Question

Elaborate on the central idea of social classes that Countee Cullen depicts in his poem For a Lady I Know. Provide textual evidence for your answer

Answer 1

In his poem "For a Lady I Know," Countee Cullen depicts the clash between the upper and lower classes of society. The poem is assumed to be about upper-class white Americans who treat African Americans poorly. He points out the audacity of the upper class to presume that African Americans would continue to wait on them forever, even after death:

She even thinks that up in heaven

Her class lies late and snores

While poor black cherubs rise at seven

To do celestial chores.

This poem suggests that white Americans don’t want to help improve the lifestyle of poor African Americans but are comfortable with the minority races serving them forever.

Step-by-step explanation:

Straight from Plato.

Answer 2

In this poem, Countee Cullen (1903-1946) uses irony to reveal the ridiculous beliefs that support racism. The notion of a woman, presumably a white woman, firmly believing that, even in Heaven, her class status, based on discriminatory biases that should not be considered godly, will provide her with poor blacks to do everything for her while she sleeps.

Step-by-step explanation:

There´s also an allusion to biblical notions through the words "heaven," "celestial chores," and "cherubs," signifying the existence of a spiritual afterlife, in which, this woman seems to absurdly believe racism prevails.