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History essay Civil Rights Movement
History essay Civil Rights Movement
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The civil rights movement was in full swing during 1963. This time period was hard for African Americans. 1963 was a year of bold action and heartbreaking tragedies that shocked the nation. The 16th street church bombing was a major event that occurred at the heart of this time. During and after this event, many poets wrote about Birmingham in 1963. Poets like, Carole Boston Weatherford, Christopher Curtis, and Dudley Randall helped capture the memories and emotions of this devastating time. Each poet had a different style that made it easier for people to cope with the issues that each poem evoked. Dudley Randall’s “Ballad of Birmingham” tells a story of the 16th street church bombing. Randall is able to give the readers a sense of past with …show more content…
his simple rhyme scheme as he captivates their minds with a story that changed the outlooks of many during the civil rights movement. Randall allows the readers to see the issues of this time through the use of juxtaposition, the imagery and the situational irony that the poem creates. Randall was a complex man, a major part in his poem, “Ballad of Birmingham,” was his use of juxtaposition to contrast the effects of his poem to those of the 16th street church bombing. Randall’s poem is so simple but yet so in depth that it causes readers to wonder. The poem is based on an actual event from 1963, the 16th street church bombing. It is a conversation between a little and her mother. The little girl wants to go downtown to march the streets of Birmingham in a freedom march with many others. The mother refuses to let her daughter go to the march. She knows the dangers and troubles that could come of the march. The little girl continues to beg her mother to go. She tells her that there will be other children there marching for their freedom as well. The mother refuses and tells her daughter to go to the church and sing in the choir. The mother prepares her daughter for church and sends her on her way. The mother was happy knowing that her daughter would be in a sacred place. Moments later, an explosion happens. The mother runs for church and all she can find is one shoe from her daughter. This poem was about one of the four girls that died in the 16th street church bombing. This bombing happened during a major civil rights movement. Randall is able to connect a huge event in the civil rights era to his simple poem. Just by telling the story of this little girl and her mother. D. H. Melhem classified Birmingham as the “Capital of Segregation” during this era (Melhem 162). Melhem went on the say that the poem conveyed that no place is sacred during a time like this. Randall contrasts the effects of his poem to the bombing. Randall’s poem, “Ballad of Birmingham,” goes from a simple Ballad to a Ballad that connects all the events of this time to the readers. The little girl says she wants to march “In a Freedom March today”, this line is the first connection between the civil rights movement and the poem (Randall Line 4). This line happened to be in the first stanza. Another connection is when the bombing occurs. The poem says “For when she heard the explosion”, this line connects the poem to the explosion at the 16th street church bombing (25). These connections help show how Randall’s poem connects the issues of this time to his simple poem about the 16th street church bombing. During the Civil rights movement, the Black Power movement was in full swing. The Black Power movement was “expressed and reflected through the creative articulations of many of the poets that characterized this era” (Melba). Dudley Randall was one of these poets. Many poets used their poetry to connect the people with real world issues. In this time, poets changed Birmingham with their works. Randall characterized the era with his poem, “Ballad of Birmingham”, through the connects between events in this time and his poem. This poem had many effects on people. It gives readers a better understanding of the issues and problems surrounding Randall’s poem about the bombing. Imagery is a key part in “Ballad of Birmingham”, Randall goes into vivid detail about the story spoken through the poem. Randall allows his use of imagery to take over the poem. He gives great detail about each event that happens throughout the mother daughters conversation. The mother is telling her daughter about the troubles that come with the march. This is the first case that Randall goes into great detail. When the mother says “For the dogs are fierce and wild/And clubs and hoses, guns and jail”, she is talking about the troubles with her daughter going to the march (6). Randall shows a perfect picture of what the march would look like. The fierce dogs, clubs and hoses that is what the march consisted of. In an article over a documentary about Randall, Dan Georgakas talks about how the mother feels about the troubles of downtown. The mother feels “fearful of the civil disobedience” when she thinks about downtown (Georgakas). She is scared of the failure to follow the rules and realizes it is unsafe for her daughter. African Americans were marching for their freedom and this is what the white people used to defend the city. Randall goes into detail when the mother is getting the daughter ready. He paints a clear picture of the mother and the daughter sitting there getting ready. Randall uses a whole stanza to describe this moment. It starts off with “She has combed and brushed her night-dark hair/and bathed rose petal sweet”, this line gives a picture of the mother combing her daughter's hair (17-18). Then the line about rose petal sweet gives the image of how innocent the little girl is. The next two lines of the stanze go “And drawn white gloves on her small brown hands/And white shoes on her feet”, these lines show the mother putting on the last accessories to send her daughter off (19-20). Randall gives good detail about the “white” gloves, “brown” hands, and “white” shoes. These details give a clear image of the mother putting on the gloves. Randall concludes the poem by telling about the remains of the bombing and the mother digging through them. “She clawed through bits of glass and brick/then lifted out a shoe”, this line gives readers a picture of the mother frantically digging for the remains of her daughter and only find her shoe (29-30). Randall’s use of imagery in his poem helps relate readers to the visuals of that day. It helps show the effects it had on people through the mother. Carolyn McKinstry a Sunday school secretary at 16th Street Baptist Church was questions about the day of the bombing. She was asked the question “What stands out most about that day” and her response was “the pain of that day”(Joiner). This day in 1963 was a very painful day for Birmingham. Carolyn McKinstry had a first hand account from that day. Randall’s use of imagery in his poem shows the true pain of that day. It gives the sense of pain and sadness that was felt on that day. Randall’s words give clear images that evoke the feelings of the readers. Imagery is just one of the ways Randall detailed the event that happened in his poem. It allows the readers to live and see a first hand account through the use of his words. Randall also uses situational irony to give the readers a different outlook on his poem.
Situational irony is the difference between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs. Randall really grabs the attention of the readers with one thing and then hits them with a different outcome than what is expected. Randall sets up the situation to make readers think that the church is the safer place to be. The mother and daughter are going back and forth about going to the freedom march. The mother comes to a final verdict and says that the church would be a safer place for her daughter. The trust that the mother puts in the church is entirely misplaced. With the poem showing the daughters pure innocence, it makes it all more wrenching because the readers see it coming. In an article about poem, prose, and people, Sharron McElmeel tells about the background behind the church. The church had previously been “a staging location for civil rights rallies, marches, and protests” (McElmeel). During this time period, with all the civil rights issues, these marches were very dangerous. Anything could happen at any moment. In all reality the church might not have been the safest place for her mother to send her daughter. Randall tries to be very clear on what is going on at this time through his story. In an interview with Lena Ampadu, Randall talks about how he tries to be simple for the readers. Ampadu talks about “One of the qualities present in your writing is it’s ability to communicate simply and directly,” this statement is very true about Randall's work(Ampadu 443). Randall is simple in direct when it comes to his poem, “Ballad of Birmingham”. Randall responds to Ampadu with “I try to be as clear as I can because I want people to understand what I’m saying” (Ampadu 443). Randall makes it clear that there is way more meaning to his poem. It is a very simple story from that day but it goes into great detail about the true history behind the poem. Randall’s simple
but yet complex style sets up the situational irony in this poem. The situational irony in this poem is that the mother thought the church would be a safe place for her daughter to be instead of being at the march. What happens, is the exact opposite. The daughter is killed in a bombing at the church and would have actually been safer at the freedom march. It is ironic that the march was much safer than the church even with everything going on at this time. This bombing will be remembered in history forever. In an article about a piece of the church being donated to the Smithsonian, the writer states that “In many ways, this bombing was a moment that the world would never forget” (Lonnae). This statement just shows the meaning behind Randall’s poem. This situational irony helped show that meaning. By putting this irony in his poem, Randall gives the readers a different look then what is expected. The poem is simple but with the way Randall goes about it, it makes the readers feel the innocence of the daughter and also see the worst that is to come. “Ballad of Birmingham” is such a simple poem but the details that go into it make it complex. It is read much like a child's story but it is so much more than that. When readers dive deeper into understanding the true issue that this poem is based on, it can be shocking. Randall uses juxtaposition to contrast the effects of the poem to the 16th street church bombing. He creates pictures with his words that help give readers a image of what went on during that day. Randall also uses situational irony to draw readers in and then hit them with an unexpected ending. He was able to connect many issues of this time to his poem as well as inform readers about the problems in the world they live in. Dudley Randall changed Birmingham and the outlooks of many with his poem “Ballad of Birmingham”.
The types of irony I choose were situational irony and dramatic irony.The reason I choose these 2 was because ,I think these are the easiest to do.Irony is the gaiety of reflection and the joy of wisdom.
King reminds the reader that racial injustices engulf the community by stating, “Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the united states. Its ugly record of brutality is widely known. Negroes have experienced grossly unjust treatments in the courts. There have been many bombings of Negro homes and Churches in Birmingham than in any other city in the nation. These are hard, brutal facts.”
Throughout the historic course of literature, one story known as “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Cornell has incorporated specific types of irony for multiple differing and fundamental reasons. Situational irony is the first use of ironic elements that will be discussed in regards to the story. Situational irony is defined as “an incongruity that appears between the expectations of something to happen, and what actually happens instead ” (literarydevices.net). The story’s climax offers a unique twist to the plot as it includes an unexpected discovery, ultimately incorporating situational irony into the sequence of events. The story starts out with the introduction of the legendary hunter Bob Rainsford as he is shipwrecked and trapped on a deserted island. While staying on the island, Rainsford is introduced to the eccentric General Zaroff, who is a self proclaimed expert hunter as well. In short, the General turns out to be a sadistic psychopath who forces Rainsford into a game of “cat and mouse”, which causes Rainsford to fight for his life. This state of affair is considered to be situational irony because Zaroff defies the expectations of being a hunter to the audience. This is specifically shown in the text when Rainsford confronts General Zaroff in regards to what he is hunting:
Situational irony is used in both O’Henry’s “The Ransom of Red Chief” and “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant but the effect of the techniques on the tone of each story is very different. In O’Henry’s story, the protagonist, Red Chief, is being kidnapped by two criminals, Bill and Sam. There are many ironic events that occur in the story. For example, the reader expects Red Chief to want to go back home to his family but instead, he is having the time of his life. As hard as Bill tries, he cannot even send him home. Bill utters to Sam, “‘I showed him the road to Summit and kicked him about eight feet nearer there at one kick’” (6). This is comical because it is using a literary technique known as slapstick comedy. The reader can imagine Bill swinging his leg and kicking Red Chief all the way back to Summit. Another example of situational irony in the story is that the reader would expect that Red Chief to be scared but what is actually happening is that Bill is terrified. While speaking with Sam, Bill complains about Red chief yet again, “‘I’ve stood by you without batting an eye ...
As Floyd is falling down on the stage, my heart is teared apart resonating with miserable life of African-American people in 1940s Pittsburgh. I have seen how people struggle with their assigned and unfair destiny and how the brutal reality smashes their dreams and humanity; I have seen that there were a group of people singing, dreaming, fighting, loving and dying in the red-brick house, which I might pass by everyday, all in this masterpiece of August Wilson. It is always difficult to reopen the grievous wound of the dark period during America history; however, the hurtfulness would be the most effective way forcing people to reflect the consequence of history.
Dramatic irony is used through Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to her husband’s return. His death had brought her such great sorrow but upon his return she died. Her death then created sorrier bringing in the irony of the beginning of the story where it was said that Mrs. Mallard’s heart was bad and she was tried not to be stressed.
The civil rights movement may have technically ended in the nineteen sixties, but America is still feeling the adverse effects of this dark time in history today. African Americans were the group of people most affected by the Civil Rights Act and continue to be today. Great pain and suffering, though, usually amounts to great literature. This period in American history was no exception. Langston Hughes was a prolific writer before, during, and after the Civil Rights Act and produced many classic poems for African American literature. Hughes uses theme, point of view, and historical context in his poems “I, Too” and “Theme for English B” to expand the views on African American culture to his audience members.
all of these works, irony plays an important role in the plot of the story.
In conclusion, many examples are given throughout the novel that exemplifies all three types of irony: situational, verbal, and dramatic. There are many more examples, like Bernard wanting attention and John’s suicide. His suicide can be an example of irony, with the reader hoping that John (the revolutionist) might succeed, but John taking his own life. Irony plays a huge role in the book, pointing out that no society can be perfect and that some laws are broken by the creators themselves.
Going to church in the ghetto in Birmingham was probably the safest place a mother could send her child. But this is where the irony takes place. The irony makes the church the warzone and place of destruction while the march was the safest place to be. The child was depicted as combed hair, freshly bathed, with white gloves, and white shoes, which is also ironic. The mother had sent an angel dressed in white to a firestorm from hell called church. The mother was completely sure that her daughter was safe until she
In the article, an African-American husband, wife, and their 2-year-old child buy a house in a “white neighborhood”. Their friends Carl and Anne Braden help them obtain the house by transferring it to the family. When Andrew Wade and his family moved into the house, they had no idea of the gunshots, burning cross, and the bombings that were in store for them. The Wade’s tried to fix the damage done to their home, but neighbors continued to show hatred towards them because of their race, so they sold the house and moved back to west Louisville. The lack of knowledge that the Wade family had about the threats that would happen to them is an example of dramatic irony. It is dramatic irony because the readers of the article are informed in the
Randall starts the ballad by presenting the setting for the poem. He uses its’ title, “Ballad of Birmingham”, and the references to the city and the marches in the first, third, and seventh stanzas to show that it is a day of “Freedom March(es)” (4) in Birmingham. He also uses the subtitle (On the bombing of a church in Birmingham, Alabama, 1963) to
Situational irony is present most of the short story “Winter Concert”. As the concert was supposed to be a wonderful time for Janie and Bob as they seemed to be looking forward to it. Janie seemed very excited about the concert, and Bob was very supportive of this and seemed to enjoy Janie’s excitement. The Lydia’s conversation with Janie seemed to end any excitement Janie had. As after Janie had heard about Bob going to Miami she began to hate the music; “it seemed to bring back all the shadows and aches of a lifetime” (134). After Janie was so excited, it seemed very likely she seemed to have the shadows and aches from the memories of Bob cheating on her before. This became very apparent when they both got home and Janie confronted Bob about the issue.
Another example of situational irony comes when Julian's mother sits next to the black boy on the bus. Even though she was undeniably racist she had a spot in her heart for children, she labeled them all as “cute” and she placed black children in a even “cuter” category. Julian's mother attempts to play peek-a-boo with the child and the child's mother gets upset and yells at the boy. Julian's mother is trying to be kind to the boy yet his mother doesn't want him to talk to the white lady.
Over the course of the century chronicling the helm of slavery, the emancipation, and the push for civil, equal, and human rights, black literary scholars have pressed to have their voice heard in the midst a country that would dare classify a black as a second class citizen. Often, literary modes of communication were employed to accomplish just that. Black scholars used the often little education they received to produce a body of works that would seek to beckon the cause of freedom and help blacks tarry through the cruelties, inadequacies, and inconveniences of their oppressed condition. To capture the black experience in America was one of the sole aims of black literature. However, we as scholars of these bodies of works today are often unsure as to whether or not we can indeed coin the phrase “Black Literature” or, in this case, “Black poetry”. Is there such a thing? If so, how do we define the term, and what body of writing can we use to determine the validity of the definition. Such is the aim of this essay because we can indeed call a poem “Black”. We can define “Black poetry” as a body of writing written by an African-American in the United States that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of an experience or set of experiences inextricably linked to black people, characterizes a furious call or pursuit of freedom, and attempts to capture the black condition in a language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm. An examination of several works of poetry by various Black scholars should suffice to prove that the definition does hold and that “Black Poetry” is a term that we can use.