July 23, 24, 25 & 26 - Race politics and the problem of poetic form

The Kelly Writers House

at 3805 Locust Walk, on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, where poetry readings of all kinds are held.

Note: There will be a live webcast class session on July 27, beginning at 7:30 PM eastern time. Second note: for this chapter of the course, Linh Dinh will join us for our listserv discussion.
• Claude McKay, headnote (Norton, p. 516-17), "The Tropics of New York" (Norton, p. 517), "If We Must Die" (Norton, p. 517-18), "The Harlem Dancer" (Norton, p. 518)
• Melvin Tolson's review of McKay with reference to "If We Must Die"
• to help with "If We Must Die," read about the 1921 Oklahoma City race riots
• paper option #6 (due before 12:01 AM on July 23, sent to papers@writing.upenn.edu): Consider McKay's poem "If We Must Die." Write a paper stating your position on the following question: Does McKay's use of traditional poetic form diminish the power of the position he takes in the poem? Explain your position. And be sure to describe the form he uses.
• Countee Cullen, headnote (Norton, p. 660-61), "Yet Do I Marvel" (Norton, p. 661-62), "Incident" (Norton, p. 662)
• paper option #7 (due before 12:01 AM on July 23, sent to papers@writing.upenn.edu): Consider Cullen's poem "Incident." Write a paper stating your position on the following question: Does Cullen's use of traditional poetic form diminish the power of the incident he describes in the poem? Explain your position. And be sure to describe the stanza form he uses.
• Langston Hughes on jazz, race and writing
• Langston Hughes, headnote (Norton, p. 645-47), "Morning After" (Norton, p. 649-50)
• Langston Hughes, "I've Known Rivers"
• audio: Langston Hughes reads "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" (courtesy "The Listening Booth")
• Gwendolyn Brooks, headnote (Norton, p. 973-74), "The Boy Died in My Alley" (Norton, p. 985)
• Imamu Amiri Baraka, headnote (Norton, p. 1441-43), "Incident" (Norton, p. 1446)

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