Cultural Nationalism and Larry Neal's Don't Say Goodbye to the Porkpie Hat

Cultural Nationalism was founded off the idea that African Americans exist in a subculture apart from the White mainstream. A subculture can be defined as a group within a culture that has its own set of traditions, attitudes, and ideals and is often accompanied by a different language or slang (American Heritage Dictionary, subculture). The African American subculture is so distinct that it refuses to be ruled by the dominant White culture and in essence becomes its own America apart from mainstream society. Several poems have epitomized the cultural nationalism of the Black Arts Music, many of which by Larry Neal. His appreciation for blues music and it's relation to the Black community is apparent in the poem "Don't Say Goodbye to the Porkpie Hat." Cultural Nationalism is in essence a "back to Africa movement" however, instead of a physical return; Black Americans are to spiritually return to Africa by becoming aware of their history, struggle and tradition. In "Don't Say Goodbye to the Porkpie Hat" Larry Neal uses symbolism to demonstrate the struggle and rebirth found in cultural nationalism.

Neal uses symbolism to demonstrate the struggle of Blacks in America. "Don't Say Goodbye to the Porkpie Hat" was inspired by the blues song "Goodbye to the Porkpie Hat" by legendary, Lester Young who is referenced throughout the poem. The porkpie hat symbolizes a musician as the hat was Young's trademark. When Neal states, "The Porkpie Hat sees tonal memories" (19) it is thought that musicians chronicle history and struggle because memories and spirit can live through sound. Music has long been a staple in African cultures and this tradition carried on through slavery and into modern American society. The musician is the story teller and his music speaks of the struggle. The struggle is first referenced in the earlier verses. The poem reads, "the Porkpie Hat reigns supreme/smell of collard greens/and cotton madness/commingled in the nigger elegance of the style" (15-18). Slavery has greatly affected the Black community psychologically, emotionally, and mentally. It is a major part of African American history and the reason for the several hundred years of strain that followed after. Neal makes slavery references as recognition of struggle. The poem continues to read, "The Porkpie Hat sees.../Cross riffing square kingdoms, riding midnight Scottsboro trains. We are haunted by the lynched limbs" (21-23). Not only does Neal reference slavery but its repercussions as well. African Americans are haunted by slavery and America's racist history. It has even at times prevented the community as whole from significant progress.

Neal uses symbolism to reveal renewal in the Black community. Rebirth is an important aspect of cultural nationalism. Rebirth allows one to recognize their African roots and past and spiritually start anew. The poem reads, "So we pick up our axes and prepare/to blast the white dream; /we pick up our axes/re-create ourselves and the universe, /sounds splintering the deepest regions of spiritual space" (87-91). It is at that point in the poem where humor and symbolism meet. The axe, while an object of destruction, really symbolizes the instrument, the saxophone, of the musician. Historically, Blacks have been given jobs that involved physical labor rather than intellect so the axe represents both the saxophone and racism. The spirit of the Black community removes all European values from Black America and results in reconstruction. Neal not only demonstrates renewal but also asks for unity between the African American community and the motherland, Africa. The verse reads, "No, don't say goodbye to the Porkpie Hat/he lives, oh yes" (113-114). In accordance with cultural nationalism, African roots should not be forgotten. The spirit of Black people lives on through reconstruction and transformation and Black America spiritually becomes an Africa within mainstream society. It is only after the awareness of one's history and struggle that they are able to recover and move on.

In "Don't Say Goodbye to the Porkpie Hat" Larry Neal uses symbolism to show the struggle and renewal found in cultural nationalism. Cultural nationalism and the Black Arts Movement were very much interrelated as they both emphasized the appreciation of Black tradition and recognition of Black history in America. Neal's poem extensively uses symbolism to portray the extent slavery has affected the Black community as well as the process for reconstruction and spiritual return to Africa. The Porkpie hat signified both the musician and the Black spirit as they were one in the same. The spirit endures different moments in history just like the musician's blues chronicles the hardships. While subtle, Neal's symbolism opens the eyes of the reader and allows them to recognize and trace African roots and history from Black America to the continent and paints a portrait of the essence of cultural nationalism.

Works Cited

Neal, Larry. "Don't Say Goodbye to the Porkpie Hat: Mingus, Bird, Prez, Langston, and Them." Collalo, Winter 1985.

"subculture." The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005. 02 May. 2007. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/subculture>.