Analysis
The purpose of the Black Arts Movement was to not only give an identity to African Americans, but also to inform African Americans on their culture. In the poem "Beautiful Black Men" Nikki describes her love for different types of black men. Mainly the black men she is referring to has afros because she feels that men with afros are considered to be beautiful. She talks about the clothing that they wore during that time period such as dashiki suits and vibrant colored pants and also give locations on where you spot one. With utilizing literary devices such as alliteration, irony, and allusion you can get a feel for her energetic mood when she talks about their beauty, while the female readers can relate to her reactions and comment shes makes. This poem is part of the Black Arts Movement because the way Nikki talks about men she speaks with pride of the African American culture. |
Literary Devices
Alliteration- "Mighty Mighty" and "Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful" are both examples of alliteration. By using alliteration she's putting emphasis on her energetic mood about loving black men and also give reasons on how the female readers can relate when they see a beautiful black men. Allusion- Examples of allusion in this poem include "Jerry Butler", The Temptations", and "The Impressions". These famous singing groups with the exception of Jerry Butler were used because they were popular in that pop culture during that time period and to draw attention to the female readers especially to agree with her reactions and comments. Irony- An example of irony is actually not included in this poem. The irony behind this poem would be that Nikki Giovanni is a homosexual but she loves beautiful black men. With this being an irony it shows that besides Nikki's sexual preferences she still finds men good-looking. |
Poem
Beautiful Black Men (with compliments and apologies to all not mentioned by name) i wanta say just gotta say something bout those beautiful beautiful beautiful outasight black men with they afros walking down the street is the same ol danger but a brand new pleasure sitting on stoops, in bars, going to offices running numbers, watching for their whores preaching in churches, driving their hogs walking their dogs, winking at me in their fire red, lime green, burnt orange royal blue tight tight pants that hug what i like to hug jerry butler, wilson pickett, the impressions temptations, mighty mighty sly don't have to do anything but walk on stage and i scream and stamp and shout see new breed men in breed alls dashiki suits with shirts that match the lining that compliments the ties that smile at the sandals where dirty toes peek at me and i scream and stamp and shout for more beautiful beautiful beautiful black men with outasight afros By: Nikki Giovanni |
Black Arts
Between the years of the 1960's-1970's also around the time period when Malcolm X was assassinated the Black Arts Movement was formed. LeRoi Jones currently known as Amiri Baraka started the Black Arts Movement in Harlem. According to Black Creativity's On the Cutting Edge the Black Arts Movement stands as the single most controversial moment in the history of African American literatures. Some of Black Arts history makers include Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka, Rosa Guy, Nikki Giovanni, Mari Evans, and Hoyt Fuller. But for poetry to be considered Black Art, Dr. Maulana Karenga, who created the Black Arts rubric, it has to be committing, functional, and collective.