In today’s society, racial prejudice and discrimination still exist, despite the progress made towards equality. Javon Johnson’s powerful poem “Cuz He’s Black” poignantly illuminates the harsh realities of racism, emphasizing the oppressive and dehumanizing effects it has on black individuals. In this blog post, we will analyze and breakdown Johnson’s poem to delve deep into its social and cultural commentary. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on racial prejudice and its detrimental impact on our society. #Shorts.

How Javon Johnson’s Poem “Cuz He’s Black” Addresses Racial Prejudice – Analysis & Breakdown | #Shorts

Introduction

Button Poetry is a platform that showcases diverse voices in the poetry community with the goal of broadening poetry’s audience and cultural appreciation. They encourage and broadcast the best performance poets of today, featuring works that reflect social justice and a sense of communal understanding. One of their notable videos is Javon Johnson’s “Cuz He’s Black,” which addresses racial prejudice. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the poem’s analysis and breakdown.

Understanding Javon Johnson’s Poem “Cuz He’s Black”

In this spoken word performance, Javon Johnson is spending time with his four-year-old nephew. The nephew asks a lot of questions, and the speaker tries to answer them all, including the question of why his skin is dark. Johnson reveals how he struggles to explain to his nephew why people’s perceptions of skin color can lead to racial prejudice.

Examples of Racial Prejudice

The video tackles instances of racial prejudice that can be observed in everyday life:

• Johnson explains how police might see his nephew as a threat purely because of the color of his skin, even though he’s only four years old.
• He shares an experience of his white friend calling him by his uncle’s name, despite the two of them looking significantly different.
• He talks about how people often assume that black people are up to no good and how unfair this can be.

Johnson also speaks about the historical context of racial prejudice, touching on slavery, segregation, and the civil rights movement.

The Power of Poetry

By addressing racial prejudice in his poem, Johnson uses poetry as a tool to educate and inspire change. By creating a personal narrative that many people can relate to, Johnson helps his audience understand the impact that racial prejudice can have on someone’s life.

Membership

If you enjoyed Johnson’s performance, you can support Button Poetry through membership. Membership allows you to access exclusive content and support the community of poets that the platform represents.

Conclusion

Javon Johnson’s poem “Cuz He’s Black” provides an insightful conversation about race and how it impacts our everyday lives. The poem represents the power of poetry to inspire change and the importance of speaking about racial prejudices that less represented communities face. It also encourages people to take action to help mitigate racial prejudices and promote equality in our societies.

FAQs

1. What is Button Poetry?

Button Poetry is a platform that showcases diverse voices in the poetry community, aiming to broaden poetry’s audience and cultural appreciation.

2. Who is Javon Johnson?

Javon Johnson is a spoken word poet, professor, and author. He’s best known for his poems on social justice topics.

3. What is “Cuz He’s Black” about?

“Cuz He’s Black” is a spoken word performance by Javon Johnson that discusses racial prejudice and how it can impact a person’s everyday life.

4. How can you support Button Poetry?

You can support Button Poetry by becoming a member. Membership allows you to access exclusive content and support the community of poets that the platform represents.

5. How does Johnson use poetry to address racial prejudice?

Johnson uses poetry to educate and inspire change by creating personal narratives that help his audience understand the impact that racial prejudice can have on someone’s life.