Lessons from "I Look at the World"

"I Look at the World" by Langston Hughes is a poem that highlights the struggles of marginalized people and their desire for social justice and change. While the poem does not directly reference Aboriginal Australians or the Voice to Parliament, there are themes within the poem that can connect to the challenges faced by Aboriginal Australians and the idea of having a Voice to Parliament. 1. Marginalization and oppression: In the poem, the speaker describes looking at the world as "through a fence of barbed wire," implying feelings of confinement, imprisonment, and oppression. This can relate to the historical and ongoing marginalization of Aboriginal Australians, who have faced policies of assimilation, forced removals, and discrimination. 2. Seeking recognition and change: The poem describes the desire for a world where people "no longer walk in chains." This can connect to the struggle of Aboriginal Australians for recognition and reform in social, political, and cultural spheres. This includes the idea of the Voice to Parliament, which seeks to create a representative body that would give Aboriginal Australians a platform in political decision-making processes and policy formulation. 3. Power and inequality: "I Look at the World" implies a power imbalance, where marginalized people are kept "in a dark corner" by those who "claim the rest." This concept resonates with the historical and ongoing disparities between Aboriginal Australians and non-Indigenous Australians in areas such as education, health, and economic opportunities. 4. Hope for a better future: Although the poem initially evokes feelings of despair and confinement, it ends on an optimistic note, suggesting the potential for change by stating, "Peace will come and the worlds will be one." This can relate to the hopes and aspirations of many Aboriginal Australians for a better future, where they are truly recognized, respected, and treated equally. The idea of a Voice to Parliament is one initiative that can contribute to this vision. In conclusion, while Langston Hughes' poem "I Look at the World" does not explicitly mention Aboriginal Australians or the Voice to Parliament, it contains themes of marginalization, power imbalance, desire for recognition, and hope for a better future that resonate with the challenges faced by Aboriginal Australians and the idea of having a Voice to Parliament.