Cultural Studies Theory Analysis

CULTURAL STUDIES

I THANK YOU GOD (Poem)

By BERNARD DADIE

I thank you God for creating me black,

For making of me

Porter of all sorrows

Setting on my head

The World.

I swear the Centaur’s hide

And I have carried the World since the first morning.

White is a colour for special occasions

Black the colour for everyday

And I have carried the world since the first evening.

I am glad

Of the shape of my head

Made to carry the World,

Content

With the shape of my nose

That must snuff every wing of the world

Pleased

With the shape of my legs

Ready to run all the hats of the world

Thank you God for creating me black

For making of me

Porter of all sorrows

Thirsty-six swords have pierced my heart

Thirty six fires have burnt my body.

And my blood on all calvaries has reduced the snow

And my blood at every dawn has reddened all nature

Still I am

Glad to carry the World,

Glad of my short arms

 of my long legs

 of the thickness of my lips.

I thank you God for creating my black,

White is a colour for special occasions

Black the color for everyday

And I have carried the World since the dawn of time

And my laugh over the World, through the night, creates the Day.

                                                                                                                  

I thank you God for creating me black.

Analysis:

Cultural study theory talks about the relationship of the literary piece to the author’s cultural background. Here, the poem was written by the poet by its cultural influence. He wrote this poem dedicated to his fellowmen (Africans) and to the things that they are experiencing towards others.