Ballad of Birmingham
Ballad of Birmingham
By: Dudley Randall
For many years, this country has been unjust and humanity has not always been treated equally. Dudley Randall, who is most famous for his literary contributions, wrote a poem called "Ballad of Birmingham" representing the inequality and racism during the early 1960's (Encyclopedia.com). The main themes of the poem are racism and the struggle of African Americans around the time of the civil rights movement in 1964 (Encyclopedia.com). Randall's poem focuses on a child that lives in Birmingham, Alabama who wishes to participate in a freedom march. The mother refuses to let her go, because it is too dangerous for someone her age. Although the streets are not safe, the mother tells her daughter to go to the church believing nothing will harm her in the place of God. To her shock, the child was killied due to an explosion that happened while she was inside (Encyclopedia.com). In his poem "Ballad of Birmingham" Dudley Randall explores the themes of racism and struggle; ultimately, using elements of style such as repetition, irony, rhythmical patterns, and pattern of stresses, he argues that anything can happen, even when one least expect it (Encyclopedia.com). As head of Broadside Press, Randall is famous for his African American literature contributions (Encyclopedia.com). In 1981, he was the first Poet Laureate in Detroit, Michigan and has won many awards for his work (Encyclopedia.com). Ada Viola Randall gave birth to Dudley Randall on January 14, 1914 in Washington D.C. Both Randall's parents were successful. His mom was a teacher and his father, Author George Clyde Randall, was a minister. His dad often took him to hear black speakers in the NAACP. One time, Randall went to a band concert and that was the thing that inspired him to write a poem. "When he was nine, they move to Detroit, Michigan and when he was thirteen, he began to write poems for the Young Poets Page of the Detroits Free Press" (Encyclopedia.com).
By: Dudley Randall
For many years, this country has been unjust and humanity has not always been treated equally. Dudley Randall, who is most famous for his literary contributions, wrote a poem called "Ballad of Birmingham" representing the inequality and racism during the early 1960's (Encyclopedia.com). The main themes of the poem are racism and the struggle of African Americans around the time of the civil rights movement in 1964 (Encyclopedia.com). Randall's poem focuses on a child that lives in Birmingham, Alabama who wishes to participate in a freedom march. The mother refuses to let her go, because it is too dangerous for someone her age. Although the streets are not safe, the mother tells her daughter to go to the church believing nothing will harm her in the place of God. To her shock, the child was killied due to an explosion that happened while she was inside (Encyclopedia.com). In his poem "Ballad of Birmingham" Dudley Randall explores the themes of racism and struggle; ultimately, using elements of style such as repetition, irony, rhythmical patterns, and pattern of stresses, he argues that anything can happen, even when one least expect it (Encyclopedia.com). As head of Broadside Press, Randall is famous for his African American literature contributions (Encyclopedia.com). In 1981, he was the first Poet Laureate in Detroit, Michigan and has won many awards for his work (Encyclopedia.com). Ada Viola Randall gave birth to Dudley Randall on January 14, 1914 in Washington D.C. Both Randall's parents were successful. His mom was a teacher and his father, Author George Clyde Randall, was a minister. His dad often took him to hear black speakers in the NAACP. One time, Randall went to a band concert and that was the thing that inspired him to write a poem. "When he was nine, they move to Detroit, Michigan and when he was thirteen, he began to write poems for the Young Poets Page of the Detroits Free Press" (Encyclopedia.com).