak, the moment of transformation.” (Brown 56) the cries of the boy who was tortured brutally in the dark alley, is the emotional peak of the poem which leads the speaker towards transformation. In the story, racial discrimination forces the protagonist to lead a ruthless life away from the mainstream of the society. The monologue by the protagonist: “I was my grandmother, dancing.” (Alexie 8) reveal that the only possibility to possess the past glory/identity/individuality of his community is to regain the past. By comparing and contrasting the theme of racial discrimination between the poem and the short story, it is apparent that: 1. The theme of racial discrimination suffered by African Americans and native Indians is dealt with utmost importance. 2. The poem and the short story prove that how an individual/character can withstand critical situations on one’s life by making use of available circumstance and resources. 3. The main theme, i.e. racial discrimination is the root cause of the sufferings of both the protagonists. 4. The poem ends with an optimistic view and decision from the side of the poet to fight against inequalities but the short story ends with no optimism or any practical solution to solve the problem of racial discrimination. 5. The issue of racial discrimination in different circumstances adds universal appeal to the poem and the short story. 6. The speaker in the poem feels cultural alienation in a different country, far away from the motherland but the protagonist/ writer feels the same in his own motherland. 7. The identity of the boy in the poem is not clearly specified but the identity of the protagonist in the short story is clearly stated by the writer. So, it is evident that the difference in plot and treatment does not affect the underlying theme of racial discrimination in both the poem and short story. Also, both the authors make use of their works as medium of self expression. For instance, Gwendolyn Brooks was interested in political activism against racism and poverty. Also, Sherman Alexie feels so empathetic about the fate of Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Indian community, his own community. In addition, it is evident that deep investigation reveals the universal appeal of the theme- racial discrimination. Besides, the message of optimism and active resistance put forth by the works once more points out the importance of the theme. Works cited Alexie, Sherman. “What You Pawn I Will Redeem.” The New Yorker April. 2003: 1-8. Conde Nast Digital. 2 Aug. 2009 < http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2003/04/21/030421fi_fiction>. Brown, Fahamisha Patricia. Performing the word: African American poetry as vernacular culture. Rutgers University Press, 1999. Melhem, D. H. Gwendolyn Brooks: Poetry and the Heroic Voice. University Press of Kentucky, 1988. Read More