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FOR THE DEAD AT JACKSON STATE, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

"For the Dead at Jackson State" by Toi Derricotte is a solemn and reflective poem that addresses the tragedy that occurred at Jackson State College (now Jackson State University) on May 15, 1970. In this tragic event, two young black men, Phillip L. Gibbs and James Earl Green, were killed, and several others were wounded when police opened fire on students during a protest. Derricotte's poem serves as a lamentation not only for Gibbs and Green but also for the unnamed victims of such violence whose stories remain largely untold and unrecognized in the broader narrative of history.

The poem begins with an acknowledgment of the speaker's own ignorance, paralleling the lack of widespread awareness and media attention given to the victims of the Jackson State shootings, especially when compared to other similar incidents of the era. Derricotte admits to being "as ignorant as newspapers," highlighting the media's role in the erasure or marginalization of certain events and individuals from public memory. This ignorance is not passive but active; the speaker notes "because I block my ears of so many sounds that frighten," indicating a deliberate avoidance of discomforting truths.

The repetition of "names" throughout the poem underscores the importance of acknowledging and remembering individual lives lost to violence. By confessing to not calling out or being able to answer to these names, the speaker reflects on the collective silence and inaction that often surrounds incidents of racial and political violence. Yet, the mention of "names I do not call out" also suggests a yearning to connect with and honor those who have been silenced.

The poem's closing lines explicitly name Phillip L. Gibbs and James Earl Green, thereby breaking the silence and ignorance confessed earlier in the poem. By naming these individuals, Derricotte not only pays tribute to their memory but also challenges the reader to confront the realities of racial violence and the personal and societal responsibilities to remember and seek justice for its victims.

"For the Dead at Jackson State" is a powerful call to awareness and action, urging the reader to move beyond passive acknowledgment of tragedy to an active engagement with the histories and lives that continue to shape discussions of race, violence, and memory in America. Through her poignant and introspective verse, Derricotte reminds us of the need to bear witness, to remember the names, and to respond to the whispers of those lost to violence, ensuring that their stories are heard and not forgotten.


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