Harlem Gallery Chapter Summary & Analysis - The Idols of the Tribe Summary

The Idols of the Tribe Summary

In the poem "The Idols of the Tribe," the African warriors in the field pray to the gods. They have a ceremony to sacrifice themselves to these gods. There is a black tribal god, who is a narcissist. The yellow god is vegetarian and snubs the carnivore white god. The Nordic god is beautiful, white and supreme. There is bias in the tribe. It is the fool who worships all these gods based on race.

Southern American towns keep the black man down. Hate is infectious. There is a Fuhrer, or Hitler-figure, in every society. A road meets at five points of different races. The idols of the tribe endure and the less people grow to hate them. Justice prevails. It is better to go forward then go back to racism and hatred. Mein Kamp,...
(read more)