The+Black+Finger

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After reading __The Black Finger__ by Angelina Grimké, there are many aspects of the Modernism time period that become evident in this short poem. The poem itself appears to refer to African Americans and the struggle that they have endured throughout time. Angelina Grimké was born in Boston, Massachusetts to a biracial family that strongly opposed racism. Angelina Grimké expresses her own view of African American treatment in her poem __The Black Finger__. Grimké shows her admiration for the willpower of the African American people after everything that they have gone through.

Angelina Weld Grimké writes of a black finger she sees pointing up. This symbolizes that after everything that the African American population has been through, there is still hope and optimism for them. One characteristic of Modernism writing is “valorization of the despairing individual in the face of an unmanageable future” (The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia). There are similarities between this definition and the poem. Angelina Grimké was an African American poet that wrote, __The Black Finger__ in 1923. African Americans were not slaves at this time, but they were still being treated unfairly. There was a lot of unjust behavior at this time and this is what Angelina Grimké was writing about. She admires the strength of the African American people in her writing. Grimké writes, “Why, beautiful, still finger are you black? And why are you pointing upwards” (Grimké, Angelina W)? She questions why after so much pain and suffering does the finger still point up. She questions how it could still have hope after everything that it has been through. Grimké is expressing obvious admiration for the hope that still lives on in the lives of African Americans.

Angelina Weld Grimké was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Her ancestors were slaves and abolitionists (Villarreal). Most of her works were published in the height of the Harlem renaissance. Grimké was a strong supporter of black rights and equality. Her poems often focus on African Americans’ restricted job opportunities and black lynching (Villarreal). __The Black Finger__ is very similar to other works by Angelina Grimké; all of which seem to focus on her support and admiration for African Americans.

There were some similarities and differences between __The Black Finger__, __A Worn Patch__ and __I will put Chaos into fourteen lines__. The two poems __The Black Finger__, and __I will put Chaos into fourteen lines__ share a few of the same Modernism qualities. Both __The Black Finger__, and __I will put Chaos into fourteen lines__ address “valorization of the despairing individual in the face of an unmanageable future” (The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia). __The Black Finger__ describes the unimaginable future in front of all African Americans, and __I will put Chaos into fourteen lines__ depicts the unpredictable chaotic future of the United States of America. __The Black Finger__ and __A Worn Path__ also shared some of the same Modernism traits. They both reference the African American movement in the early nineteen hundreds, and what it took to overcome. The main idea addressed in both __The Black Finger__ and __A Worn Path__ is very similar. Both ideas focus on overcoming the constant struggle.

In conclusion, Angelina Weld Grimké's, __The Black Finger__, is a symbol of Modernism and is a protest to the unfair treatment of African Americans. Her ancestors were slaves, and Grimké expresses her opinions of this in her poem. She admires the determination of the African Americans as a whole. Grimke addresses the gloom future ahead of the African Americans with a hint of hope. Grimké describes the black finger as a "A straight cypress” (Grimké). This was an interesting comparison considering a cypress tree is native near swamps and a cypress branch is a symbol of mourning (Dictionary.com). Grimke is symbolizing the tough time that the African Americans have been through in this line. They have gone through very tough times, but Grimke shows in, __The Black Finger__, that there is hope in the future.

__Works Cited__ Welty, Eudora. "A Worn Path." //MoonStar//. Web. 25 Apr. 2010. . St. Vincent Millay, Edna. "I Will Put Chaos Into Fourteen Lines - Edna St. Vincent Millay - Topic." //The Greatest Community on Earth - AnswerPool.com//. Web. 26 Apr. 2010. . Villarreal, Rebecca. "Angelina Weld Grimké." //Washingtonart Home Page//. Web. 25 Apr. 2010. . "Modernist Literature - The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia." //Main Page - The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia//. Web. 25 Apr. 2010. . "Cypress | Define Cypress at Dictionary.com." //Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com//. Web. 02 May 2010. . Grimké, Angelina W. "The Black Finger by Angelina Weld Grimke at Old Poetry." //Oldpoetry - Classical Poetry Discussion//. Web. 25 Apr. 2010. [].

Cale George English A5