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
,
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller lexifay1711. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.01. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.