Final answer:
The quote about sugar cane farming challenges connects to Grace Nichols' poem by reflecting on the arduous work and harsh conditions faced by slaves. Both the quote and the poem explore the themes of labor and oppression in historical contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quote "Farmers who plan on making sugar cane face a special challenge," connects to Grace Nichols' poem through the themes of hardship and labor. The poem's portrayal of slavery and the arduous work of sugar cane farming highlights the severe difficulties faced by the laborers. In agriculture, the workers' toil in growing and harvesting sugar cane is labor-intensive, often dangerous, and grueling, just as the poem suggests about the life of slaves. The mention of machetes, potential injuries, and the oppressive conditions in the fields echoes the same tone of struggle and survival found in Nichols' depiction of slave life.
In broader terms, this quote ties into a historical and literary reflection on the grim realities of forced labor, as the quote suggests the intense physical demands and risks associated with cultivating such a laborious crop. Moreover, themes of oppression and the fight for dignity within the harsh conditions of slavery are central to the literary works referenced, which includes both direct and implied criticism of the systems that allowed such suffering to occur.