The poem Valery as Dictator, written by LeRoi Jones, is about segregation and the hardships of the African-American society waiting for their equality in America. It’s upsetting to LeRoi how often the African Americans needs are pushed aside constantly. He questions why are we waiting. At the time this poem was written America was under the “separate but equal” doctrine that allowed states to enforce segregation while giving the whites and blacks “equal opportunity” when in reality the African American society was not one with the whites. The poem is also geared towards a French philosopher to take the place as Dictator of America, although America is a democracy and not a dictatorship.
Valery as Dictator starts off with the word sad then …show more content…
For a promise to be made or something to be done. The promise of equality between black and white. This promise, the “singular endeavor”, keeps getting put off for another day, day after day. This is depressing for LeRoi, as mentioned before he starts the poem the word sad then period. There are people, “herds and herds of suffering intelligences”, suffering that can not wait any longer and they need to be heard since they are “out of hearing”. They’re listening, but they’re doing nothing about the problem that must be solved. Donald Glover mentions the same dilemma in his work, Hold You Down, where he states “cause being black, my experience, is no one hearin’ us”. If blacks are not given a voice, who really hears them? Based on the title, maybe the only person who understands is Paul Valery. Now, from my research, Valery (name in the title), is a French poet. He’s not a politician and never ran for office, but he is also a philosopher. Therefore, LeRoi Jones must be a fan of Valery’s philosophy work that he dedicated this poem out to him and that he should be running this country because he will do something about these people, the black community, who are suffering from discrimination. This poem was written in 1963, the year Kennedy is in office as the President of the United States of America. It is also mentioned that Valery was described as narcissistic by other people, which is a trait to describe a dictator. Explains why LeRoi used the title dictator, instead of president. In this case, Valery shall be the Dictator of America. Note that the Civil Rights Act was enacted just a year later, after the Valery as Dictator poem is published, in
Valery as Dictator starts off with the word sad then …show more content…
For a promise to be made or something to be done. The promise of equality between black and white. This promise, the “singular endeavor”, keeps getting put off for another day, day after day. This is depressing for LeRoi, as mentioned before he starts the poem the word sad then period. There are people, “herds and herds of suffering intelligences”, suffering that can not wait any longer and they need to be heard since they are “out of hearing”. They’re listening, but they’re doing nothing about the problem that must be solved. Donald Glover mentions the same dilemma in his work, Hold You Down, where he states “cause being black, my experience, is no one hearin’ us”. If blacks are not given a voice, who really hears them? Based on the title, maybe the only person who understands is Paul Valery. Now, from my research, Valery (name in the title), is a French poet. He’s not a politician and never ran for office, but he is also a philosopher. Therefore, LeRoi Jones must be a fan of Valery’s philosophy work that he dedicated this poem out to him and that he should be running this country because he will do something about these people, the black community, who are suffering from discrimination. This poem was written in 1963, the year Kennedy is in office as the President of the United States of America. It is also mentioned that Valery was described as narcissistic by other people, which is a trait to describe a dictator. Explains why LeRoi used the title dictator, instead of president. In this case, Valery shall be the Dictator of America. Note that the Civil Rights Act was enacted just a year later, after the Valery as Dictator poem is published, in