Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"An Agony. As Now" is a poem by Amiri Baraka (formerly known as LeRoi Jones) that was first published in 1965. The poem explores the themes of racial inequality, police brutality, and the struggle for social justice.

Amiri Baraka was an African American poet, playwright, and activist who lived from 1934 to 2014. He was known for his powerful and politically charged works, which often tackled issues of race, politics, and social justice. Baraka was a key figure in the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, and his works continue to be celebrated today as powerful expressions of African American culture and identity.

The poem is structured in six stanzas, each with a distinct focus. The first stanza introduces the central theme of the poem, describing the agony and frustration felt by the speaker in the face of racial injustice. The following stanzas describe the ways in which this injustice is perpetuated, with the speaker noting how "And police dogs...with their bellies full of human / Being, / A present from the generous / Hearted... / Propel themselves, from a run, into / A black / Man's chest."

Throughout the poem, Baraka's language is raw and powerful, using vivid imagery and metaphor to convey the profound pain and suffering caused by racial inequality and police brutality. The opening lines, "I am inside someone / who hates me," immediately capture the reader's attention, setting the tone for the rest of the work.

The poem's themes of racial inequality and police brutality are particularly prominent. The speaker notes how these injustices are perpetuated through violence and oppression, describing how "The slimy veins of human beings / Twist / Tortured / In oil." At the same time, the poem also explores the idea that resistance and struggle are essential aspects of the human experience, noting how "I will learn to hate in a way / That makes me / A true inheritor / Of the white man's / Civilization."

Overall, "An Agony. As Now" is a powerful and thought-provoking work of poetry that explores some of the most fundamental aspects of the African American experience. Through its raw language, vivid imagery, and uncompromising vision, it conveys a sense of the profound pain and suffering caused by racial inequality and police brutality, while also acknowledging the importance of resistance and struggle in the face of oppression.

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