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1 viewer 112.5K views. 20 Contributors. Dreaming Black Boy Lyrics. I wish my teacher’s eyes wouldn’t. go past me today. Wish he’d know. it’s okay to hug me when I kick. a goal. Wish I myself...
May 14, 2020 · May 14, 2020. 5 min read. CSEC English B: Dreaming Black Boy by James Berry Analysis. Updated: Jan 11, 2021. Dreaming Black Boy. James Berry. I wish my teacher’s eyes wouldn’t go past me today. Wish he’d know it’s okay to hug me when I kick a goal. Wish I myself wouldn’t hold back when answer comes. I’m no woodchopper now like all ancestors.
- Summary
- Literary Devices
- Important Words / Phrase
- Tone
- Thematic Category
The poem is about a black boy who wishes that he could have regular things in life. Things such as a congratulatory hug, to be educated to the highest level and to travel without harassment. The persona yearns to stop fighting for the basic right to be successful and to rise above societal expectations.
1. REPETITION:
The constant repetition of the phrase ‘I wish’ points to a yearning, a desperation even, for the basic things that life has to offer. The repetition gives credence to the idea that the persona might believe that his wishes are actually dreams that might not come true.
2. ALLUSION:
Stanza 1, lines 6 and 7, alludes to slavery, the state of lacking control over one’s own life and destiny. The fact that reference is made to this hints to how the persona feels about his life. He does not feel as if he has control over it. Stanza 3, lines 19 to 20, alludes to Paul Robeson, a black intellectual, who attained success despite difficult circumstances. The persona yearns to be like this person. He wants room to stretch intellectually. Stanza 4, lines 22 to 25, alludes to the klu...
3.’not sink to lick boots’
This refers to the concept of being subservient. To have no choice but to kowtow to people in order to get ahead.
4. ‘Inside eye a sun’
This refers to the persona’s mind. He wants to show how intelligent he is without fear. He wants his mind to be a sun. Sun represents brightness and light, that is how he wants his intelligence to shine.
The tone/mood of the poem is one of sadness. The persona is thinking about how he is treated and he reacts to this in a sad way. He keeps wishing that things were different.
Racism,survival,oppression,desire/dreams.Oct 3, 2023 · The poem “Dreaming Black Boy” is written by the poet James Berry. In the poem, the poet persona is a black man who has suffered racial discrimination and lack of opportunities due to his skin color. The man wishes to live a life full of possibilities and learning.
Oct 27, 2020 · Dreaming Black Boy – James Berry. Share SUMMARY The poem is about a black boy who wishes that he could have regular things in life. Things such as a congratulatory hug, to be educated to the highest level and to travel without harassment.
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Dreaming Black Boy. by James Berry. I wish my teacher's eyes wouldn't. go past me today. Wish he'd know. it's okay to hug me when I kick. a goal. Wish I myself wouldn't. hold back when an...
Mar 13, 2020 · NOTE: James Berry's poem fittingly captures the experience of a black boy during the 1950s or 1960s in America when racism was rampant. Tone: frustration, dissatisfaction, longing, yearning, despondence. Themes: dreams and aspirations, racism, discrimination, childhood experiences. Literary Devices.
