DREAMING BLACK BOY

B Y: J A M E S B E R R Y
TITLE
• The poem’s title is reminiscent of the well – known speech by civil rights
leader, Martin Luther King Jr. which made famous the line “I have a
dream…”. Like King this boy also has a similar dream. He dreams of
equality and for black people.
PERSONA/SPEAKER
• The persona in the poem is a young boy who, despite his youth, has already
experienced the ‘burden’ of prejudice. In the first stanza the speaker wants to
be seen by his teacher. He desperately craves the same attention other
students get when they do well in and out the classroom. He wishes he had
the confidence to speak up in class when he has an answer. He confirms that
he feels powerless, voiceless, and invisible.
SETTING
• The poem is set in the 20th century when racism was rife in society. Though
racism was also present before that period, the persona refers to slaves
(woodchoppers) as his ancestors and makes references to white supremist
groups such as the KKK which were most prevalent during this period.
MEANING
• • The speaker expresses his desire not to be stereotyped. He dispels the
common belief that all blacks are meant for menial work since he can think.
He dreams of being educated and well – travelled. He uses the demeaning
image of “licking boots” to point out that he does not want to be servile or
subservient to make a living. He longs for unbarred access to places where
people and institutions do not discriminate against him.
• He personifies life, wishing that he did not have to live his life being
defensive and always needing to have his guard up. He wants to have the
space to expand internally and go beyond the limits that are set out for him
• The boy is both intelligent and articulate and states that he wants to not only
exist, but also achieve at his fullest potential. Yet he recognizes the imminent
danger he faces, in that he is aware that being black means that he could be
target for hate crimes by the Klu Klux Klan (KKK) – “those plotters in
pyjamas”. He wishes they would find something constructive to do instead.
• • He is tired of the hypocrisy of Christians and wishes that they would focus
on their own salvation. He wishes his differences weren’t always highlighted
by people who are insensitive to him, and act as if he is an alien or inhuman.
• • The speaker goes on to say that he wishes that only children and not adults
were frightened behind the brave facades they display to the world. He
knows that the adults are afraid as well and he cannot count on them or look
to them for protection from the forces that plague him.
• He expresses the magnitude of his ability to endure pain. He suggests that
being a black boy is synonymous with being afraid and suffering. He wishes
with adulthood things would change, but from what he has seen, he knows it
is not true.
MOOD-FIND WORDS/PHRASES THAT
SUGGEST THE MOOD.
• • At the end of the poem the speaker feels hopeless. He begun the poem
wishing for things he would like for himself, and ends it wishing that no one
would want to “earn the terrible burden I can suffer”. In essence, he is
reflecting on what he could have done to deserve such suffering. He does not
wish for anyone to suffer in the same manner because of their skin colour.
• Like the attitude of the black boy, the atmosphere of the poem is one of
despairs, sadness and deep suffering.
TONE-FIND WORDS OR PHRASES
THAT INDICATE THE TONE.

• -The speaker’s tone has a degree of wistfulness, restrained anger, sadness and
despair.
THEMES
• -Prejudice/Racism
• -Oppression
• -Injustice
• -Dreams and aspirations
• Attitude to Power and Authority
LITERARY DEVICES
• Allusion
• Repetition
• Alliteration
• Symbolism
• Contrast