Similarities Between'strange Fruit 'And Took The Children Away'
Racism is intolerance and hatred of another race. Many protest poems are used by composers in society to express their desire for social change. “Strange fruit” by Lewis Allen and “took the children away” by Archie Roach are haunting lyrics protesting against the area of racism. Both poets have been influenced by either personal events or events occurring in society. Both Allen and Roach effectively use strong poetic techniques and pursue subject matter to the audience through racism to create a desire for social change in the society.
“Strange fruit” was written in the mid-1930s about 60 years ago. Lewis Allen whom is a Jewish American communist had seen a photo in the paper of two young boys that had been beaten and hung. This horrific …show more content…
One poetic technique from the lyric that can be highlighted as important is first person as it is very strongly used by roach in an attempt to display himself in the poem. First person is most effective in the finishing line of “yes I came back” this is effective because the responder then finally realises that the poem is in fact a recount of what actually happened to Roach. Anaphora is also successfully used in the poem. In the last stanza anaphora is powerfully used by roach, “Back to their mother; father, sister, brother, people, land” this anaphora is used in order to state all the things that had been left behind and taken away from indigenous children of the time. The anaphora connects with the responder’s emotions in an attempt to shock the responder therefore making them see the need for social change.
Lewis Allen was a Jewish man, a school teacher and also a member of the American communist party which was risky and unusual in its self at the time of the 1930’s. Allen was inspired to right by a photograph of a lynching he saw that shocked him. The subject matter of the poem is about the lynching of African Americans in Americas south. Allen saw the harsh injustices of racism and how it was generational “Blood on the leaves and blood at the root.” He protested against racism in order to create a desire in society for social
“Strange fruit” was written in the mid-1930s about 60 years ago. Lewis Allen whom is a Jewish American communist had seen a photo in the paper of two young boys that had been beaten and hung. This horrific …show more content…
One poetic technique from the lyric that can be highlighted as important is first person as it is very strongly used by roach in an attempt to display himself in the poem. First person is most effective in the finishing line of “yes I came back” this is effective because the responder then finally realises that the poem is in fact a recount of what actually happened to Roach. Anaphora is also successfully used in the poem. In the last stanza anaphora is powerfully used by roach, “Back to their mother; father, sister, brother, people, land” this anaphora is used in order to state all the things that had been left behind and taken away from indigenous children of the time. The anaphora connects with the responder’s emotions in an attempt to shock the responder therefore making them see the need for social change.
Lewis Allen was a Jewish man, a school teacher and also a member of the American communist party which was risky and unusual in its self at the time of the 1930’s. Allen was inspired to right by a photograph of a lynching he saw that shocked him. The subject matter of the poem is about the lynching of African Americans in Americas south. Allen saw the harsh injustices of racism and how it was generational “Blood on the leaves and blood at the root.” He protested against racism in order to create a desire in society for social