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Natasha Trethewey

1469 Words6 Pages

Poetry is a form of art that individuals use to express how they are feeling, or to express events that are surrounding their life, and that is exactly what Natasha Trethewey does every time she writes a poem. Natasha Trethewey is known for intertwining both the past and the future of the African American experience and turning it into a history lesson for the world to read and experience. Natasha Trethewey is a mixed race woman with an African American mother and a Caucasian father. She was born in 1966 in Gulfport, Mississippi (Mililichap, 1). According to Joseph Mililichap, Natasha Trethewey is America’s Poet Laureate (Mililichap, 1), along with being awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her poetry in 2007. Natasha Trethewey’s poems are seen …show more content…

This phrase or statement for me was a history lesson, and it also appeals to readers. For readers that may have some knowledge of the 1970’s era and the treatment of people of color in Mississippi, this poem may bring back memories that may be refreshing, the same way they were for the young girl in the poem. The poem could bring back memories that are negative, are similar to the ones of the grandmother of the young girl in the poem. It is an assumption that the grandmother’s experience on the beach was negative, however, I believe that the grandmother was familiar with being treated differently because of the color of her skin. Leaving a readers to assume the history of the characters can be seen as risky for readers that are unfamiliar with the unfair treatment of people of color. Natasha Trethewey is known for using metaphors to explain situations, and this is actually what she did when she pointed out the difference between the time and her, with the time and her grandmother that is explained in both stanza one and six. “My hands on the flowered hips of a bright bikini” where she is referring to herself, and “Her hands on the flowered hips of a cotton meal-sack dress”. This metaphor compares the change in the life experience of African American people or the era of time, and awareness of Jim Crow laws. Stanza one and six also reflects symbolism that shows the progress from one life style to another, from underprivileged to somewhat

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The title of her poem is ironic, Jones is visiting a civil rights museum but there is a KKK uniform there, set on display with its empty and dirty holes for eyes. One would think that while yes, the uniform is part of civil rights history, it would be one of the last things people would put on display at a civil rights museum.

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In the poem Heritage by Linda Hogan, Hogan uses the tone of the speaker to demonstrate the shame and hatred she has toward her family, but also her desire to learn about her family’s original heritage. The speaker describes each family member and how they represent their heritage. When describing each member, the speaker’s tone changes based on how she feels about them. The reader can identify the tone by Hogan’s word choices and the positive and negative outlooks on each member of the family.

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‘Don’t you know you’re not supposed to touch them,’” (Hoose 3). Throughout her childhood, she learned the hardships that would come to shape her resolve. Sadly, this is only one example to show, expressing the deep south racism through a simple quote to define what her childhood was primarily surrounded by. Not only seeing the injustice in her community from a young age, she also experienced loss:

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In the poem “Quinceañera” by Judith Ortiz Cofer, the poet explains the transformation from girlhood to womanhood from the perspective of a fifteen year old girl. In the poem “The Theme for English B” by Langston Hughes, the speaker talks about the African American struggle of forming an African American identity. Both poems illustrate a quest for identity because in the poem “Quinceañera” the speaker does not feel ready to become a woman and in “The Theme for English B” the speaker feels confused since society views him as being different due to the fact that he is an African American. Quinceañera means sweet fifteen in Spanish and on that special day a girl transforms from a child into a young woman. The first three lines of the poem give

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940 Words | 4 Pages

She is reminded of the violence that torn not only communities apart but families as well. How the social norms of the day restricted people’s lives and held them in the balance of life and death. Her grandfathers past life, her grandmother cultural silence about the internment and husband’s affair, the police brutality that cause the death of 4 young black teenagers. Even her own inner conflicts with her sexuality and Japanese heritage. She starts to see the world around her with a different

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It is about what Helen Robinson and the rest of the negro community was thinking. The repetend is at the end of the second paragraph. I hoped to show what the negro community thought of Tom Robinson and who he truly was. Piece 3 - Creative - Letter My lovely, Helen, I miss you and our children terribly.

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The story takes place at the height of the Civil Rights Movement in America, when desegregation is finally achieved. Flannery O’Connor’s use of setting augments the mood and deepens the context of the story. However, O’Connor’s method is subtle, often relying on connotation and implication to drive her point across. The story achieves its depressing mood mostly through the use of light and darkness in the setting.

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She contrasts two images to show how segregation between white people and people of color still exists. There are numerous protests ongoing in response to the events in the USA and other apparent racist incidents, making this poem pertinent to our current cultural circumstances. Additionally, millions of people use the trending hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on social media to express their belief that people of color face discrimination. However, the significance of this poem does not stem from the history lesson we are taught. The image of the poet having full access to the Mississippi beach in 1970 serves as a symbol of hope that things will improve and that the world will one day be a better

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Her final act towards the Misfit was not out of charity, but in attempt to save herself. Set in the South in the 1950s, the grandmother dutily satisfied the stereotypes that blossomed within her generation. She speaks of the older days, when children were more respectful, and good men were easier to find. However, she never expresses what defines a good man, which suggests her unsteady moral foundation. The grandmother also explicitly articulates the racism that was unfortunately common in the South, ironically prevalent in the religious and upper middle class circles like the ones she belonged to.

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Poetry Analysis Once the poem “History Lesson” was written numerous poetry foundations celebrated it for many reasons. “History Lesson” not only makes an impact on literature today it has also impacted people also. This poem inspires people and moves them to the point to where they can find a personal connection to the poem itself and to the writer. Not only does it hold emotional value for those who were victimized and those whose family were victimized by the laws of segregation, but the poem is also celebrated for its complexity. The poem uses many techniques to appeal to the reader.

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Arab American poetry has flourished since the 19th century as a reaction of the immigration in America in 18th century. The Arab-American poets have influenced by the cultural and social background and have affected their thoughts, beliefs, and works. A diverse cultural backgrounds may interfere in the work of the poet. And there are many Arab American poets, who expresses their personal thoughts through poetry. Naomi Shihab Nye is one of these poets who uses poetry to express her cultural and personal perspective.

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“Poetry Is Not a Luxury” (1982) intertwines feminism and poetry together. Author Audre Lorde says that for women, “poetry is not a luxury, but a necessity of our existence” (Lorde, 1982, pg. 281). In today’s society, women’s opinions aren’t really expressed, because it’s not widely accepted in this man-built world. Lorde’s quote “poetry is not a luxury, but a necessity of our existence” means that women should use their voices and channel their energy into poetry. Since poetry is accepted, women aren’t being deviant.

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In order to change history, people must learn from their mistakes. Segregation in North America has been a big issue in North America that unfortunately still happens in the world today, however, it is not as bad as it once was. In the poem “History Lesson” by Natasha Trethewey, the author uses mood, symbolism and imagery to describe the racial segregation coloured people faced in the past compared to more recent times, where equality is improved and celebrated. The author uses language and setting to influence the mood and meaning of the poem.

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“On the Subway,” written by Sharon Olds, is written from the perspective of what is presumed to be an upper class white woman, who finds herself on a subway with a lower class black boy. In “On the Subway”, Olds focuses on the controversial issue of racial conflict, and the theme of White v. Black. She does so by use of contrast between whites and blacks, by using harsh enjambments, powerful imagery, and by using the tone to convey the purpose. A major strategy used by Olds throughout the poem is contrast; in this case, the contrast between blacks and whites.

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An understanding of the class-gender relationship is very important in order to understand the oppression faced by both the bourgeoisie and working class women due to capitalism. Oppression for a bourgeoisie class woman, for instance could be about not getting equal rights or the lifestyle of the man from her own class or that of elite. On the contrary, for a working class woman, it could mean not having access to basic amenities and the freedom to function as per her own will. Natasha for instance, is the daughter of a landowner and it is by her own choice that she joins the revolution, followed by Shashenka and Liudmila, as opposed to Nilovna, who gradually yielded to circumstances and the understanding she was subjected to. Her becoming

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