Jan McCutcheon
English 48B
Journal on Randall poem

Author Quote:
The mother smiled to know that her child Was in the sacred place, But that smile was the last smile To come upon her face.

For when she heard the explosion, Her eyes grew wet and wild. She raced through the streets of Birmingham Calling for her child.

She clawed through bits of glass and brick, Then lifted out a shoe. "O, here's the shoe my baby wore, But, baby, where are you?" --from Ballad of Birmingham 1969


Internet Quote: Dudley Randall (January 14, 1914 - August 5, 2000) was an African American poet and poetry publisher from Detroit, Michigan. He founded a publishing company called Broadside Press in 1965, which published many leading African American writers. Randall's most famous poem is "The Ballad of Birmingham", written during the 1960s, about the 1963 bombing of the church Martin Luther King, Jr. belonged to in Birmingham, Alabama in which four girls were killed. Randall's poetry is characterized by simplicity and realism.


Summary: In the poem Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois, Dudley Randall summarizes the argument between Washington and DuBois.


Response: At the end of the poem, it is clear that, although both have valid arguments, DuBois is not willing to listen when Washington says "It seems to me," DuBois cuts him off with “I don’t agree.” I think the criticisms of Washington by DuBois are warranted but I do not think DuBois gave Washington enough credit for all he accomplished considering the situation. While I agree more with DuBois, I don’t think he was willing to listen to Washington because he was so passionate about pursuing full equal rights. He was blinded by the idea that it might be better to achieve part of what you want, instead of nothing at al. I think you should accomplish what you can but give up and be content with only that part, but need to keep working toward your dreams.

The contrast of the two stories and this poem remind me of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” because Clinton wanted to gays to be able to openly serve in the military, but settled for the compromise of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in 1993, believing that it was just one more step towards equal treatment of gays. Like Washington’s program, it was an advancement but also lead to other problems. Now, seventeen years later, the bill has finally been repealed. I think Clinton had good intentions in his campaign promises to end Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, but he realized prejudice needs to be eroded gradually. I also find it interesting that it is being repealed now, because there is a problem attracting and keeping soldiers, so that something that seemed unacceptable is now being considered out of necessity. It was also the case with integration of African Americans (and women) in the military because they needed more soldiers. I think bigotry is not easily swept aside for some people but after a gradual exposure to what they fear, they find out that these “others” are not as different and as threatening as they imagined and they gradually realize these others are more similar than different. Then once a practical need is present, they drop (or sweep under the rug) their prejudice for the advancement of what they want. It’s sad that some people are so afraid of change that they need an excuse (or a law) to finally get over it. Randall’s poem makes fun of the way people (DuBois in this case) are so set in their ways that they can’t hear other opinions. It’s ironic that DuBois, a radical and champion of change, seems to also arrogant and fearful of listening to another opinion.