Leopold Senghor's "New York"

Léopold Sédar Senghor (1906 -2001) was a Senegalese poet, politician, and cultural theorist. He also served as the first president of Senegal (1960-1980). One of the big Three of Negritude,he is recognized as one of the most significant intellectuals of the 20^th century.Senghor was the first African to serve as a member of the Académie française. He is also the distinguished founder of the political party called the Senegalese Democratic Bloc. the statesman who led Senegal to independence in 1960. Leopold Senghor was the loudest mouthpiece of Negritude. He gave Negritude a more concrete definition:"Negritude ...is not the defence of a skin or colour ...it is not even attachment to a particular race...although such attachment is quite legitimate. Negritude is the awareness, defence and development of African cultural values. Negritude is ...a true myth..is the awareness by a particular social group or people of its own situation in the world..."In the poem "New York" Senghor exclaims how at first "New York" enthralled-- him with the beauty of its long-legged golden girls." The beauty of the Big Apple is limited to its physical exterior. In the beginning, he felt inferior under the mighty influence of the City of Skyscrapers.

The tall buildings seemed to overpower him. Eventually he comes to realize that there no depth to this sort of life, no spirituality, no essence of culture,-no values based on tradition. In fact, they do not have a heritage at all; therefore, there is no need "to invent the mermaids". America is always questioned about a history of its own, its roots and tradition There is no need to indulge in a culture of myth that they do not possess, in the first place, says Senghor. The life prevalent there is based on the formula of success, in an era of competition. Life has lost its true purpose and rusted in the 'steel articulations". The steel articulations refers to the Industrial Revolution. Besides, it may also allude to the steel nerve of the colonizers. It connotes their rigid stance and policies. The poet wants the black blood to act as a lubricant in such a situation: it thus becomes the refreshing, regenerating and rejuvenating force.

New York! I say New York, let the

black blood flow into your blood
Cleaning the rust from your steel

articulations, like an oil of life.

It is also said to be the "oil of life". Blood is red in colour, and is therefore universal. Here the poet renders this blood unique by attributing it with the adjective "black". But again, it acts as the "oil of life";or sustains life that is a universal phenomenon.