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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Hatred of Men with Black Hair" by Robert Bly is a powerful and incisive critique of imperialism, colonialism, and the systemic violence perpetuated by governments and power structures against indigenous and non-Western peoples. Through vivid imagery and stark examples, Bly explores the deep-seated prejudices and destructive actions that have characterized much of Western engagement with the rest of the world. The poem begins by invoking contemporary instances of Western support for oppressive regimes and actions, mentioning Tshombe in the Congo and the Portuguese in Angola, drawing a direct line to historical atrocities such as the skinning of Little Crow, a Dakota leader. This connection between past and present actions underscores the continuity of violence and exploitation, framing it as an ingrained aspect of Western policy and psyche. Bly’s reference to "We are all their sons, skulking / In back rooms, selling nails with trembling hands!" implicates not just the architects of these policies but also the broader society that, through action or inaction, allows such injustices to continue. The image of trembling hands selling nails suggests both complicity and an underlying recognition of guilt or fear. The distrust and active undermining of leaders and governments with "black hair" serve as a metaphor for the racialized nature of Western interventions. By "sending teams to overthrow Chief Joseph’s government" or "training natives to kill Presidents with blowdarts," Bly highlights the covert and overt ways in which Western powers have sought to destabilize and control countries and populations deemed Other. The depiction of the State Department and the Pentagon, with their "beams of black light" and a foundation built upon "a drop of Indian blood preserved in snow," powerfully symbolizes the hidden, yet foundational, violence upon which contemporary power structures are built. The imagery of "violet rays" lighting up jungles and teaching "children of ritual / To overcome their longing for life" evokes the dehumanizing and destructive impact of military and ideological campaigns to subdue and assimilate. The poem concludes with the haunting image of a trail of blood leading away from a stockade, now lost in the snow, symbolizing the erased histories and silenced voices of those who have suffered under the weight of colonial and imperial oppression. This final image serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing need to acknowledge, confront, and rectify the legacies of violence and exploitation that continue to shape our world. "Hatred of Men with Black Hair" is a stark condemnation of the cycles of hatred and violence that have characterized much of the interaction between Western powers and the rest of the world. Through its vivid imagery and historical references, the poem calls on readers to recognize and challenge the prejudices and policies that continue to inflict harm on marginalized and indigenous communities. POEM TEXT: https://hampsongfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/SF_prog-05.pdf
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BIRD WITH THE DARK PLUMES by ROBINSON JEFFERS LOVE THE WILD SWAN by ROBINSON JEFFERS HATRED by GWENDOLYN B. BENNETT TO AN ENEMY by MAXWELL BODENHEIM JACK ROSE by MAXWELL BODENHEIM THE PEOPLE OF THE OTHER VILLAGE by THOMAS LUX IN STRANGE EVENTS by WILLIAM MEREDITH LINES FOR A CHRISTMAS CARD by HILAIRE BELLOC |
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