American Literature / Unit 17 AML 1622 short lesson, about 20 seconds
"Middle Passage" and the Historical Poem
Captions available
The idea
Two Hayden poems focus on slavery, "Middle Passage" and "Frederick Douglass," and he studied African American history and folklore at the Federal Writers' Project. Because his Baha'i faith taught unity he called himself an American poet, not an African American poet, which alienated some peers.
In practice
History as the material for a poem.
Where people slip
His self-description cost him allies.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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