Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Of De Witt Williams on His Way to Lincoln Cemetery" by Gwendolyn Brooks is a poignant and reflective poem that delves into the life and death of an ordinary African American man, De Witt Williams. Through its verses, Brooks captures the essence of Williams's journey through life, his roots, the places that held significance to him, and ultimately, his return to the earth, underscoring themes of identity, community, and the universal human experience within the African American context.

The poem begins and ends with a reference to Williams's origins and his status as "nothing but a plain black boy," a line that serves both to humanize Williams and to signify the commonality of his experience with that of many African Americans. Born in Alabama and bred in Illinois, the poem encapsulates Williams's journey from the South to the North, reflecting the Great Migration of African Americans seeking better opportunities away from the oppressive conditions of the Jim Crow South.

Brooks uses the spiritual "Swing low swing low sweet sweet chariot" as a refrain, evoking the song's historical context of slavery and the longing for liberation and salvation. This spiritual interlude serves as a poignant reminder of Williams's heritage and the collective memory of African Americans, linking his individual life to the broader narrative of struggle and resilience.

The poem vividly paints the journey of Williams's hearse through the neighborhood, past familiar landmarks such as the Pool Hall, the Show, down Forty-seventh Street, under the L (elevated train tracks), and by the Warwick and Savoy Dance Halls. These locales are emblematic of Williams's life—the places he frequented, where he experienced joy, and where he formed connections within his community. Despite his blindness in death ("Blind within his casket"), Brooks suggests that Williams might still recognize these significant places, highlighting the deep connection between identity and place.

The mention of the dance halls where Williams "picked his women, where / He drank his liquid joy" adds layers to his character, portraying him as a man who sought pleasure and solace in the nightlife, a common escape from the hardships of daily life for many in the African American community during that era. These lines capture the vibrancy of African American culture and the importance of social hubs as sites of communal joy and resilience.

Brooks's repetition of Williams being "nothing but a plain black boy" at the poem's conclusion serves as a powerful commentary on the reduction of individual lives to simplistic narratives by society. Yet, through her detailed and affectionate portrayal of Williams's life, Brooks challenges this reduction, offering a narrative that celebrates the richness of the African American experience, even in its everyday manifestations.

In "Of De Witt Williams on His Way to Lincoln Cemetery," Brooks crafts a narrative that is both specific to Williams and universal in its themes of journey, identity, community, and the search for joy amidst adversity. The poem is a tribute not just to Williams but to the countless "plain black boys" whose lives and experiences form the tapestry of the African American story, emphasizing the dignity and worth inherent in every life, no matter how seemingly ordinary.

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