June Jordan Apologies To All Summary

As a bi-sexual African-American poet, June Jordan was made famous for her usage of writing and teachings that provide a voice for others who have been oppressed, she highlights important issues around race, gender, sexuality, and her views on third world politics in a host of published formats. She is also known for her ability to speak to a need to survive and to carve a place for herself in a world that is so unjust. In Ms. Jordan life she received many awards for her creative writing skills awards that included The Prix De Rome funding, a grant from the Rockefeller foundation, and a National Endowment of the Arts fellowship (Editors). Her many poems have affected many lives and one that really may stand out is her poem “ Apologies To All

The People of Lebanon” published in 2005. In this poem which contains 12 stanzas, with a total of 79 lines and a mix of 421 words Ms. Jordan goes on explaining how things should’ve gone, in 1948 Lebanon, she instead writes on how things actually underwent, all the promises to keep the innocent people of Lebanon safe were broken by American forces. So in writing this she just wanted to apologize for such un-american actions, for all the broken promises.
While reading the poem it makes one ponder on what the topic of the poem may be so while reading you begin to ask yourself what the poem appears to be on the surface without the hidden meaning.

While reading the poem, it may appear that the topic may be about conflict, history and politics, social commentaries, or money and economics. By the use of the literary device imagery. She uses such sensitive words that appeal the sense and build a more visual representation as in lines 21- 26 where she goes into minor detail about the kids and their dismemberment and such. Nevertheless, one may find the theme of the story more sincere and apologetic, June Jordan may have chosen such a touching theme not to necessarily apologize for attacking rather for the extra doings that could have been avoided. Also by coming to the realization of a theme as such, it sets more of a bereaved and sympathetic mood. It makes you come to understand like, wow things like this really do happen every day, promises are broken everywhere. In addition, these themes and moods can also be used to describe the type of poem it is, a lyrical one and it’s easy to distinguish because it’s use of repetition. The use of repetition in this poem is used throughout the majority of the poem by using the following line numerous of times “ They said ..” (3,8,14,28,30,33,41). The use of this literary device allows for this poem to seem more like a

song.
While analysing the poem, understanding June Jordan writings styles and techniques makes it easier to understand and relate to the story her writings are very blunt and straight to the point.

Each stanza, each line, and every word is placed so vibrantly it causes for better sentence structure and creates more of a working flow. Her writing skills are so precise it makes reading the poem that much easier and entertaining also making it easier to understand. Her word choice is nice it’s almost as if this poem was intended to be written in such a plain and simple format. Word intensity is kept to a minimal making only some words a little challenging such as, guerilla as used in line 43, which means of member of a small group or irregular fighting, or leaflets found in line 49, which is just simple printed piece of paper often folded sheets of paper. This poem, explains the ways of Americans one may select a poem as such because it reflects on American society. Americans are said to be the “ease makers” they parade all victories we’ve attained but they don’t talk about all the destruction and gore it took to get there. Provided that this poem had many intriguing lines that and one that may stick out to is “ They said they were victims, They said they were Arabs” (41-42). This line may important to one of color because it shows how stereotypical Americans can be this line has a strong way of symbolizing all the worry and freight people of non-white ethnics face on a day to day

basis. We are told we have all these freedoms and rights but when it comes down to black and white do we really.
In addition to her usage of symbolism and many other literary devices she creates a new understanding of her poem, a new understanding that makes her writing more interesting and easier to read. In conclusion Ms. June Jordan has many writing techniques that help the reader understand and get her point across which allows for a larger group of people to be able to relate to her. Considering this information about Ms. Jordan one may still be left in a wonder as to why she feels her messages need to be expressed as such. Why she needs to use further writing techniques and skills for her point to get across many audiences of such different ages, genders, and political people.