African Americans have had a huge impact on American history. They have endured through unimaginable suffering and an uncountable amount of obstacles. Because of this, the African Americans have developed strong, unique voices which are expressed in many pieces of literature.
African American literature often times moralize with religious themes and celebrate African roots. In James Weldon Johnson’s poem “The Creation”, he expresses his voice by explaining God’s byzantine and baroque process of creating the planets, sun, stars, moons, and all the living organisms. He then explains that God was still lonely so he created man. The tone is not satisfied at first because God keeps creating more things until he is satisfied and proud of everything he has created. In Léopold Sédar Senghor’s poem “And We Shall be Steeped…” his …show more content…
In Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem “Sympathy”, he uses the symbol of a caged bird to compare himself and express his feelings. Each stanza, he mentions how he knows what the caged bird feels like and why it does what it does (beats his wings, sings,etc). His tone is determined because he compares the trapped bird that continues to hurt itself while attempting to get out, to slavery and his determination to be free. Dunbar’s other poem “We Wear the Mask”, uses the symbol of a mask to show how it hides the true feelings of African Americans. The line “we smile, but, O great Christ, our cries to thee from tortured souls arise” shows that the figurative mask is used to hide and deluge the truth of their harsh history (slavery) and ancestors, with a smile, so no one else sees the truth (10-11). His tone in this poem is sad and pessimistic because he is telling the sad truth and does not seem to hopeful that it will change. Both of these poems use a symbol to make a comparison and get their message
African American literature often times moralize with religious themes and celebrate African roots. In James Weldon Johnson’s poem “The Creation”, he expresses his voice by explaining God’s byzantine and baroque process of creating the planets, sun, stars, moons, and all the living organisms. He then explains that God was still lonely so he created man. The tone is not satisfied at first because God keeps creating more things until he is satisfied and proud of everything he has created. In Léopold Sédar Senghor’s poem “And We Shall be Steeped…” his …show more content…
In Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem “Sympathy”, he uses the symbol of a caged bird to compare himself and express his feelings. Each stanza, he mentions how he knows what the caged bird feels like and why it does what it does (beats his wings, sings,etc). His tone is determined because he compares the trapped bird that continues to hurt itself while attempting to get out, to slavery and his determination to be free. Dunbar’s other poem “We Wear the Mask”, uses the symbol of a mask to show how it hides the true feelings of African Americans. The line “we smile, but, O great Christ, our cries to thee from tortured souls arise” shows that the figurative mask is used to hide and deluge the truth of their harsh history (slavery) and ancestors, with a smile, so no one else sees the truth (10-11). His tone in this poem is sad and pessimistic because he is telling the sad truth and does not seem to hopeful that it will change. Both of these poems use a symbol to make a comparison and get their message