Slave Mentality

Slave Mentality by Angel Sent is an inspiring poem. It is a poem calling out to God and all others who read this moving piece. This poem has touched me unlike any other readin in our class. I want to share this experience with all of my classmates that is why I choose to post this poem. Angel has written this poem threw her eyes, a young Black woman who is beginning to learn about her past and experience life through a slaves view. Her parents have taught her and told her stories of life as a slave on the plantation. Working and struggling daily to make it another day. How could they withstand 90 degree weather and only one or two breaks a day just to eat small scraps of food? She is growing older and is starting to endure some of the hardships of being black in America today. She sees her people being mistreated and shunned upon in society and she can’t believe her eyes. Slavery still lingers in the hearts and minds of some White non-colored people today. There is only one song that has been passed down from generation to generation that she remembers and thinks about when times are rough. The song, “Let Freedom Ring.”

In the recent weeks of our Ethnic studies class we have learned of the hardships blacks have endured and how it all came about, this “racism.” We have been taught about the blacks in the plantation life and the beatings and long days they went through. We have also discussed how slavery still lingers today, actually that is the topic we are currently on right now. The major question of will “racism” ever end? Will there be complete peace amongst all races and people of all colors and backgrounds? There is one thing though that we have not really talked about, and that is life actually threw a black persons mindset, especially a woman. We have talked about how blacks are under privileged and black women are on the bottom of the last, but how does this all contrast through a black woman’s eyes? This is poem from a black woman’s perspective is a great read for our class and another approach to this topic.

I have never read an article coming from this view besides the book Kindred. I have always been taught through a white person’s view. “Oh things were really hard; we did a lot of things we regret now. We started racism and now we can’t stop it. What are we going to do?” Now another perspective comes into play. Like Kindred a book about a young black women trying to figure out ways to stay alive in the years of slavery and racism Angel comes from the same perspective. Angel Sent wrote, “No matter how hard you fight on the battlefield. It's a word that means fear against one's race.” Angel is talking about racism and slavery. She further says, “It started when slavery took away your name, no fame, no fortune and others were to blame.” She is speaking out to other black people trying to enlighten them on the past she has come to understand. Angel and Octavia Butler, the author of Kindred, both represent young black women in the power struggle to stay alive. They are also both her to imform and teach all who read what they have to say about racism. Angel has one hope a hope that as a young white male I share a hope that many Americans believe and pray for. The end of racism and as Angel puts it, “Only with time can Racism heal.” As of now we both come together on the same issue, which is a HUGE progress compared to years before when this situation would never happen. LET FREEDOM RING!

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/slave-mentality/