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The Child's Spirit in Africa's Struggle

The poem explores the enduring spirit of a child who symbolizes resistance against the Apartheid regime, emphasizing the ongoing fight for freedom despite the child's death. The imagery of the child raising fists and screaming for justice reflects the collective struggle of oppressed people. The child represents hope and resilience, transcending physical limitations and connecting with the hearts of those yearning for freedom across Africa and beyond.

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jaydenburg55
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50 views1 page

The Child's Spirit in Africa's Struggle

The poem explores the enduring spirit of a child who symbolizes resistance against the Apartheid regime, emphasizing the ongoing fight for freedom despite the child's death. The imagery of the child raising fists and screaming for justice reflects the collective struggle of oppressed people. The child represents hope and resilience, transcending physical limitations and connecting with the hearts of those yearning for freedom across Africa and beyond.

Uploaded by

jaydenburg55
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

The child is dead because

of the riots, but not dead


in the hearts of the people

3.5 Analysis
The “fist” is a symbol of resistance and
The child is not dead revolution. The poet uses this image to
seek out a revolution that can end the
the child raises his fists against his mother pain caused by the Apartheid Regime.

who screams Africa screams the smell The people who are being addressed

of freedom and heather The fight for freedom is more


important than even the closest
Repetition in the locations of the heart under siege family relationships
highlighting
the fact that Those being oppressed
the child’s He also shouts the “smell of freedom” and
memory and the “heather”. His scream echo the sense
The child raises his fists against his father of freedom in everyone’s heart.. His voice
fight is
ongoing. resonates with the demand of those who
in the march of the generations reside in the heather or veld.

who scream Africa scream the smell the child’s


The idea scream depicts
of his people his desire for
being
Those who justice
have “armed” and proud of who “blood”
and blood. The term
of justice and blood symbolizes bloodshedItand the anger
therepresent.
they are and
marched
against the
ofcould
all those
also refer to the armed
pass laws in in the streets of his armed pride who
forces were
who are oppressed
the pride of and denied
the past their rights.
the government

The child is not dead


These are the places where
neither at Langa nor at Nyanga there were large anti-pass
law demonstrations
nor at Orlando nor at Sharpeville
The police and the army
nor at the police station in Philippi reacted with violence,
thus many unarmed
All the lines of the where he lies with a bullet in his head demonstrators were shot
fourth stanza and killed
begin with the
phrase “The
“He” follows the soldiers as
child”. This The child is the shadow of the soldiers they enforce the oppressive
emphasises that
laws
the spirit of the on guard with guns saracens and batons
“child” is
everywhere “He” is at all the meetings
the child is present at all meetings and legislations
This “child” who the child peeps through the windows of houses and into the hearts of mother
just wanted to play
outside and be a
child. Is now the the child who just wanted to play in the sun at Nyanga is everywhere
symbol of freedom “He” is in the hearts
throughout the the child who became a man treks through all of Africa and homes of those
continent and the who are oppressed
world the child who became a giant travels through the whole world

Without a pass He is no longer restricted by the “man” and “giant” emphasise


oppressive pass laws (ironic) how the freedom movement
has grown to reach everyone

48

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