Gwendolyn Brooks Group
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ekswye
Student
Graduate School
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ladyvols1 Teacher
High School - 9th GradeeNotes Editor
Posted by ladyvols1 on Sunday February 8, 2009 at 8:24 PMThe word diaspora is a Greek word that means to scatter seeds. The concept of this word is that the ethnic group of African Americans should spread their culture. In the poem “To the Diaspora” by Gwendolyn Brooks, she has written a poem to the Black community, and it is her calling the Black community to their roots. Brooks speaks to her fellow African Americans telling them that it is important to understand and accept that they are Afrika. The term “Afrika” is the Swahili name and spelling for what we call Africa. This is not a mistake by Brooks, but a deliberate choice to try and engage her community to develop a pride and knowledge in their heritage.
“you did not know you were Afrika
When you set out for Afrika you did not know you were going.
Because you did not know you were Afrika.
You did not know the Black continent that had to be reached
was you.”
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