Some called the first epic poem racist because it speaks about fighting racism (with swords). But at the heart of all the sword clashing, and gun booming, and mono-dia-soliloquy-logue word tossing, there are the 4 lessons that stress to learn, read, recite, and write (the actual means of ‘overcoming’). There is the cup (paper), the wand (the pen), the word (speech), and the sword (the mind for defense). Though the Pale King is symbolic of White Supremacy, and the racism that taints the earth everywhere, the second epic poem layers the antagonist. The main villain, unlike the Pale King, is not only seen, but the villain also has a speaking role, interacting with the hero directly.
The villain’s minions are Snakes and Ghosts. Because of the backstory provided for the evolution of Snakes and Ghosts, one may assume it’s another commentary on the brutality of white culture on black culture throughout history. Well, yeah. Duh!
Kidding.
The Snakes and Ghosts, the prison mist where our hero is ‘born’, even the lead villain—are the unspoken past ills, hurt, and mental breakdown that haunt and continue to poison Black people. It goes far past anything physical. The traitors are more symbolic and drawn out than the traitors of The Ronin Poetz. The poem also explores what happens to a Black woman and Black man to birth self hate. It was the full story of Eye-Van (one traitorous villain) that inspired me to make a backstory for the Shogun in The Ronin Poetz
