Poème à mon frère blanc

Analyze "Poème à mon frère blanc" by Senghor, exploring identity and Négritude.

Poème a mon frère blancPar: Léopold Sédar Senghor When the French army overtook the country of Senegal (and many other African countries) in the late 1800s, they forced the natives to be their servants and to learn and speak French. The natives of this land never identified themselves as French, nor did the French recognize them as equals. However, the French gave the natives the opportunity for a good education, which prior to their arrival, was almost non-existent. These students learned and spoke French during school hours, but, at that time, their only hope for an education at the university level was to study in France. The author of this poem, Léopold Senghor, grew up in Senegal under French rule, and attended African-French school. In order to continue into higher education, Senghor had no choice but to move to France to attend the university, where he later became a citizen of France and a well-known politician around the world. In 1960, the year that Senegal regained its independence from France, he became the country’s first president, hoping to give back to the people and improve his home nation. President Senghor was also a talented speaker and writer, and claimed his own category of poetry known as “Négritude” with another famous poet, Aimé Césaire(from Martinique). The term “negritude” was coined to instill confidence in the people of Africa and to teach them to be proud of their traditional African culture that was overshadowed and rejected by the French for nearly a century. Senghor served as Senegal's President for two decades (1960-1980). He was later elected into the elite position of serving on the Académie Française, which is an elected counsel in France that regulates the French language. He was the first African ever elected to this prestigious position. Senghor lived his later years in France, where he later died in 2001. He is considered to be one of the most important African intellectuals of the 20th Century. When France overtook Senegal and other African countries, why do you think they made the natives learn and speak French ? In your own words, why is it necessary for Senghor to spread the word of “Négritude”? Poème à mon frère blanc Let's read the poem in French first. Then, we will translate into English. The response to the blanks will go in the "réponses" column. If there are two answers, separate them by a comma. Français Anglais Réponse Cher frère blanc, Dear _ brother, white Quand je suis né, j'étais noir, When I was born, I was _, black Quand j'ai grandi, j'étais noir, When I grew up, I was _, black Quand je suis au soleil, je suis noir, When I am in the _, I am _, sun, black Quand je suis malade, je suis noir, When I am _, I am _, sick, black Quand je mourrai, je serai noir. When I die, I will be _. black Tandis que toi, homme blanc, While you, _ man, white Quand tu es né, tu étais rose, When you were born, you were _, pink Quand tu as grandi, tu étais blanc, When you grew up, you were _, white Quand tu vas au soleil, tu es rouge, When you are in the _, you are _. sun, red Quand tu as froid, tu es bleu, When you are _, you are _, cold, blue Quand tu as peur, tu es vert, When you are scared, you are _, green Quand tu es malade, tu es jaune, When you are _, you are _, sick, yellow Quand tu mourras, tu seras gris. When you die, you will be _. gray Alors, de nous deux, So, of us _, two Qui est l'homme de couleur ? Who is the man of _? color Why does Senghor refer to the reader as “white brother”? For what reason does Senghor ask “Who is the man of color?” at the end of the poem? What is Senghor’s overall message to his readers? After reading the poem, how did it make you feel and why?