They set the slave free, striking off his chains ... Then he was as much a slave as ever. He was still chained to servility. He was still manacled to indolence and sloth, He was still bound by fear and superstition, By ignorance, suspicion, and savagery ... His slavery was not in chains, But in himself ... They can only set men free ... And there is no need of that: Free men set themselves free. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BEAUTY THAT IS NEVER OLD by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE FROGS: HYMN OF THE INITIATES by ARISTOPHANES THE SECOND BROTHER; ACT 1, SCENE 1 by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES THE BOOK OF LOS by WILLIAM BLAKE GIVE ME A CHANCE by THOMAS T. BLEWETT FACTORY-GIRL by MAXWELL BODENHEIM CONQUERORS by CARL JOHN BOSTELMANN |