A NEGRO LABOURER IN LIVERPOOL by David Rubadiri

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A NEGRO LABOURER IN LIVERPOOL by David Rubadiri

                David Rubadiri was an African poet much concerned with the issues of race and colour. His poems plead for a humane attitude towards the Black workers. His poem ‘A Negro Labourer in Liverpool’ describes the misery of a Black labourer in White Liverpool. He looks in vain for sympathy and understanding and is resigned to his lot.

                The poet describes the physical condition of a Negro labourer. He walks with his head bowed and in a bent uncomfortable position. He is stressed, drained, damaged and totally exhausted. He is just like a dark shadow, which had no significance of its own. A Negro does not possess any individual identity. He walks in the dark back pavements but still he does not raise his head. His bowed head implies that he doesn’t even have the freedom to hold his head high.

                The poet asserts that he has lifted his face to the Negro’s face, as in acknowledgement. Their eyes met, but on the dark Negro’s face, there is no sunny smile, as he wears a forlorn expression. The poet could not find any hope in the Negro’s face. It seems that he has no hope for future too. The Negro’s eyes quickly glances through the impassive crowd in search for a face to comprehend his predicament and acknowledge his suffering. He just seeks a warm smile and a nod of understanding. But unfortunately he could not find anyone. He feels alone and depressed. His heart is burdened with sufferings and unbearable pain.

                The Negro though loaded with century’s oppression, slavery and ill treatment. He is trying hard to come out from such kind of situation and to create his own identity and he is fighting hard to grasp the fire of freedom, in the land of free. But unfortunately he could not. In the White land only the dead Blacks are free. And even the dead Blacks are searching for light in blindness.

                He waits a new dawn, as fresh as that promised sun’s rays, which invited him when he came out from his mother’s womb. He longs for the rays of hope. Presently his hope is his shovel, (i.e.) his hard work and discovers content in its fulfillment.

                Thus ‘A Negro Labourer in Liverpool’ exemplifies the pathetic situation of Negro. It strives to highlight the plight of Negro in Liverpool.

-----HAPPY LEARNING------


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