Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Scottsboro, Too, Is Worth Its Song" by Countee Cullen is a poignant and critical reflection on the role of poets and artists in addressing social injustices, specifically focusing on the Scottsboro Boys case, a seminal event in American history that exposed deep racial prejudices within the legal system. Written in 1934, the poem expresses disappointment and disillusionment with the American poets' silence regarding this case, urging them to use their voices to combat injustice.

The poem opens with a declaration of expectation: "Now will the poets sing," anticipating that the artistic community will rise to the occasion, as it has in the past for other causes, such as the case of Sacco and Vanzetti, two Italian-American anarchists controversially executed in 1927. Cullen expects that the poets' words will serve as a powerful force against oppression, envisioning their cries going "thundering / Like blood and tears / Into the nation's ears," thereby awakening the conscience of the nation.

Cullen underscores the potential of poetry to affect change, to penetrate "the nation's heart" with the lightning of truth and to challenge "the foe smug in his citadel" of racism and injustice. He invokes the memory of how poets have historically rallied against "disease and death and all things fell, / And war," suggesting a noble tradition of poetic activism that he hopes will continue in response to the Scottsboro Boys' plight.

However, the poem takes a turn towards disappointment as Cullen notes the lack of response from the poets to this "cause divinely spun." He characterizes the Scottsboro case as embodying "all disgrace / And epic wrong," a situation ripe for the impassioned outcry of artists whose "eyes are on the sun." The expectation that this injustice would inspire a torrent of artistic advocacy is met with silence, leading Cullen to question, "But they have raised no cry. / I wonder why."

"Scottsboro, Too, Is Worth Its Song" is both a call to action and a critique of inaction. Through this poem, Cullen challenges his fellow poets and the wider artistic community to fulfill their role as social commentators and advocates for justice. He highlights the power of art to confront societal ills and laments the missed opportunity to stand in solidarity with the oppressed. The poem remains a resonant reminder of the responsibility of artists to engage with the world around them, to bear witness to injustice, and to use their creative voices to effect change.

POET TEXT: https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/maai3/protest/text11/cullenscottsboro.pdf

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