Little Rock (poem)
Encyclopedia
Little Rock is a bilingual poem published by Cuban writer Nicolás Guillén
in 1958. The text is a direct denounce of the racial segregation in the United States, after the Little Rock Crisis
, one of the first desegregation expressions as consequence of the uprising movement for Civil Rights. As a satirical claim, the poem wrote in both English and Spanish languages serves as an appeal to imagine how a changing world would be without race differences. As part of the anthology La paloma del vuelo popular (the dove of popular flight), the composition is fully representative of the “black poetry” he used to write, at same time as the use of names and real situations give a qualitative value where applied.
As seen in the final verses, the references to Little Rock city and the Arkansas governor Faubus turn into adjectives for qualifying segregation actions:
As a piece of literature, was a response to the Little Rock events, in the same way as done by jazzist Charles Mingus in Fables of Faubus
. The coherence of his vindication can be found in latter works in which he «continued to rail against the rabid racism of the United States. His ironic El Gran Zoo (The Great Zoo) is caustic in its critic of “Lynch Law”
» (law that is, by the way, satirized in the verse of “Little Rock” «[...] sons of Lynch their playmates»).
Nicolás Guillén
Nicolás Cristóbal Guillén Batista was a Cuban poet, journalist, political activist, and writer. He is best remembered as the national poet of Cuba.Guillén was born in Camagüey, Cuba...
in 1958. The text is a direct denounce of the racial segregation in the United States, after the Little Rock Crisis
Little Rock Nine
The Little Rock Nine was a group of African-American students who were enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. The ensuing Little Rock Crisis, in which the students were initially prevented from entering the racially segregated school by Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, and then...
, one of the first desegregation expressions as consequence of the uprising movement for Civil Rights. As a satirical claim, the poem wrote in both English and Spanish languages serves as an appeal to imagine how a changing world would be without race differences. As part of the anthology La paloma del vuelo popular (the dove of popular flight), the composition is fully representative of the “black poetry” he used to write, at same time as the use of names and real situations give a qualitative value where applied.
As seen in the final verses, the references to Little Rock city and the Arkansas governor Faubus turn into adjectives for qualifying segregation actions:
- a world of white schools for whites
- a world all Rock and all Little
- a world all Yanquee and all Faubus
As a piece of literature, was a response to the Little Rock events, in the same way as done by jazzist Charles Mingus in Fables of Faubus
Fables of Faubus
"Fables of Faubus" is a song composed by jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus. One of Mingus' most explicitly political works, the song was written as a direct protest against Arkansas governor Orval E...
. The coherence of his vindication can be found in latter works in which he «continued to rail against the rabid racism of the United States. His ironic El Gran Zoo (The Great Zoo) is caustic in its critic of “Lynch Law”
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
» (law that is, by the way, satirized in the verse of “Little Rock” «[...] sons of Lynch their playmates»).
See also
- Little Rock Crisis
- Governor FaubusOrval FaubusOrval Eugene Faubus was the 36th Governor of Arkansas, serving from 1955 to 1967. He is best known for his 1957 stand against the desegregation of Little Rock public schools during the Little Rock Crisis, in which he defied a unanimous decision of the United States Supreme Court by ordering the...
- Racial segregation in the United StatesRacial segregation in the United StatesRacial segregation in the United States, as a general term, included the racial segregation or hypersegregation of facilities, services, and opportunities such as housing, medical care, education, employment, and transportation along racial lines...
External links
- “Little Rock” by Nicolás GuillénNicolás GuillénNicolás Cristóbal Guillén Batista was a Cuban poet, journalist, political activist, and writer. He is best remembered as the national poet of Cuba.Guillén was born in Camagüey, Cuba...
in Man-making words: selected poems of Nicolás Guillén, 1958. [Bilingual publish]