Question

Citing textual evidence from "On the Pulse of Morning" and "One Today:"

-describe some of the challenges facing the American people during the late 20th and early 21st centuries

My issue is that I don't see much within the poems that would suggest 'challenges'
Please Help!

Answer 1

I just did that assignment a couple weeks ago. I found it easier to talk about the second choice, the diversity prompt. As both of these poems speak of diversity.
Now, within "On the pulse of the morning" It states, "The singing River,and the wise Rock. So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew, the African, the Native American, the Sioux, the Catholic, the Muslim, the French , the Greek, the Irish, the Rabbi, the Sheik, the Gay, the Straight, the Preacher, the privileged, the Homeless, the Teacher. They hear. They all hear the speaking of the tree.". this speaks about the change in our culture. Although I personally do not agree with this. This explains the ways in which we face our challenges.



In, "One Today" It states "One sun rose on us today, kindled over our shores, peaking over the Smokies, greeting the faces of the Great Lakes, spreading a simple truth across the Great Plains, and charging across the Rockies.". One sun, being a metaphor for the people of our country. Blanco want's to portray an image of being of one mind and one people. Standing together, in the "simple truth." the simple truth most believe is that we should all accept one another and have equal rights.

I again, didn't like this and hated writing about what I didn't believe in, so I put my own spin on it. I hope this helped. I'd love to help if you have any more questions.