Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Jay Wright’s poem "W. E. B. DuBois at Harvard" is a lyrical and meditative homage to one of the most influential African American intellectuals in history. The poem situates DuBois in the academic and cultural context of Harvard Square, exploring themes of identity, history, and intellectual pursuit. Through rich imagery and subtle allusions, Wright captures the weight of DuBois’s legacy and the complex interplay of race, ambition, and cultural memory.

The opening lines immediately set a tone of movement and reflection. The "designing locks" that "swing to your pace" evoke the physical and metaphorical gates of Harvard, which DuBois navigated as a student and scholar. The "bells push you toward the teasing dons," a reference to the academic elite, signals the challenges and opportunities of engaging with an institution steeped in privilege and tradition. This juxtaposition highlights DuBois?s dual role as an outsider and a participant in the academic world.

Wright’s use of time is significant, as the poem moves between "Harvard Square" in the present and the historical and personal pasts that DuBois carries with him. The "fledgling history" and "old songs" that DuBois revisits all night underscore his dedication to understanding and reshaping the narrative of African American history. The reference to "dark voices" connects DuBois to the collective memory and struggles of Black Americans, whose stories and experiences he sought to illuminate through his scholarship and activism.

The phrase "prosody of those dark voices" is particularly evocative, suggesting not only the rhythm and music of African American history but also its intellectual and emotional resonance. DuBois’s connection to these voices is both a burden and a source of inspiration, a reminder of his role as a conduit for the past and a voice for the future. The mention of the "evening bell" as a potential release hints at moments of reprieve or transcendence amid the weight of his intellectual and emotional labor.

Wright’s meditation broadens in scope as he reflects on the historical context of DuBois’s life and work. The poem invokes the imagery of "musket-draped and manqué Englishmen," "common people," and "the sharp sails of the unwelcome boats," referencing colonial America and its foundational contradictions. These lines highlight the tensions between the ideals of freedom and the realities of exclusion and oppression, which DuBois confronted in his scholarship and activism. Wright’s acknowledgment that "sometimes we forget you" underscores the erasure and marginalization of Black contributions to American history, a silence that DuBois dedicated his life to breaking.

The poem’s central meditation on DuBois’s identity and mission is captured in the line, "Who asked you for that impulsive miracle?" This rhetorical question speaks to the extraordinary expectations placed on DuBois as a Black intellectual in a racially divided society. His achievements are framed not merely as personal triumphs but as acts of collective significance, born out of necessity and resistance. The imagery of "the flag dipping in your hands" and "your crafted boots hammering up the unclaimed streets" symbolizes DuBois’s navigation of uncharted territory, both academically and socially. His journey is portrayed as both a reclamation and a reinvention of space and identity.

Wright’s portrayal of DuBois also delves into the complexities of his intellectual and emotional experience. The poem speaks of "the breaking of a Protestant host," suggesting a rupture with traditional structures of belief and identity. This image resonates with DuBois’s engagement with the duality of being both American and African, a tension he famously explored in The Souls of Black Folk. The "ambiguous, detached judgment of yourself" reflects the introspection and self-awareness that characterized DuBois’s approach to understanding his place in the world and his responsibilities as a scholar and activist.

The closing lines bring the poem full circle, emphasizing DuBois’s enduring legacy and the communal resonance of his work. The "sibilant streets" and "another season" suggest the cyclical nature of history and the ongoing relevance of DuBois’s insights. His "intense, communal daring" is celebrated as a testament to his courage and vision, qualities that continue to inspire those who grapple with the complexities of identity, justice, and social progress.

"W. E. B. DuBois at Harvard" is a deeply layered poem that honors its subject’s intellectual rigor and moral courage. Through its intricate imagery and reflective tone, it captures the essence of DuBois’s journey as a scholar and a symbol of resilience and transformation. Wright’s portrayal invites readers to consider not only DuBois’s legacy but also the broader implications of history, memory, and the pursuit of justice.

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