Sterling+A.+Brown+Sarah+F

= =
 * "The Dean of American Negro Poets" Sterling A. Brown: By Sarah Ferguson**

Sterling A. Brown was born in 1901. He went to Williams College and Harvard University. He was inspired by Carl Sandburg, Amy Lowell, and Robert Frost. He taught at Howard University in 1929 where he published __Southern Road__, a book. He began to realize the potential in poetry while teaching at other Negro Colleges such as Virginia Seminary. His poetry was written to show the humanity that lies below the surface of racial stereotypes. He died in 1989.

Because Brown lived during the 20s, he was living in the midst of the Harlem Renaissance. Activities going on during this time inspired much of his writing. This was a time when African Americans were expressing their culture through arts. They were also bound the segregation and racist problems. As earlier mentioned, the wrote about humanity behind racial stereotypes. He wrote about diversity and the complexity of the African American life during the time.

//Slim Greer In Hell by Sterling A. Brown//

St. Peter said, "Slim, You been a right good boy." An' he winked at him.
 * Slim Greer went to heaven;

"You been travelin' rascal In yo'day.  You kin roam once mo';  Den you come to stay.

"Put dese wings on yo' shoulders, An' save yo' feet." Slim grin, and he speak up, "Thankye, Pete."

Den Peter say, "Go To Hell an' see,  All dat is doing, and  Report to me.

"Be sure to remember How everything go." Slim say, "I be seein' yuh On de late watch, bo."

Slim got to cavortin' Swell as you choose, Like Lindy in de Spirit Of St. Louis Blues.

He flew an' he flew, Till at last he hit A hangar wid de sign readin' DIS IS IT.

Den he parked his wings, An' strolled aroun', Gittin' used to his feet On de solid ground. || Poem analysis:
 * Brown was a poet who lived and wrote during the Harlem Renaissance. This was a time that was very important for African Americans. This time was very important for Brown who was an African American. Harlem themes strongly effected what he wrote. This was a time when many white's discriminated against African Americans. To someone like Brown, this was horrible. He probably thought that it was in some ways "Hell on Earth". Because of this, he wrote a poem about how Slim was sent to visit Hell, and it was actually Earth.
 * Brown uses great imagery to create pictures in your mind to go along with the poem. One of the biggest images is "A hanger wid de sign readin' DIS IS IT." (27). The whole poem is also one big metaphor. The term "Hell" is referring to Earth in the poem. While you think the whole poem is about Slim visiting hell and seeing what is going on there, he is actually going to Earth and reporting those happenings.
 * The theme of "Slim Greer in Hell" is reclaiming the humanity in African Americans. Slim Greer is actually a series of poems, and all of them express this theme. Reclaiming African American humanity seems to be a really big concern for Brown, so he expresses it in his writing. Though out the series of poems, he mentions how African Americans are not always treated humanely. This is much because of the time he lived in.
 * Looking at everything Brown has done, he is an amazing poet! He because successful during a very hard time for African Americans. He put the themes of his time into many poems and stories. He also added some fun humor and hypocrisy into it.

Works Cited: "Sterling A. Brown's Life and Career." //Welcome to English « Department of English, College of LAS, University of Illinois//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. " Sterling A. Brown- Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More."//Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. Brown, Sterling A. "Slim Greer In Hell by Sterling A Brown at Old Poetry ." //Oldpoetry - Classical Poetry Discussion//. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. . "Slim Greer: Information from Answers.com." //Answers.com: Wiki Q&A combined with free online dictionary, thesaurus, and encyclopedias//. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. .