Espada stresses the value of hope in life. From close analysis of the poem one can see that it is placed in context with the election of a new president of the United States of America. This candidate is peculiar in certain way. The president is the first African American to hold such a prestigious position since independence.
Furthermore Espada pays homage to yet another peculiar figure called Frederick Douglas. From what can be inferred from the text is that Douglas was also an African American, though he lived many years before Obama was born. These are two icons of different generations in the African Americans history and the life of the United States of America. That is why Espada says that “A campaign button fills the O in Douglas to Obama (line 9). This brings out the feeling that though both lived generations apart, there seems to be an umbilical cord like link between them. The obvious similarity is that both are African Americans.
The first stanza of the poem talks about the surprise of what had been deemed impossible actually proving to be possible. From this reading, it can be seen that the American leadership has never had an African American as a president before. Most blacks, considered to be at the lowest echelon of society, never dreamt of being near the seat of power of the United States of America. That is why in the first line of the poem, Espada clearly states that, “this is a longitude and latitude of impossible”. He further says that it is the, “epicenter of the unthinkable”. From this it is clearly shown that no one ever believed that what is really happening could have happened. This refers to the wish of the people who wished for equality as well as those who did not. The line shows this that though Douglas is in the grave; his wishes are still being fulfilled. This is a new era and everything that was thought unimaginable is happening with the election results where an African American has become president.
The inevitability of change is what Espada embellishes in his work too. He says that, “this is a world spinning away from the gravity of centuries”. Here the poet reveals a feeling of relief from the burden borne by the African Americans for years. The burden is that of things like slavery and racism. The person of color in the United States has faced all manner of frustration and degradation. Many white supremacists thought that nothing of worth could come out of the people of color. But they were wrong. The tide is changing fast and the Yoke of racism and degradation is being rested. The poet further illustrates some of the problems the black person has had to go through in the United States. The poet not only stresses servitude as the major problem faced by the people of color but also says that there are many things they were denied outrightly. For instance, the basic right to education was a toll order. In line 7 he says that he had to teach himself how to, “read in secret”. This is despicable being denied the right to literacy is an abuse of the highest order to humanity. In line 8 the poet further hints that there was denial of access to necessary facilities. For instance no writing material was available to members of this race. That is why the narrator could’ “scrap letters with chalk on wood”. This shows a clear lack of dignified living for the people of color as there are numerous barriers to achievement of members of this race.
Ironically in the same breathe Espada’s imagery of a campaign button filling the O in Douglas with “Obama” shows that this inconceivable thought has finally brought contrary results. For the first time in hundreds of years a black has risen to the presidency of America (line 9). The president in actual sense has filled the place left by Douglas. The narrator further says that “this is the Tomb of a man in chains, who left his fingerprints “line 10”. This is a situation a black person would never wish to find themselves into again. There is a total grip on all instruments of privilege and achievement by one race. The imagery of the oppressor being referred to as “slavebreaker” in line 11 sums it all.
The African American is a laborer; generally a common person as portrayed in this poem luck of opportunity has sent them into being servants who can only perform tasks that require no specialized skills. They are nurses, janitors, and bus drivers etc who now rely on the labor union to fight for their rights. This shows that even the salary they are paid is not commensurate to the work done.
Enslavement occurred due to the superiority complex that the white had. Espada takes us back to this period. He talks of a period spanning about two and a half centuries ago when the blacks were subjected to slavery. He says they were forced on a long journey that commenced in Africa to their destination, America. This journey took many years and only the strong survived. The weak died on the way. He says “the first slave, dragged aboard the first ship to America” (line 21).
The scars of slavery are still there even after the abolition of slavery about a century ago. This is where the problem is. The poet alludes to the “gravity of centuries” (line 5) to show the extent of the damage meted on the African Americans by the whites. This is why every time we hear of African Americans being victimized by the authorities just because of their color. Recently there have been stories of cases where white policemen have shot down black boys on mere suspicion. This would not have happened if the suspects were white. Also centuries later, due to denial to education and opportunity most African Americans live is despicable conditions in areas such as New Orleans and many others. Those who have potential to be great scientists, businessmen, etc could not realize that dream simply because they were black. For instance the poet describes Frederick Douglas as a “fugitive slave” (line 6). This shows that this person has the will power to escape from their condition of enslavement but everthing works against them they appear to be enslaved permanently, like a fugitive. This was done even by denying the people of color the right to vote. They were totally disenfranchised. Like a “chattel” the fugitive has many obstacles to an extent that they cannot develop in any way. If they were unable to vote then could they get the opportunity of vying for presidency? During Douglass’ time, this was highly improbable. But the ever changing dynamics call for change and that is why the Poet shows the results of that long wait by saying that “this is a world spinning away from the gravity of century (line 5). He further avers that, “the grave of a fugitive slave has become an altar” (line 6). Espada draws the similarities between Obama and Douglass. They both are educated despite the challenges they faced. Douglass, an abolitionist, sacrificed his time to fight discrimination. It is upon such laying of foundation that Obama becomes the president years later. This is a historical moment and that is why the poet uses an epiphora, “the headline” (lines 15,17). The first event was when slavery was abolished while the second one was when Obama had won the presidency of the United States of America. It is this thought of the African American in this position that the narrator says was unimaginable.
In conclusion it can be seen how the continued struggle and hope can bring about the desired change. The poem describes how a certain slave triumphed in hard time despite prejudice, denial of opportunity and poor living conditions. On the other side, Espada has provided a clear analogy of the link between the ascension of the first African American to the presidency of America and that of Fredrick Douglass. All in all, the entire poem stresses the old wisdom that patience does pay in the end.
Work cited
Espada, Martín. New Humanist; Mar/Apr2013, Vol. 128 Issue 2, p45
