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The Power of Art to Address Societal Issues: The Last Poets

Art is an invaluable form of human expression and change. In The Last Poets, Christine Otten explores this aspect, her novel about African American poets who believe their poetry can challenge the status quo and bring about social transformation through art. In today's society, people from different cultural, racial, and economic backgrounds face many hindrances in pursuing success. To better understand the challenges at hand and be able to address them effectively, art plays a key role. The Last Poets used their poetry to give voice to African Americans who were marginalized in society, using art to bring attention to their experiences and challenge the status quo. This essay will argue that the power of art can be used to address challenges faced by the community regardless of their nature.

The first aspect of art's power to address social issues lies in its capacity to convey uncomfortable truths that may be difficult or upsetting to face, as noted by Abiodun Oyewole "We spoke the truth, and it was ugly, but it was the truth" (Otten 9). Art can convey brutal realities like social injustices, discrimination, and inequality that might otherwise remain unsaid, such as when The Last Poets used poetry to confront discomforting topics directly while using art to convey realities yet undesirable by speaking truths necessary but unpleasant through art.

Courageous expression through art can also demonstrate its power, as Umar Bin Hassan illustrates by speaking out about Black Experience without worrying if others were ready. “We talked about the Black Experience, and we didn't care if the world was not ready for it" (Otten 109).  Art can be an intimidating medium that allows individuals to confront challenging topics head-on. The Last Poets were unwavering in their belief that poetry had the power to bring about change, and their courage in speaking truth to power stands as proof that art can bring about social progress. The Last Poets pioneered art to address social issues like never before. Otten stated that “Our poetry was not for entertainment, it was for liberation" (Otten 112). This position can inspire generations of artists who use their work to advocate against injustice and seek change through art - hip-hop artists, spoken word poetry performers, and protest music. There is influence across genres such as hip-hop music, spoken word poetry performances, or protest songs.

Art has the power to create empathy in addressing social issues through its ability to foster understanding among its audience. “When you understand a people's culture, you can understand their experiences" (Otten 38). This means that when one understands a people's culture, it becomes easy to relate to and comprehend their experiences. Art can foster such relations among individuals who might otherwise never interact. For instance, The Last Poets used poetry to foster mutual understanding between African Americans and others who did not interact with them by conveying experiences that allowed greater understanding between both cultures.

Art's power to address societal issues lies in its ability to inspire action. Abiodun Oyewole asserts, " Our poetry was a call to arms, a call to action" (Otten 68). Art can be an effective medium for driving change. The Last Poets used poetry to motivate their audiences to take action against social injustices and inequality. Through art, they galvanized audiences into taking the initiative for change...