Analysis Of Grace Nichols's 'Black'

Is “Black” a poem mostly about skin colour?

In all of her poems Grace Nichols explores a variety of themes such as immigration and emigration in her poem “Icons”. However in “Black” she also explores several other themes such as race and perception. In this essay I aim to determine whether or not “Black” is mainly a poem about skin colour or of it can simply be perceived as such. As previously stated race plays an important role within the poem and as such race as a theme it can be seen throughout. Race can be seen from the beginning of the poem where Nichols says “Show me the woman that would surrender her little black dress.” This is likely referring to the skin colour of the narrator as they wear it. This idea is reinforced with the use

One reading of this is that one you died it no longer matters what your race is or the races of others around you are as once you are dead you lack the capacity to care. The theme of race is continued with the line “Add amber earrings perhaps a hat or scarf of pink.” The items listed are often seen as racial stereotypes which help to create another link with the racial theme. The line “Black absorbs everything” can also be linked to race. When read as describing a persons skin black can be seen as absorbing everything as the persons race attracts the more attention than other aspects of their appearance or their personality and becomes the focal point. This point is strengthened in the two final lines of the poem “When black brings you those sudden inexplicable hostile glances.” This again reinforces the idea that black absorbs everything and that race can become the most important factor when looking at a person. Strong connections are again made with “Follow That Painting Back” as the negativity towards those who are black continues throughout the writing. Throughout the poem the colour black is presented in such a way as to be alluding to that it is about skin colour. it can however be read in many ways which leads to another theme

“In black you are your own artist” also does not have to contain any links with ethnicity, as black is a colour naturally associated with power and elegance. “When black brings you those sudden inexplicable hostile glances” can also be read as having nothing to do with race as like power, evil is also associated with black. The theme of perception could also refer to how race is perceived by others and not the meaning of the poem. This can again be seen in the final lines “When black brings you those sudden inexplicable hostile glances” showing how some view peoples race negatively. Perception likewise plays an important role in “Palm Tree Seductions.” In the poem a woman 's perception of the sea is a calm one, with it being described as a “Blue serenity” despite it being dangerous. This links it with “Black” as it perception can lead to misconceptions, in the case of “Black” about race or