Poems by Jayne Cortez and Lucille Clifton to be Taught in Class
The strength of solid rhythms, jazz-infused imagery, pyrotechnic imagery, African-pan-American fusions, and political declarations are all combined in the educational poems written by Cortez and Clifton. Mel Edwards, the artist behind these striking illustrations , contributed to their overall impact. Cortez adheres to the ideas of the Black Arts movement, examining race, gender, sexuality, and oppression in her jolting, straightforward language that frequently invokes the themes of blues music. Her work is considered to be in the tradition of Black Radical Women. In addition to her spoken-word performances, Cortez is well-known for the recordings of her poems that she has made with her band, the Firespitters. The use of an image, object, or concept to symbolize anything other than its literal meaning is an example of the literary device known as symbolism. It is usual practice for authors to highlight a central concept or provide an argument on the nature of their work. Symbols freque...