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.
Joplin, Missouri is the birth place of a columnist, poet and social activist known as Langston Hughes. This notable Harlem Renaissance social activism figure authored more than 15 poetry anthologies. I Look at the World stands out among his poems. It takes the reader through a world of oppressed blacks who live in fenced and restricted areas. This poem perfectly rallies oppressed people to rise and build this life that they have desired for so long.
Maya Angelou is a famous female poet and social activist born in Missouri, St. Louis in 1928. Beyond being a poet and a renowned author, she was a memoirist. For her contribution to social justice and awakening, she has received over 50 honorary degrees. Her most famous piece is Caged Bird which though restricted, the caged bird sings of freedom.
Denise Levertov uses her bullet pen to criticize the war in Vietnam. In her words, this is an injustice against masses with no gain or winner. She is known for using different artistic writing forms to pass her protest message. Among them are news casts, diary entries and conversations. They are formatted in form of a conversation between two individuals. In Making Peace she calls upon people to pause and reflect on peace and what it means.
Claude McKay was born in Jamaica in 1889 and lived during the Harlem Renaissance. His ideology was largely communist though he claimed not to have been an official member of any such group. He was an accomplished author of poetry, fiction and non-fiction works. One of his most celebrated poems is IF We Must Die where he advocates for death but a noble death where one fights. He terms it as shameful to allow the enemy to celebrate your anguish.
Birmingham Alabama is the birth place of Margret Walker who having been born in 1915 went on to rise to prominence because of her participation in the African American Literary movement based in Chicago. For My People is a verse addressing comfortable slaves suffering under ungrateful masters. Her message is for them to rise and push for change in their situation.
Jane Hirshfield is viewed as clear and simplistic in her writing. She was part of the pioneer Princeton University lot that included the first female grandaunts. She made her mark with Let Them Not Say, a verse warning oppressors that the public is watching.
The beautiful pieces were not meant to drastically change humanity but to awaken the consciousness of masses. It jolted people to action and warned disports that the oppressed subjects were watching. There are more poets who resisted different scenarios and sort to awaken social consciousness through their verses.
Joplin, Missouri is the birth place of a columnist, poet and social activist known as Langston Hughes. This notable Harlem Renaissance social activism figure authored more than 15 poetry anthologies. I Look at the World stands out among his poems. It takes the reader through a world of oppressed blacks who live in fenced and restricted areas. This poem perfectly rallies oppressed people to rise and build this life that they have desired for so long.
Maya Angelou is a famous female poet and social activist born in Missouri, St. Louis in 1928. Beyond being a poet and a renowned author, she was a memoirist. For her contribution to social justice and awakening, she has received over 50 honorary degrees. Her most famous piece is Caged Bird which though restricted, the caged bird sings of freedom.
Denise Levertov uses her bullet pen to criticize the war in Vietnam. In her words, this is an injustice against masses with no gain or winner. She is known for using different artistic writing forms to pass her protest message. Among them are news casts, diary entries and conversations. They are formatted in form of a conversation between two individuals. In Making Peace she calls upon people to pause and reflect on peace and what it means.
Claude McKay was born in Jamaica in 1889 and lived during the Harlem Renaissance. His ideology was largely communist though he claimed not to have been an official member of any such group. He was an accomplished author of poetry, fiction and non-fiction works. One of his most celebrated poems is IF We Must Die where he advocates for death but a noble death where one fights. He terms it as shameful to allow the enemy to celebrate your anguish.
Birmingham Alabama is the birth place of Margret Walker who having been born in 1915 went on to rise to prominence because of her participation in the African American Literary movement based in Chicago. For My People is a verse addressing comfortable slaves suffering under ungrateful masters. Her message is for them to rise and push for change in their situation.
Jane Hirshfield is viewed as clear and simplistic in her writing. She was part of the pioneer Princeton University lot that included the first female grandaunts. She made her mark with Let Them Not Say, a verse warning oppressors that the public is watching.
The beautiful pieces were not meant to drastically change humanity but to awaken the consciousness of masses. It jolted people to action and warned disports that the oppressed subjects were watching. There are more poets who resisted different scenarios and sort to awaken social consciousness through their verses.
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