The White House

This poem stands as a sharp rebuke to American society and politics for the way black Americans are treated. The White House is the centre of American politics, thus placing the American government at the centre of this poem. The poet feels that society is to benefit white citizenship and that the United States is only for one skin colour.

The White House is metaphorically meaning he is shut out from society; he is being shut out due to his race. It is also a pun as this centre of politics is in fact called the “white” house. He feels an intense rage for American society, even more than U.S-born black Americans, because he has seen how black people are treated outside of America. He grew up in Jamaica,; there he was respected and treated

They have all the political power and the black Americans have none. The word “shut” represents the way black people were exiled; it is definitive and does not contain an ounce of hope of it ever being opened. The poet also describes the door as being made of “shuttered glass” which implies that not only are the black people not allowed inside, but also that they are not even allowed a glimpse of what it’s like on the other side. This description of the door also shows the weakness of it, and if nothing is done about the segregation or white supremacy, that it could lead to

“The pavement slabs burn loose beneath my feet” is implying that he will protest the injustice done to black Americans in a non-violent manner; instead of kicking down doors and burning down buildings, he is pacing back and forth wearing down the pavement. He tries to find the strength inside himself to not not to stoop to the level of his oppressors; and to prove himself not to be the savage they believe he is, and to give thus giving them reasons to justify their actions towards black Americans. A savage is violent, unpredictable and uncivilized, the opposite of how the poet composes conducts himself;. thus, disproving This disproves the racist assumption of what how black Americans are being perceived as.

The poet is almost pleading with himself to contain his anger and not to lash out in the line “Oh, I must search for wisdom every hour”. He needs to find the smart way to approach this hatred without violence. He emphasizes the physical pain this oppression is causing him “passion rends my vitals”. He feels his heart and organs are being torn apart by his anger. He also uses the words “sore” and “raw” to emphasize that the constant battle for equality is leaving him bruised, showing us the pain and suffering that is consuming him every