Daybreak in Alabama

By King Meera -
10-11 on Sept 18

⦁ written in 1940 but set in 1920
⦁ Harlem renaissance of 1918-1930 - African-American settlement
⦁ separation; did not live in harmony
⦁ supposedly equal but not, so
-> black pride
-> jazz music especially Harlem stride
⦁ poem is abut new beginnings - all skin colors in harmony
⦁ politically driven - progressive socialist secular ideas
⦁ Langston Hughes as a jazz composer, an artist painting with colors of skin
⦁ write me some songs - this is what's in our minds
⦁ swamp mist representation of upward mobility; rising, camouflage; look up jazz album released
⦁ dew - "falling" indiscriminately - music to be enjoyed by all
⦁ tall tall - landscape of America; African-American men
⦁ significance of pine - evergreen, prosperous
⦁ red clay - Native Americans
⦁ poppy - Australians, Commonwealth Army
⦁ brown - Mexicans
⦁ daisy eyes - Europeans
⦁ red necks - sunburnt plantation workers
⦁ "creamies" white black white black
⦁ just as composer creates music, Hughes wants to create a new world
⦁ Nature - flora (pplantation community) (diversity - we all can live together - poppy seeds and daisies grow together)
⦁ swamp mist - in spite of how it has risen, it has risen and is beautiful
⦁ sensuous - sight (colors), scent, touch
⦁ Orpheus - existing jazz, rock bands
⦁ daisy - soft gentle pure beautiful multicolor
⦁ red clay earth - soiled by the work you are made to do

QUICK RECAP WITH BHAVANI MA'AM:

  • Southern therefore plantation therefore relevant images of people employed there
  • all should live in Alabama
  • Nature elements esp. plants - to refer to different people
  • bands, music, jazz - means of expression
  • Harlem renaissance

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