Black Boys Play the Classics
Toi DerricotteThe most popular “act” in
Penn Station
is the three black kids in ratty
sneakers & T-shirts playing
two violins and a cello—Brahms.
White men in business suits
have already dug into their pockets
as they pass and they toss in
a dollar or two without stopping.
Brown men in work-soiled khakis
stand with their mouths open,
arms crossed on their bellies
as if they themselves have always
wanted to attempt those bars.
One white boy, three, sits
cross-legged in front of his
idols—in ecstasy—
their slick, dark faces,
their thin, wiry arms,
who must begin to look
like angels!
Why does this trembling
pull us?
A: Beneath the surface we are one.
I really liked this peom. Just the title implies that black people play music that is most like by people, the classics. Saying the boys that were playing are wearing ratty sneakers and t-shirts alludes to the fact that you don't have to be well dressed and look presentable to be a good musician. The white men are walking by nonchalantly putting their money in as if it is an everyday task. The little boy looks up to the muscians with awe and thinks them to be angels, expressing that in a childs eyes there is no differnce in the color of peoples skin.
ReplyDeleteTo me the essence of this poem is obviously about racism. Their are three black kids that are playing beautifully together. White people give them money, brown people watch in awe, and white children are entranced. The final line is definitely the strongest in which the point of the author is clear, "A: Beneath the surface we are one". This means that no matter what skin color we are we should all be treated equally and we are all capable of the same great feats.
ReplyDeleteI think the theme of this poem is really good and is a refreshing contrast to the average love or death poems. The message of this poem is that everyone is the same, no matter what they look like. The description throughout the poem really creates a vivid image to be imagined. The kids in "ratty sneakers & T-shirts" displays that average people can create beautiful music. I can almost hear the beautiful music that the 3 kids are playing.
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