Watch out Jane Austen, you're not the only author 'round here who's interested in exploring prejudice. At its heart, Countee Cullen's short poem is a treatment of one of the most ubiquitous forms of prejudice: the racial kind. And it explores the problem of racism in an incredibly succinct way (remember, folks, this powerful poem has only 12 lines). Cullen's "Incident" meditates on how prejudice operates in America, how it affects our speaker's sense of self, and how it can ruin even the most gleeful of days in one single moment—or, as the case may be, in one single incident.
Questions About Prejudice
- Do you think that "Incident" is making an overt political comment? Or is it more focused on the experience of one little boy? Why do you think so?
- Can a personal experience be political? How would our speaker answer that question? What parts of the poem give you your ideas?
- Does the poem place blame on the young Baltimorean? How can you tell? Can a boy so young be responsible for his prejudicial words? Why or why not?
- Is the poem still an effective comment on racism today in the 21st century? How have times changed? How have they not changed?
Chew on This
Straight up: "Incident" is a condemnation of racist culture in America.
Actually, it's more complex than that. "Incident" does not condemn the young Baltimorean. As a little boy, he couldn't possibly understand the power of the word "n*****."