Beloved Ap Language Essay

Essex Hemphill’s “Ceremonies”, and Toni Morrison’s “Beloved” both utilize multiple perspectives and language to demonstrate the trauma and emotional impact on the characters. These pieces go about this differently, however, the language being used is to convey the intensity of the character's emotions. Both Hemphill and Morrison embed rich, evocative language and powerful imagery to convey their themes. While Hemphill's poetry and essays use direct language to express the emotions and struggles of his subjects, Morrison's literacy in "Beloved" is known for its lyrical and haunting quality, creating a deeply immersive and emotional narrative. Both of these authors touch on incredibly important topics and themes, such as the AIDS crisis and slavery.

In the essay titled, “Does Your Mama Know About Me?”, it highlights the trauma of internalized homophobia and racism. Hemphill also quotes Joseph Beam on pages 37 to 38 of this essay. The usage of this quote provides readers with more insight into this situation. Hemphill includes a quote focusing on healing from this trauma, “We have to be there for one another and trust less the adhesions of kisses and semen to bind us”(Hemphill 41). Though much of this book depicts the challenges and stigma of being black and gay, there are passages like the one above that bring a message of hope. Hope was something desperately needed, especially around this time, when much of this community felt invisible and not cared for by society. Incorporating different narratives encompasses the trauma that those in this community face. Hemphill not only uses essays to do this, but he also expresses this narrative by including poems ranging from a variety of topics. A poem included in “Ceremonies”, titled “Pressing Flats”, reflects the internal conflict many Black gay men go through. The beginning of the poem states that choosing to live true to oneself may bring

This quote also points out that some turn to drugs to cope with the conflict from the outside as well as within themselves. Repression is also an ongoing theme seen in “Ceremonies” and “Beloved”. Hemphill also uses graphic and evocative language in “Ceremonies” to convey the profound trauma and sentiments that black gay men face. Many poems demonstrate this, one poem that does this is “The Tomb Of Sorrow”. The narrative of this poem comes from Hemphill’s own emotions. Highlighting a complicated relationship he went through. He expresses “I should have put bullets in my temple or flaming swords up my ass” (Hemphill 87). The use of this type of language emphasizes the severity of the situation he was in. Despite off-putting factors about his past lover, he decided to look past it. But ultimately, the decision he made caught up to him. As he reflects on this experience, he realizes his initial error. “Ceremonies” uses poems and essays to represent different narratives- whether it's an entire community or Hemphill’s personal experiences. In the novel “Beloved” by Toni Morrison, it also incorporates different perspectives since the narrator is