Synopsis
Also an ideological movement as much as a poetic one, It was inspiring to all cultures. French Black intellectuals rejected British colonization, and began to take pride in black values, heritage, and culture. It took inspiration from the Harlem Renaissance. This movement, like many, still continues today.
Poem Analysis: "MY NEGRITUDE" by jbontemps
My negritude is powerful written, performance poem that corresponds to the Negritude ideals and is therefore, a Negritude poem. My Negritude, like other pieces of the movement, boasts black heritage pride. The speaker is completely proud of his culture, describing it as something all blacks can utilize as an identity to define themselves. In fact, the speaker even states that Negritude is so well-defined as a culture/heritage, it cannot discount the Negritude of itself. He sees the ideas of Negritude as both natural and fulfilling, comparing to sustenance. However, also admitted are its shortcomings and strength. He states that it has both wrath and beauty which has an equal distribution. The real heart of the poem is seen after that. The speaker states: Those attributes won't simply "traverse in the ever-changing face of the land's flora" that is, it will not fade away or simply be about silently while the world moves on. Yet, the foundation is "forever obscured beneath the sand" Then, in a slight change of mood, it is said that the ideals of negritude live on inside of and through the speaker. This poem makes many statements on Black culture and attitudes. Even today, it seems, many black hold a pride not necessarily linked to any heritage. This could be what the speaker meant when he said its ideas are forever buried and obscured. The audience, then, is also forced to ask "Is that okay?" and I believe this is answered in the last two lines. Yes, it is. The reason being that Black presence in Foreign states has its own history and therefore, its own culture and history. The poem may also encourage Blacks to carry on the spirit and attitude of this movement, and in this sense it will forever live.
Poem Analysis: Literary Devices
Paradox, euphemism, and figurative language. The paradox is in the wrath and beauty attributed to Negritude, which have equal distribution. The purpose of this usage is to demonstrate that it has power and beauty which are valuable, and that despite the presence of them both neither is more significant than the other. The use of euphemism in the poem, there are multiple, serve emphasize how it feels to have cultural identity: "....its eccentricities, its failures, its felicities..." Eccentricities and felicities are used to refer to less favorable aspects of Negritude, despite this however, the speaker thinks nothing of the shortcomings because this is his culture. He does acknowledge them, but also acknowledges that he belongs to this culture group. Lastly, throughout the poem figurative language(dialect) maintains the audiences interest (as this is a performance poem.) and expresses very specific ideas, too complex for literal dialect. In example, "...But reincarnates itself into" The speaker says "reincarnates" because it is word that suggests a relation between the things involved and the author wants to show that connection. The speaker also uses "itself" rather than excluding a verb on behalf of Negritude. The author wants to show that this isn't voluntary action by the speaker, this is his culture and it's not a choice.
Also an ideological movement as much as a poetic one, It was inspiring to all cultures. French Black intellectuals rejected British colonization, and began to take pride in black values, heritage, and culture. It took inspiration from the Harlem Renaissance. This movement, like many, still continues today.
Poem Analysis: "MY NEGRITUDE" by jbontemps
My negritude is powerful written, performance poem that corresponds to the Negritude ideals and is therefore, a Negritude poem. My Negritude, like other pieces of the movement, boasts black heritage pride. The speaker is completely proud of his culture, describing it as something all blacks can utilize as an identity to define themselves. In fact, the speaker even states that Negritude is so well-defined as a culture/heritage, it cannot discount the Negritude of itself. He sees the ideas of Negritude as both natural and fulfilling, comparing to sustenance. However, also admitted are its shortcomings and strength. He states that it has both wrath and beauty which has an equal distribution. The real heart of the poem is seen after that. The speaker states: Those attributes won't simply "traverse in the ever-changing face of the land's flora" that is, it will not fade away or simply be about silently while the world moves on. Yet, the foundation is "forever obscured beneath the sand" Then, in a slight change of mood, it is said that the ideals of negritude live on inside of and through the speaker. This poem makes many statements on Black culture and attitudes. Even today, it seems, many black hold a pride not necessarily linked to any heritage. This could be what the speaker meant when he said its ideas are forever buried and obscured. The audience, then, is also forced to ask "Is that okay?" and I believe this is answered in the last two lines. Yes, it is. The reason being that Black presence in Foreign states has its own history and therefore, its own culture and history. The poem may also encourage Blacks to carry on the spirit and attitude of this movement, and in this sense it will forever live.
Poem Analysis: Literary Devices
Paradox, euphemism, and figurative language. The paradox is in the wrath and beauty attributed to Negritude, which have equal distribution. The purpose of this usage is to demonstrate that it has power and beauty which are valuable, and that despite the presence of them both neither is more significant than the other. The use of euphemism in the poem, there are multiple, serve emphasize how it feels to have cultural identity: "....its eccentricities, its failures, its felicities..." Eccentricities and felicities are used to refer to less favorable aspects of Negritude, despite this however, the speaker thinks nothing of the shortcomings because this is his culture. He does acknowledge them, but also acknowledges that he belongs to this culture group. Lastly, throughout the poem figurative language(dialect) maintains the audiences interest (as this is a performance poem.) and expresses very specific ideas, too complex for literal dialect. In example, "...But reincarnates itself into" The speaker says "reincarnates" because it is word that suggests a relation between the things involved and the author wants to show that connection. The speaker also uses "itself" rather than excluding a verb on behalf of Negritude. The author wants to show that this isn't voluntary action by the speaker, this is his culture and it's not a choice.