1945 was a period that people were judged based on their ethnicity and race. Racism has decreased over time, especially since in America, no matter your ethnicity, we have equal rights. The poem “University” by Karl Shapiro was created in 1945 and it talks about the racial issues that were occurring during that time. African-Americans and Jews were the most hated at that time period. This poem talks about the problems they faced since they were the main targets of racism. I think white supremacy is a good definition for this poem. Do not get me wrong, I am not trying to say or imply that every individual Caucasian feels or believe this way. Back then though people feared what they did not know or just felt that they were better than everyone
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African-Americans and Jews were viewed as if they were something so bad or just looked like they did not belong there like White people did. “In whited cells, on lawns equipped for peace, under the arch, and lofty banister, equals shake hands, unequals blankly pass;”. This land was meant to be peaceful, but instead, depending on your race, you were treated either nicely or poorly. Whites would interact with each other; while those were “unequal” minded their own business and did not interact with anyone. “Where, on their separate hill, the colleges,” I interpret this means that the whites went to a different college then those of other races which just divided everyone. Those who were not white were probably disappointed in their heritage because in the poem it also says “the gentlemen revolts with shame at his ancestor”. It is disappointing to think that someone should be ashamed of their background because of how others view and treat them. “this school he held his art and epitaph. But now it takes from his name, falls open like a dishonest look, and show us, rotted and endowed, its senile pleasure”. I think this means that this university was named after someone, and it is divided by race and it makes it look
African-Americans and Jews were viewed as if they were something so bad or just looked like they did not belong there like White people did. “In whited cells, on lawns equipped for peace, under the arch, and lofty banister, equals shake hands, unequals blankly pass;”. This land was meant to be peaceful, but instead, depending on your race, you were treated either nicely or poorly. Whites would interact with each other; while those were “unequal” minded their own business and did not interact with anyone. “Where, on their separate hill, the colleges,” I interpret this means that the whites went to a different college then those of other races which just divided everyone. Those who were not white were probably disappointed in their heritage because in the poem it also says “the gentlemen revolts with shame at his ancestor”. It is disappointing to think that someone should be ashamed of their background because of how others view and treat them. “this school he held his art and epitaph. But now it takes from his name, falls open like a dishonest look, and show us, rotted and endowed, its senile pleasure”. I think this means that this university was named after someone, and it is divided by race and it makes it look