By Tracy K. Smith
https://poets.org/poem/unrest-baton-rouge
Inequality will always be present in our lives. However, this doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t fight for ourselves and others. By spreading awareness, more can be done to prevent these discriminations, making the world a little more fair. In Tracy K. Smith’s poem, “Unrest in Baton Rogue” ideas of violence and love are explored, revealing that the world is cruel even with the presence of love in many.
Love is a word we would all like to describe ourselves as. Capable of giving and receiving love. Smith’s poem starts with imagery, “Our bodies run with ink dark blood”. The word “Our” refers to everyone as a whole. All of our bodies are filled with blood regardless of your sex, age, or race. Smith starts by stating that we are all human. There is something that we all have in common. The phrase, “ink dark blood” contrasts with this idea of unity with a darker image. Using “ink” to describe our blood could represent an underside of human darkness. While we are all human, we aren’t perfect. On the outside, we all look fine but inside of every one of us, there is imperfection. The next line further uses imagery to create a gore-y image, “Blood pools in the pavement’s seams”. This scene refers to the killing of Alton Sterling by police officers and many others who died unjustly. The use of the word “pools” implies that the blood is overflowing the pavement. Even though the blood falls in the seams, there is just so much that it brings itself over. The horrible death of Alton is further emphasized showing just how brutally he and many others had died. The poem further says, “Is it strange to say love is a language”. A metaphor is being used to compare love and language. The poem goes on to further elaborate by saying that, “few practice” but “near all speak”. This reminds me of the phrase, actions speak louder than words. Everyone speaks of love to others and makes themselves out to be a good person but in reality, they don’t act on it. Anyone can say that they want police brutality to end and for innocent lives to stop being killed but by not acting on it, those words are just words. While the world seems filled with love, it’s deceiving as it’s equally filled with hate.
The world is filled with the vicious who will do things to harm others. In the poem, “men in black armor” refers to the police. The use of the word “armor” can represent the protection they have in the justice system. They can harm or even kill others as long as they can justify their actions. On one side, it is used as a way for police to protect others without fear of being prosecuted. On the other hand, it can be used in a way of hate to harm others without repercussions. These men are said to be “jangling handcuffs and keys”. This represents the power that these men have. The use of the word “jangling” shows their carefree attitude. They know that they are in power and are thus confident in their position. Next, personification is used with “love’s blade”. This represents the power that love is supposed to have. Love is supposed to be able to pierce through people and touch their hearts. The policemen in the poem are said to not be affected by love’s blade. The policemen are being called heartless. They are being said to size “up the heart’s familiar meat”. Using the word “familiar” brings back the idea that we are all human. No one is above another and the heart in one person is similar to the heart in someone else. This contrasts with the word “meat”. Meat gives an animalistic and inhumane tone to the heart and people. This represents how the policemen saw Alton Sterling and others like him. He wasn’t seen as one of the policemen or a human. He was seen as something distant. This is how the men were able to kill him. People often hide behind rules and power to inflict harm on others.
Innocent people are caught in the crossfire and are often hurt due to the world’s cruelty. The use of the word, “We” followed by everyday activities such as “sleep, stir” and “eat” reiterates the idea that everyone is the same. In the end, we are all human and we all go through the same routine during our lives. This creates a sense of unity and brings up the idea that we are all equals. Furthermore, the heart is said to be “sliced open, gutted, clean”. Cruelty is brought into the lives of innocent people. Their hearts are said to be ripped apart. This reinforces the cruelty that was shown and what the Baton Rogue protest was created for. The source of life for people is taken by others. The poem compares love to being “naked almost in the everlasting street”. This personification describes the Baton Rogue Protest. People spent their time standing out on the streets and fighting for something that they wholeheartedly believed in. Their hearts were open on the streets and they let their emotions be expressed. Then a “skirt” is said to be “lifted by a different kind of breeze”. This refers to a famous photo taken of the Baton Rogue Protest where a woman is standing in the middle of the street peacefully protesting while police officers are arresting her. A different kind of breeze could represent her drive and passion to stand in the middle of the road while the other protesters were along the sides. While the world is cruel, and innocent people are being hurt, there are still those who will fight for and against injustice.
