There are instances in the history of the world where the wishes of the people seem ignored and can only be expressed through art. The leaders of resistance movements choose poetry because of its appeal and its ability to conceal the message to avoid attracting the wrath of oppressors. Certain poets of resistance have risen to the occasion and provided the perfect verses to pass the message.
Joplin, Missouri is the birth place of a columnist, poet and social activist known as Langston Hughes. This notable Harlem Renaissance social activism figure authored more than 15 poetry anthologies. I Look at the World stands out among his poems. It takes the reader through a world of oppressed blacks who live in fenced and restricted areas. This poem perfectly rallies oppressed people to rise and build this life that they have desired for so long.
Among the most famous female resistance poets is Maya Angelou. This lady from St. Louis in Missouri is also credited with authoring numerous books and being a memoirist. Because of her contribution and participation in social justice transformation, she has more than 50 honorary degrees. Caged Bird is on of her iconic verses that point at a cry for freedom among the oppressed. She uses the analogy of two birds, one that flies and another that is caged.
Denise Levertov trains her barrel pen on the Vietnam War. She views it as one of the worst injustices meted on innocent people. She uses different artistic forms including diary entries, news casts and conversations. Most of them feature battles between individuals and groups which represent the government. Making Peace is her most famous verse where she advocates for a pause so that people can ponder about peace.
Jamaica witnessed the birth of Claude McKay in 1889, who would grow to join the Harlem Renaissance and be regarded as a famous communist. Claude refuses the communist tag but remains a prolific crusader in his poetry, fiction and non-fictional works. If We Must Die is among his best pieces where he urges the oppressed to fight other than watch their oppressors laugh at their misery. Even at death, they must remain noble by fighting back.
In 1915, Margret Walker was born in Birmingham, Alabama. She became a prominent member of the African American literary movement operating from Chicago. She is famous for the verse, For My People which addresses a complacent people who are comfortable in oppression. She pushes them to fight by rising from their slumber and instigating for change.
Jane Hirshfield is recognized for her clarity. She is an American essayist and poet born in 1953 and graduated in the pioneer class that included first women from Princeton University. She is recognized for many verses, among them Let Them Not Say. In the poem, she warns evil doers against claiming innocence because their actions are already known.
Though protest poetry was not meant to change the world directly, it awoke in people the consciousness of being oppressed. The oppressors also realized that the masses were watching. This was the fuel that oppressed people needed to instigate change.
Joplin, Missouri is the birth place of a columnist, poet and social activist known as Langston Hughes. This notable Harlem Renaissance social activism figure authored more than 15 poetry anthologies. I Look at the World stands out among his poems. It takes the reader through a world of oppressed blacks who live in fenced and restricted areas. This poem perfectly rallies oppressed people to rise and build this life that they have desired for so long.
Among the most famous female resistance poets is Maya Angelou. This lady from St. Louis in Missouri is also credited with authoring numerous books and being a memoirist. Because of her contribution and participation in social justice transformation, she has more than 50 honorary degrees. Caged Bird is on of her iconic verses that point at a cry for freedom among the oppressed. She uses the analogy of two birds, one that flies and another that is caged.
Denise Levertov trains her barrel pen on the Vietnam War. She views it as one of the worst injustices meted on innocent people. She uses different artistic forms including diary entries, news casts and conversations. Most of them feature battles between individuals and groups which represent the government. Making Peace is her most famous verse where she advocates for a pause so that people can ponder about peace.
Jamaica witnessed the birth of Claude McKay in 1889, who would grow to join the Harlem Renaissance and be regarded as a famous communist. Claude refuses the communist tag but remains a prolific crusader in his poetry, fiction and non-fictional works. If We Must Die is among his best pieces where he urges the oppressed to fight other than watch their oppressors laugh at their misery. Even at death, they must remain noble by fighting back.
In 1915, Margret Walker was born in Birmingham, Alabama. She became a prominent member of the African American literary movement operating from Chicago. She is famous for the verse, For My People which addresses a complacent people who are comfortable in oppression. She pushes them to fight by rising from their slumber and instigating for change.
Jane Hirshfield is recognized for her clarity. She is an American essayist and poet born in 1953 and graduated in the pioneer class that included first women from Princeton University. She is recognized for many verses, among them Let Them Not Say. In the poem, she warns evil doers against claiming innocence because their actions are already known.
Though protest poetry was not meant to change the world directly, it awoke in people the consciousness of being oppressed. The oppressors also realized that the masses were watching. This was the fuel that oppressed people needed to instigate change.
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