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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Album" by Lucille Clifton is a reflective and evocative journey through time, capturing the transitions of identity, beauty standards, and self-perception within a family lineage. Through a series of snapshots, Clifton chronicles the evolution of racial identity and the intergenerational dynamics that shape and redefine it. The poem moves from 1939 to 1985, offering a glimpse into the changing lives and identities of women within a family, their interactions with societal expectations, and the evolving conception of beauty and self across different eras. The first section, set in 1939, paints a picture of innocence and conformity, with mothers turning their daughters' hair "around rags" to achieve Shirley Temple curls—a symbol of the era's idealized standard of beauty. The reference to "our shirley temple cups" suggests not only a physical object but also the consumption of a certain image of whiteness and innocence that Shirley Temple represented during that period. This act of emulating a white child star's hairstyle reflects the internalization of white beauty standards and the desire to conform to them. The second stanza revisits 1939, focusing on the outcome of the mothers' efforts: "our shirley temple curls." The mention of "shirley yellow. / shirley black." and the observation that "our colors are fading" speaks to the complexities of racial identity and the dilution of cultural heritage that can occur in the pursuit of conforming to dominant beauty standards. This fading of color metaphorically represents the loss of individuality and the erasure of distinct cultural identities under the pressure to assimilate. In the third section, the timeline jumps to "1958 and 9," where the narrative voice shifts from the daughters to the mothers, who have now "dropped daughters / afrikan and chinese." This generation embraces a broader, more inclusive conception of beauty, hoping their daughters will "be beautiful" and "become themselves." This reflects a shift towards celebrating diversity and acknowledging beauty in difference, moving away from the previous generation's inclination toward assimilation. The final stanza, set in 1985, is marked by its brevity and the repetition of "she is. / she is. / they are." This conclusive affirmation suggests a realization of identity and existence beyond the confines of societal expectations. The simplicity and assertiveness of "she is" and "they are" signify a coming into one's own, an acceptance and celebration of identity that is not bound by the standards set by others. It speaks to the achievement of self-definition and the recognition of individual worth. "Album" is a poignant exploration of the evolution of identity across generations, reflecting the shifts in societal norms and the internal struggles and triumphs of a family's journey towards self-recognition and acceptance. Clifton masterfully uses the motif of hair as a symbol of conformity and resistance, weaving a narrative that spans decades to highlight the enduring quest for identity and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of changing times. The poem is a testament to the complex interplay between society, family, and the individual in the continuous process of becoming.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE THREE CHILDREN by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN CHILDREN SELECTING BOOKS IN A LIBRARY by RANDALL JARRELL COME TO THE STONE ... by RANDALL JARRELL THE LOST WORLD by RANDALL JARRELL A SICK CHILD by RANDALL JARRELL CONTINENT'S END by ROBINSON JEFFERS ON THE DEATH OF FRIENDS IN CHILDHOOD by DONALD JUSTICE THE POET AT SEVEN by DONALD JUSTICE |
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