The Role Of Racism In Powerful Poetry

Racism is not a thing of the past; it is our unfortunate present and inevitable future. Oppression and bigotry are just as common in modern day society as they were in past generations and the effects they have on individuals are just as damaging as ever. Racism didn’t die out with the abolishment of slavery, nor did it magically disappear with the establishment of the African-American Civil Rights movement. So why, ladies and gentlemen, does the human condition remain the same as it was 60 years ago, when we know of the negative effects it has on minority groups? Surely the reflective nature of humans would have allowed us to move past the racial discrimination that is so obviously destructive to our society? Have we made any movement forward from our blatantly racist ancestors who enslaved minorities and stripped them of basic human rights? …show more content…
This topic will be explored through a pair of modern, marginalised poets and their pieces that outline the cultural stereotypes they have been faced with throughout their lives. Though these two poets come from vastly different cultures and backgrounds, they still share the same humanity in relation to the oppression they are exposed to. I have chosen to focus on both of these poets as their poetry depicts the sentiment of minority figures. Tonight, I will be examining the brilliant works of Javon Johnson and his poem, “’Cuz he’s black” and Alex Dang’s “What kind of Asian are you?” Both of these poets have written reflective and spine-tingling pieces that, I guarantee, will forever change the way you think and act regarding racism in today’s