Raymond Johnson
Intro into literature
Mr. McDonald
11/9/14
We Are Cool
Gwendolyn Brooks' poem "We Real Cool" was written in 1959, which was in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. The poem sums up the reality that many adolescences faced at that time whether they chose to drop out of school. Within this era in American history the case of Brown v. Board of Education, in 1954, the Supreme Court legislated that it was unconstitutional to segregate schools based on race; nevertheless, integration was sluggish and many African Americans became discouraged and began to drop out of school. Discrimination produced more than just separation within school, it made many young African Americans question their roles within society. Due to their horrible treatment many youths gave up …show more content…
However the characters associated within the poem seem to care very little for their education and appear to enjoy the deeds they do.
The poem begins with the scene of seven boys at a pool hall known as the Golden Shovel. Traditionally the number seven is a number that is typically associated with being lucky. The seven pool players can also be seen to symbolize a little gang, who happens to have luck on their side, in order to survive their numerous economic and risky activities. The name of the pool hall that the group hangs in is the Golden Shovel. The Golden Shovel is symbolic and it indicates the short life expectancy of those who choose a life of delinquency over obtaining a formal education. The golden part within the pool halls title implies that these pool players are young and are of extreme value; therefore they should be in school trying to educate and improve themselves
Intro into literature
Mr. McDonald
11/9/14
We Are Cool
Gwendolyn Brooks' poem "We Real Cool" was written in 1959, which was in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. The poem sums up the reality that many adolescences faced at that time whether they chose to drop out of school. Within this era in American history the case of Brown v. Board of Education, in 1954, the Supreme Court legislated that it was unconstitutional to segregate schools based on race; nevertheless, integration was sluggish and many African Americans became discouraged and began to drop out of school. Discrimination produced more than just separation within school, it made many young African Americans question their roles within society. Due to their horrible treatment many youths gave up …show more content…
However the characters associated within the poem seem to care very little for their education and appear to enjoy the deeds they do.
The poem begins with the scene of seven boys at a pool hall known as the Golden Shovel. Traditionally the number seven is a number that is typically associated with being lucky. The seven pool players can also be seen to symbolize a little gang, who happens to have luck on their side, in order to survive their numerous economic and risky activities. The name of the pool hall that the group hangs in is the Golden Shovel. The Golden Shovel is symbolic and it indicates the short life expectancy of those who choose a life of delinquency over obtaining a formal education. The golden part within the pool halls title implies that these pool players are young and are of extreme value; therefore they should be in school trying to educate and improve themselves