Amy Murray Twyning
Reading Poetry
Essay 2
4/23/2015
The Complexities of identity in Terrance Hayes’s Poems
Essentially, the emblematic portrayal of the African American male persona in Terrance Hayes poems is evidence of the experiences that people of color have in their routine lives. Evidently, his interview in the New York Times where lengthy conversations ensue, details emerge of how problematic his life in college and Japan was due to his dark skin (Burt). Arguably, his collection of poems especially the Hip Logic continues to receive tremendous accolades due to the classic way that Hayes expresses himself. To this end, the objective of this essay is to explore How Hayes Incorporates the Complexities of African Americans males. …show more content…
If he does so, then he will have changed the reason for his poetry. The last three poems of hip logic are a perfect example of his work. In his hip logic poems, he identifies the stereotypes existing in the American states that make African-American feel left out of the sphere. He repeats mocking lines like "We sliced the watermelon into smiles." This line has more meaning than what the readers may perceive since the writer is not only bitter of the challenges blacks have to face but the fact that they are subjected to ridicule from every aspect. Hip logic poems tackle various issues like crime, rape, and discrimination faced by African American people. When poets describe Hayes, they always refer to him as the poet who is based on anagrams of poetry (Huston, …show more content…
The poems also act as a symbol of art in the American region and all over the world. These poems are not only an escape from African-American identity, but they also demonstrate the demand for African Americans to be set free. Being of color leaves the African Americans at the disposal of the white people, who are not fond of the idea of Africans sharing the same privileges with them? Americans believe that the act of the blacks invading their country and settling down is enough and so getting more freedom will be like a blow on their eyes (Huston,