Assassination – Don L Lee
Biographical Information:
Born 1942. – Little Rock Arkansas – grew up in Detroit slums (suffered poverty/mother addict &
prostitute)
Went to army but kicked out as a ‘security risk’
Went to university – poet, publisher, activist for black rights (founded various organisations for
black upliftment)
Key figure at 2nd black renaissance in USA in 60s
- Black pride/nationalism – restore dignity to identity
- Arts = revolutionary weapon to promote this social and political ideal. (RESTORE DIGNITY TO
BLACKS)
Lee changed name to Swahili = HAKI R MADHUBUTI (HRM – justice, rising, strong/independent)
Meaning/Message:
- Assertion of the racism & corruption of America
- Speaking out. Against the accepted story given about the assassination - ie. Seeking justice
- Honouring black heroes.
Imagery/ figures of speech / diction:
- King ~ turns MLK into a mythic symbol/timeless leader
- Use of bitter irony & sarcasm ~ poem as. A. political statement.
Structure :
Black Arts Movement - belief that you must break down and ‘reject’ the ‘acceptable’ white values
and standards. Lee deliberately mixes up/misuses/invents: grammar/syntax/punctuation etc.
He creates a ‘black language’ – spoken ‘soil’
- Extremely irregular structure: staccato/uneven rhythm. Choppy short lines, free verse, uneven
stanzas and lines. Spacing/ staggered. Typography
= chaos/drama/violence/turmoil of shooting time breaking up, world of good falling apart as
evil takes over.
Tone/Mood:
Unsettling, eerie, bitter, angry, stark, brutal
MLK
- Civil rights activists for African- America
- Clergyman
- His aim – to end discrimination/segregation/hatred
,
Biographical Information:
Born 1942. – Little Rock Arkansas – grew up in Detroit slums (suffered poverty/mother addict &
prostitute)
Went to army but kicked out as a ‘security risk’
Went to university – poet, publisher, activist for black rights (founded various organisations for
black upliftment)
Key figure at 2nd black renaissance in USA in 60s
- Black pride/nationalism – restore dignity to identity
- Arts = revolutionary weapon to promote this social and political ideal. (RESTORE DIGNITY TO
BLACKS)
Lee changed name to Swahili = HAKI R MADHUBUTI (HRM – justice, rising, strong/independent)
Meaning/Message:
- Assertion of the racism & corruption of America
- Speaking out. Against the accepted story given about the assassination - ie. Seeking justice
- Honouring black heroes.
Imagery/ figures of speech / diction:
- King ~ turns MLK into a mythic symbol/timeless leader
- Use of bitter irony & sarcasm ~ poem as. A. political statement.
Structure :
Black Arts Movement - belief that you must break down and ‘reject’ the ‘acceptable’ white values
and standards. Lee deliberately mixes up/misuses/invents: grammar/syntax/punctuation etc.
He creates a ‘black language’ – spoken ‘soil’
- Extremely irregular structure: staccato/uneven rhythm. Choppy short lines, free verse, uneven
stanzas and lines. Spacing/ staggered. Typography
= chaos/drama/violence/turmoil of shooting time breaking up, world of good falling apart as
evil takes over.
Tone/Mood:
Unsettling, eerie, bitter, angry, stark, brutal
MLK
- Civil rights activists for African- America
- Clergyman
- His aim – to end discrimination/segregation/hatred
,
