Movement Description:
Many may not know, but the Black Arts Movement was triggered by the assassination of the well-known, Malcolm X, which
occurred around 1965. The Black Arts movement inspired African Americans to establish not only magazines and journals, but art
institutions as well. Eventually, this movement led to the creation of African American Studies programs within certain college universities. Some writers who took part in the Black Arts Movement, include Nikki Giovanni, Sonia Sanchez, Maya Angelou, along with many others. Overall, the purpose was to simply voice their own opinions through their words, despite the critiques of others around them.
Many may not know, but the Black Arts Movement was triggered by the assassination of the well-known, Malcolm X, which
occurred around 1965. The Black Arts movement inspired African Americans to establish not only magazines and journals, but art
institutions as well. Eventually, this movement led to the creation of African American Studies programs within certain college universities. Some writers who took part in the Black Arts Movement, include Nikki Giovanni, Sonia Sanchez, Maya Angelou, along with many others. Overall, the purpose was to simply voice their own opinions through their words, despite the critiques of others around them.
Poem Analysis:
Gwendolyn Brooks points out that even though this woman has many aspirations and desires, the reality is that she can't fulfill all her endeavors. The title, 'Kitchenette Building', suggest the idea of a small congested apartment building. If you look at the end of the poem, it says precisely, " Since number five is out of the bathroom now, we think of lukewarm water, hope to get in it." This focuses on how because she has a family to care for, she can't take time to do the things she'd like to. |
Literary Devices:
Gwendolyn Brooks includes an abundance of literary devices in this poem. The poem ' Kitchenette Building', consist of a lot of imagery , which allows the readers to further paint a picture; "it's white and violet, fight with fried potatoes and yesterday's garbage ripening in the hall, flutter, or sing an aria down the room." This provides the scene of a thick foul smelling apartment clogging the hallways , and stuffing your nose with such a potent smell. POEM LINK: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/learning/guide/240198#poem |