Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Being Southern" by Jane Cooper is a profound exploration of identity, guilt, and memory, set against the backdrop of the complex history of the American South. Through a series of reflections, the poem navigates the legacies of defeat, slavery, and segregation, juxtaposing these with personal anecdotes that reveal attempts at progress and reconciliation. Cooper draws parallels between being Southern and being German, both carrying the weight of a "defeated country" and a collective guilt over the atrocities committed in their histories.

In the first section, Cooper poses a challenging question that frames the entire poem: "Can any white person write this, whose ancestors once kept slaves?" This inquiry not only acknowledges the historical injustices of slavery but also questions the role of descendants in addressing and understanding this legacy. The comparison to being German, with its connotations of World War II and the Holocaust, amplifies the sense of inherited guilt and the struggle for redemption.

The second section delves into the complexities of moral action within oppressive systems, highlighting the poet's family members who made efforts to challenge the status quo. Her father's realization of the Klan's influence at the Democratic Convention, his advocacy for black representation, her aunt's work with Cuban cigar workers, and the founding of a Girl Scout troop for "colored children" are presented as significant, albeit flawed, attempts to navigate and rectify the injustices of their time. These efforts, marked by paternalism, raise questions about the sufficiency and sincerity of such actions, probing the reader to consider the nature of allyship and reform.

Cooper's call to "Take your guilt to school. Read your guilt in your diplomas or the lines of the marriage ceremony" is a powerful command to recognize and confront the embedded nature of privilege and injustice in all facets of life. This passage underscores the pervasiveness of guilt and the necessity of facing it directly, a theme that resonates with anyone grappling with the legacies of historical injustices.

The third section shifts the scene to the North, where the poet was "transplanted" in 1934, introducing a setting that is seemingly more enlightened and welcoming to refugees, including Einstein. Yet, this apparent sanctuary is also flawed, as Cooper admits to not remembering "the actual men and women who slept in those tents," thus highlighting a selective memory that acknowledges some injustices while overlooking others. The mention of Einstein and the "six million" serves as a poignant reminder of the Holocaust, drawing a parallel to the invisibility and marginalization of those suffering from systemic injustices.

"Being Southern" is a meditation on the complexity of Southern identity, marked by a history of conflict, injustice, and attempts at progress. Through personal anecdotes and historical reflections, Cooper challenges readers to consider the ways in which memory, guilt, and identity intersect, urging a confrontation with the past to inform a more just and conscious present. The poem navigates the thin line between remembering and being burdened by the past, between honoring progress and recognizing its limitations, ultimately questioning what it means to inherit and engage with a troubled history.

POEM TEXT: https://julierenszer.blogspot.com/2007/10/three-poems-by-jane-cooper.html

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