People have been oppressed in different societies throughout history in situations where they had no outlet for their cry. When they feel ignored and restricted in other forms, they turn to poetry to pass a passionate yet concealed message. A good number of poets of resistance have grabbed the mantle and given a voice to the troubles of their society. Here are some of them and their famous verses.
Langston Hughes is a famous social activist and columnist who hailed from Joplin in Missouri. He is famous for leading the Harlem Renaissance from New York City. He has a list of over 15 poetry collections to his name. Among the most famous poems is I Look at the World where he regards the world of the blacks as fenced and thus rallies them to rise up and build the world they envision.
Women resistance poets are led by the famous voice of a performer, author and memoirist Maya Angelou. She was from Missouri as well and is among the most decorated social justice activists with over 50 honorary degrees. Caged Bird is a verse that narrates the differences in the lives of free and oppressed people. The verse captures the life of a caged bird that only sings and another that is free to pursue its dreams. The imagery used in this poem is so powerful, sending the message home in a memorable version.
The war in Vietnam troubles Denise Levertov that she raises her sole voice against the British government and its engagement there. In her opinion, this is an atrocious act against masses who do not deserve the suffering. She is credited for building powerful images through news casts, conversations and diary entries. The format she adopts in her artistic works is dialogue or engagement between individuals and oppressors, who in this case is the government. She calls upon the world to stop and ponder on what peace means, clearing stating that it is not the absence of war. This message is in the poem Making Peace.
In 1889, Claude McKay, a Harlem Renaissance poet, was born in Jamaica. In his work and life, he gravitated towards communist ideas. He stands our as an accomplished fiction, poetry and non-fiction writer. If We Must Die ranks top among his famous works. It urges people to die nobly through resisting. He describes it as shameful to allow tormentors to celebrate their brutal death.
Margret Walker made entry into the world when she was born in Alabama Birmingham in 1915. She was a member of the African American literature movement that was based in Chicago. Her most famous and award wining verse is For My People where she castigates them for comfort amidst oppression and urges a new generation to rise and fight in order to change the situation.
Jane Hirshfield is recognized for her clarity. She is an American essayist and poet born in 1953 and graduated in the pioneer class that included first women from Princeton University. She is recognized for many verses, among them Let Them Not Say. In the poem, she warns evil doers against claiming innocence because their actions are already known.
Protest poems were not designed to cause drastic change in social order. They set to awaken the conscious of oppressed masses into taking action against their wayward behaviors. They sent a message to oppressors that their time was nigh.
Langston Hughes is a famous social activist and columnist who hailed from Joplin in Missouri. He is famous for leading the Harlem Renaissance from New York City. He has a list of over 15 poetry collections to his name. Among the most famous poems is I Look at the World where he regards the world of the blacks as fenced and thus rallies them to rise up and build the world they envision.
Women resistance poets are led by the famous voice of a performer, author and memoirist Maya Angelou. She was from Missouri as well and is among the most decorated social justice activists with over 50 honorary degrees. Caged Bird is a verse that narrates the differences in the lives of free and oppressed people. The verse captures the life of a caged bird that only sings and another that is free to pursue its dreams. The imagery used in this poem is so powerful, sending the message home in a memorable version.
The war in Vietnam troubles Denise Levertov that she raises her sole voice against the British government and its engagement there. In her opinion, this is an atrocious act against masses who do not deserve the suffering. She is credited for building powerful images through news casts, conversations and diary entries. The format she adopts in her artistic works is dialogue or engagement between individuals and oppressors, who in this case is the government. She calls upon the world to stop and ponder on what peace means, clearing stating that it is not the absence of war. This message is in the poem Making Peace.
In 1889, Claude McKay, a Harlem Renaissance poet, was born in Jamaica. In his work and life, he gravitated towards communist ideas. He stands our as an accomplished fiction, poetry and non-fiction writer. If We Must Die ranks top among his famous works. It urges people to die nobly through resisting. He describes it as shameful to allow tormentors to celebrate their brutal death.
Margret Walker made entry into the world when she was born in Alabama Birmingham in 1915. She was a member of the African American literature movement that was based in Chicago. Her most famous and award wining verse is For My People where she castigates them for comfort amidst oppression and urges a new generation to rise and fight in order to change the situation.
Jane Hirshfield is recognized for her clarity. She is an American essayist and poet born in 1953 and graduated in the pioneer class that included first women from Princeton University. She is recognized for many verses, among them Let Them Not Say. In the poem, she warns evil doers against claiming innocence because their actions are already known.
Protest poems were not designed to cause drastic change in social order. They set to awaken the conscious of oppressed masses into taking action against their wayward behaviors. They sent a message to oppressors that their time was nigh.
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