Slavery poem comparison
The African American community in the United States continues to endure injustice. This community is yet to fully recover from the slavery that their ancestors were subjected to. Sojourner Truth and Lucile Clifton captured the oppression that the slaves suffered. These women used poem to highlight injustice and to demand that the black community be treated with dignity. Their poems highlight the gains that can be realized through literature. In this essay, a comparison of their poems is offered. The comparison focuses on the poetic and rhetorical devices that the two use in the poems.
Similarities
There are a number of similarities between Sojourner Truth’s poem ‘Ain’t I a woman?’ and Clifton’s ‘At the cemetery, walnut grove plantation, South Carolina, 1989.’The first difference lies in the use of repetition. The phrase ‘ain’t I a woman’ is used repeatedly by Truth (Truth, 1851). It could be that she used repetition to emphasize the inequality that she faces as a black woman. In the poem, she complains that she does not enjoy the privileges that are accorded her white colleagues. By repeating the phrases, she draws attention to the injustice that she suffers. ‘Tell me your names’ is the phrase that is repeated in Clifton’s poem (Clifton, 1989). The main issue that the poem addresses is the failure to recognize the efforts of slaves. In the poem, it is mentioned that slaves worked without the benefit of a guide. It can be argued that Clifton repeats the phrase in an effort to demand recognition for the slaves who were forced to work.
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The other similarity lies in the underlying tone in the two poems. As one reads the poems, they get a sense that the poets wished to communicate the anger that slaves must have felt. In Truth’s poem, the persona laments that while other women are being offered the best places and helped into carriages, she receives no such treatment (Truth, 1851). She is instead forced to plough and gather harvests. The same tone of anger and despair can be observed in Clifton’s poem. The persona in this poem complains that no one bothered to mention the names of the slaves (Clifton, 1989). The tone in the two poems allows one to develop a deeper understanding of slavery. One is able to fully appreciate the developments that modern societies have undergone as regards race relations.
Differences
Despite the similarities mentioned above, the two poems are different. One of the differences can be seen in the structure. Truth uses continuous prose in her poem. This poem reads like a narrative. It lacks the short phrases and the line structure that is characteristic of poems. The prose structure of this poem allows for a smoother read. One is able to read comfortably without needing to pause as they move to the next line. On the other hand, Clifton employs the classical structure of poems. Her poem is made up of numerous short lines. This is the standard way of structuring poems. It is rather difficult to determine the motivations behind the choice of structure. However, an argument can be made that Sojourner Truth wished to be formal and this is why she opted for prose structure. On the other hand, it can be said that Clifton desired to encourage discussion on slavery by making light of it through the short lines that constitute the poem.
The second difference is seen when one examines the way the two poems engage readers. The use of rhetorical questions is the main strategy employed in Truth’s poem. The question ‘ain’t I a woman?’ is posed repeatedly (Truth, 1851). ‘What’s all this here talking about’ is yet another rhetorical question that Truth poses. On the other hand, the persona in Clifton’s poem speaks directly to the slaves who have not been recognized. This forces the reader to imagine the conversation between the two parties. The ultimate impact of the conversation is that it allows the reader to engage more intimately with the poem.
Personal reflection
As I read the poems, I was forced to imagine the suffering that the slaves must have endured. They were forced to work for no pay and yet they did not receive any recognition for their work. I think that the subject of slavery is the common denominator in the poems. Both poems are devoted to the discussion of the injustice that was meted out against the black community. I think that Sojourner Truth hoped to highlight the unfair treatment that black women were subjected to. While white women and even men are treated with dignity and respect, she is subjected to hard labor that takes a toll on her health. I believe that Clifton wished to encourage communities to demand justice and celebrate the efforts of slaves who were never recognized. In her poem, the persona urges the slaves to tell their names so that he/she may testify. This indicates that Clifton wished to speak for the slaves.
I find that both poems encourage readers to pursue justice for communities that are oppressed. This is the effect that the poems had on me. I feel that the purposes that the two poets wished to communicate are adequately conveyed to the readers. The choice of words, devices used and the tone of the poems all function to convey the purpose. I think that the two poems highlight the effectiveness of such forms of literature as poems and speeches to raise awareness about inequality and to encourage individuals to push for social justice. I base this opinion on the fact that these two poems have offered me motivation to champion for social justice. The other basis for this opinion is that poems and speeches use tools that appeal to audiences. I think that these tools make it easier to rally individuals to support social justice. The third reason why I think that speeches and poems are vital for the promotion of social justice and equality is that I have personally used them in my campaign to encourage others to promote these values. I have found them to be effective.
In conclusion, the world needs to dedicate all effort to ensure that slavery and other forms of injustice are tackled. It is rather sad that there are millions of individuals across the globe who are still subjected to slavery. In their poems, Sojourner Truth and Clifton highlight the suffering that slaves endured. Their poems shed light on the failure by the world to honor slaves. The world needs to respond to these poems by embracing equality and ending all forms of social injustice.
References
Clifton, L. (1989). At the Cemetery, Walnut Grove Plantation, South Carolina .
Retrieved 21st September 2016 from http://dustinsliteraturearsenal.blogspot.com/2011/04/at-cemetery-walnut-grove-plantation.html
Sojourner Truth. (1851). Ain’t I a woman? Retrieved 21st September 2016 from
http://www.saylor.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/SAYLOR-ENGL405-1.1.2-SOJOURNER.pdf
