Week 1: “What Is Africa To Me?”

In the writing Heritage by Countee Cullen it discusses Africa in a very descriptive perspective. For example in stanza 2 , 2 through 6. It states

“Want no sound except the song

Sung by wild barbaric birds

Goading massive jungle herds,

Juggernauts of flesh that pass Trampling tall defiant grass”

The choice of words such as massive , trampling tall and wild , all tells a story of the exotic animals that exist in Africa. This allows readers to have a visual of what the animals look like and sound like. This stanza creates images to help strengthen what is Africa. Africa is full of life with various species other than humans. It offers diversity levels to the enviornment.

The author uses alot of symbols to describe what Africa is to him. For example he states

Is my somber flesh and skin,

With the dark blood dammed within

Like great pulsing tides of wine

That, I fear, must burst the fine

Channels of the chafing net

Where they surge and foam and fret.

This shows a comparison of what Africa was during slavery time compared to the current time of how blacks are now developing in society during the time it was written. The symbol of “net” in this stanza is referred to the old times involving slavery. While “bursting the fine” shows how Africans were able to break free into society and begin to create their own story. Also he describes Africa as being a “book” and this allows readers to interpret Africa in their own way.

Africa? A book one thumbs

Listlessly, till slumber comes.

Countee Cullen uses alot of imagery to help bring positive attention to Africa. As mentioned before he is sharing the beauty of Africa and variety of what it offers. The line “When the bird Eden sang” emphasizes the garden of Eden , which is considered to be a very first garden and unique from others. This shows he see Africa as a piece of art and a beautiful place to experience with your own eyes

What is Africa to me:

Copper sun or scarlet sea,

Jungle star or jungle track,

Strong bronzed men, or regal black

Women from whose loins I sprang When the birds of Eden sang?

Overall with these examples throughout the text Africa to me is a beautiful homeland full of life. It is a place where many people have derived from and has a unique culture like no other. Africa to me is a place of home. The origin of my life and many of my peers as well. With Countee’s multiple descriptions of how beautiful Africa is , i have developed the same view through his various use of adjectives. It opened my eyes up not only about the external beauty Africa offers but the internal beauty as well. Africa to me is strength because many people there have faught many adversities as well. Africans were able to overcome their struggles and begin to build a better quality of life with whatever resources and people they had. Overall this demonstrates nothing but tenacity from our people