Reach Out And Touch

The poem describes an encounter on a bus between two small children and a African American individual.


Rough Notes

-The presence of a bus and and an African American immediately draws a connection do Rosa Parks

-However, the narrator is not at the back - The poem takes place AFTER Rosa Park's movement circa 1955

-However, this does not mean racism is gone - in fact it still exists today


-"lost in the silence and the fear that motherlove wraps you in"

-"motherlove" - The love that a mother gives to her children is different than usual love - Mother's love is  caring and attached, but parental love


-"curly electric," "brown skin magic"

-The narrator is black (obvious)

-Magic implies an unknown, awe-inspiring quality - Neither the narrator nor the mother see it as magical - But to the children view it as an incredible thing


     -"to see if it comes off" - The children, without prior experience, assume the brown quality is some sort of "paint"

-Magic could also refer to sorcery or witchcraft - Like the witch-hunters and hangings of the 15th century - Blacks are viewed negatively

-"reach out" - The narrator WANTS the children to understand her race - she wants to get rid of the racism around which she is surrounded by - But, along with the magic thing, the whites might view her as some sort of witch/temptress, trying to corrupt their children with her "black skin magic"

-But what if the magic is a positive thing?

-Unless it all depends on PERSPECTIVE


First Draft

By saying "black skin magic," The narrator shows the reader the dynamic of racism in her experience; She views the magic as a good thing, that should be accepted, celebrated, and shown to the world. She is PROUD to be black, and wants the kids on the bus to share in what she perceives as such a wonderfully enchanting thing.

The parent, however, who symbolizes the conservatives, racists, Caucasians, and all who would stand in the way of an openly diverse world, view this magic as witchcraft or sorcery of some sort. She/they see the narrator as a devilish temptress, trying to steal away her/their children with the concept of open thinking.

The final point of view, the children, is curious, and open to exploration of this new concept. But then the motherlove steps in, and just as they were coming to realize the joys of diversity, are swept away into a hushing fear.

The parent is afraid of this new culture and colour. Despite doing what they think is right by "protecting" their children, they only instill fear, which in adolescence and adulthood is likely to evolve into hatred. The narrator thinks that she should've tried to "save" the children, and act as a mother in the parent's stead. The trouble with this approach is that it would likely lead to further separation. Upon seeing the "threat" so close, the motherlove would swoop down more harsh even than before, and instill further fear.


So Lobb, how could I improve my first draft (assuming it needs to evolve from point form to actual writing)?