Freedom of the Black Man

The overall theme of this poetry book is the freedom of the black man. The black man wants and needs freedom. Even in Tolson's time period around the 1920s to 30s of the Harlem Renaissance, long after slavery has been abolished, the black men is not free. The reader can see he is not free throughout the poetry, starting with "Rendezvous in America" where the black helps found America and fights as a soldier for America, but he is a lesser man. Decisions are made on the black man's behalf by white man. This is especially evident in "The Town Fathers." As the fireworks of Fourth of July explode in the background, the white town elders decide on the town's name. They come up with a racist name. This signifies that the black still does not have freedom. Freedom to the white man is...