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  • Essay / Poems “Three Trees” and “Not an Elegy for Mike Brown”: Analysis

    Do Black Lives Matter? Faith and Disgust in SocietyDiscrimination is a social problem that has plagued many cultural groups in North America for many years. “Not an Elegy for Mike Brown” by Danez Smith and “Three Trees” by Wanda Coleman are two poems that touch on social identity and what it means to be black through the use of symbolic and moving imagery. Although Smith and Coleman use imagery in completely different ways, their intentions in recognizing the discrimination and contrast between black and white cultures remain clear. In this essay, I will compare the different ways Smith and Coleman use imagery to depict their different perspectives on black culture and racism in today's society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original EssayIn the initial poem mentioned, “Not an Elegy for Mike Brown,” written by Danez Smith, the reader is able to recognize the point view of black culture through the representation of visual and organic images. The use of visual imagery is first revealed when the speaker introduces the dead boy in the poem, "...ordinary thing, black/dead..." (3-4) In these lines, the speaker uses the words “ordinary” and “thing” to describe the dead young man. They use these words to highlight how insignificant, in the eyes of humanity, a black person's life is due to the increasing number of murdered black individuals. When a person dies, we remember their name; when a group of people die, we view them as a collective and they are no longer individuals. Not only is this description of the deceased visual, but it is also an example of organic imagery in the poem since it has the ability to stir up emotions. The idea that the more a black person dies, the less of a person they become is absurd because every life matters. However, due to discrimination in society and the fact that young, innocent black men are constantly being murdered, it seems that black lives don't matter. Another strong example Smith uses to describe racism towards black people is when he uses visual and organic elements. images to compare the results of white and black tragedies. This comparison is presented in lines 12-17: Think: Once a white girl was kidnapped and it was the Trojan War. Later, in the neighborhood, Troy was shot and it was Tuesday. Are we not worthy of a city of ashes? 1000 ships launched because we are lacking? In this passage, Smith uses the image of the Trojan War to represent the outcome of the kidnapping of a young white girl. He uses this comparison to highlight the grief and unhappiness that society feels when a white girl is kidnapped. In contrast, when a black man is shot, society can live life as if it were an ordinary day. Not only is society chauvinistic in judging people based on their race, but the Trojan War can also be a symbol of the actions of higher authorities. If a white girl was shot and killed, it would make headlines and everyone would want to get justice for her. On the other hand, some shootings and deaths of black men are not even broadcast. In addition to a racist society, it is shameful to admit that there is also discrimination in the political system. Like Smith's work, Coleman also uses imagery in his poems to discuss life from the perspective of a black individual. However, in.