The Political Poems Collection exemplifies the power of poetry to inspire change and challenge injustice. Centering on themes related to politics and governance in a broad range of settings and cultures, these poems interrogate and challenge the systems and people who hold power in society.
Publication year 1999
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Allegory / Fable / Parable, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Race / Racism, Relationships, African American Literature, Music, Biography, Social Justice
Publication year 2015
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Lyric Poem, History: U.S., Race / Racism, African American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, LGBTQ, Social Justice
“The Tradition” by Jericho Brown is written from the perspective of a collective “we.” This group planted colorful perennial flowers, including aster, nasturtium, and delphinium (Line 1); filmed the flowers they planted blooming; then watched this video on fast forward (“Sped the video to see blossoms / brought in seconds,” Lines 11-12). At the end of the poem, the reader discovers that the collective “we” narrating the poem are Black men, and the sped-up video... Read The Tradition Summary
Publication year 1959
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia
Tags Lyric Poem, Social Justice
Publication year 2018
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, African American Literature, Mythology, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 1993
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Lyric Poem, Social Justice, Latin American Literature
Publication year 1986
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: Aging
Tags Holidays & Occasions, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, History: U.S.