The Universal and the Particular, moments of Protest.

Arriving at the end of the book Poetry and Protest, there is so much intention and purpose through out the whole book to open eyes and see the pain and the need to survive in a time of continuous systematic inequities. The universal manifestations through out the book explore the lives of the black body, both male and female questioning the unending inequalities they continuously face due to the color of their skin.

The universal places the needs of each poet at their fingerprints both in writing and in their interest as evolving poets. They’ve learned from each other, they’ve learned from poets who came before them, from the history books who portray reality but most of all they are learning from experience. This type of experiential knowledge gives these poets a particular understanding to life in the United States as expressed in each of their poems to reflect the deep meaning and connection to their words.

Currently the moments of protest are written with so much emotion, they may be hidden from the initial read, but if you continue to read, you can find the hidden/not so hidden message that these poets are trying to send out. Frank X Walker mentions in his description that when you have questions, books have answers (pg 196). Which is exactly what this book does, it gives you answers if you want them, if you’re willing to read the pain and the beauty of each of these poets.

The prevalence in the moments of protest that are extracted in the words by Walker is captivating. In the poem “Li’l Kings,” walker is protesting in a much different context the meaning of credibility. Why do we find credible the educated man, versus the perceived gangster? If both carry and deliver the same message, why should one be considered more important than the other? Or would it be? As he states would Dr. King still be a King, if his appearance negated credibility?

Another poet that I found his message to be very strong is Al Young. In his poem “Blues for Malcolm X” he raises awareness regarding what happens after the mind of the revolutionary is murdered?

“They didn’t know where to hide you, so they put you on a stamp”

This stanza is so powerful, it explains how the government can kill you and your cause and still try to recognize you when you are no longer living. Following this stanza we get the incredible ending of the poem “You, Malcolm X would fix the system with the ballot or the bullet.” This incredible work of protest in this poem pays tribute to the cause of Malcolm X, to the things he fought for that people to this day have to fight for. Which in some years may be reflected in a holiday in which the U.S will be forced to acknowledge it’s direct implications to the negative systematic oppression that continues to happen.