During the early 1900s, Illinois born Carl Sandburg offered perspectives among humanity that called for a shift towards optimism. As one of the many few journalists at the time, Sandburg brought an unorthodox perspective that emphasized the discrimination amongst minority groups. With an enthusiasm in both mediums of journalism and poetry, Sandburg put forth the controversial movements of racial inequality and industrialization in America. Raised by an illiterate father who worked as a blacksmith and a mother with an infatuation of literature, Sandburg was born on January 06, 1878. [3] Despite these limitations, both parents offered an atmosphere of ambition and knowledge that would act as a catalyst for Sandburg during his transition from youth to adulthood. At the age of 11, Sandburg worked a plethora of occupations such as a barbershop porter and a milk driver. [3] It was during his eighth grade year that Sandburg dropped out of school to assist his family's …show more content…
Both individuals provoked ideas regarding equality, independent thinking, and the challengement of traditional thought. Within Sandburg's poem “I Am the People, the Mob” and several others, he writes using an unorthodox poetry style known as ‘free verse’ originally mastered by Whitman that does not require the use of rhyme nor regular meter. “I am the people—the mob—the crowd—the mass. / Do you know that all the great work of the world is done through me? / I am the workingman, the inventor, the maker of the world’s food and clothes.” (1-3) CITE. Similarly, other influences such as T.S. Eliot’s use of a cat to signify a fog within “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” was further developed in Sandburg's piece, “Fog” where he mimics her analogy. “The fog comes / on little cat feet” (1-2) CITE. Another source of influence that was acquired by Sandburg was