Critical Analysis of Poem About Rights
Uploaded by srheric on Apr 23, 2007
Critical Analysis of "Poem About Rights"
Is it a combination of genetics and experience? Is it something predetermined and mapped out? Is it something so mutable that we have complete control over it? The origin of a person’s identity can be argued upon forever but what seems to be most agreed upon is that as a human we each have a unique identity. The poetry of June Jordan discusses identity and its origins but more so she argues that identity cannot be changed by force. By no means of politics, sexuality, or media can an identity be given to someone to wear like T-shirt.
In Jordan’s “Poem About Rights” she battles identity head on with the use of rape and responsibility. Throughout the poem Jordan reviews her insecurity as a unique individual in a sarcastic tone in defense over those that have raped her. She has this reoccurring idea of having the “wrong sex the wrong age the wrong skin”. This seems to be a reference to being a black individual and the lack of compassion for her humanity. She goes on to show the injustice of her being raped.
…if the guy penetrates but does not ejaculate then he did not rape me…I contested and there was no rape because finally you understand finally they fucked me over because I was wrong I was wrong again to be me being me where I was / wrong to be who I am…
This passage not only shows her disgust for what has happened to her but sets up rape as a metaphor for stealing identity. Being raped takes away the will of the individual and leaves them with out identity or at least in conflict over what little they had during the experience. Jordan then relates this metaphor to South Africa and its raping of the local populous. The Government was raping the land and the people.
She continues to bring up the Idea of not having the right skin or sex or age and considers that her parents may be the cause of it all.
It was my father saying I was wrong saying that I should have been a boy because he wanted one / a boy and that I should have been lighter skinned and that I should...