Poetry · Chapter
Justice explained
A brief, pointed poem that critiques the concept of Justice as a blind goddess, suggesting that for Black people, her blindness hides corruption and festering wounds rather than impartiality.
What happens
A brief, pointed poem that critiques the concept of Justice as a blind goddess, suggesting that for Black people, her blindness hides corruption and festering wounds rather than impartiality.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional peak occurs in the final line, "Tell them to leave you alone!..."—a raw, defiant outburst that s…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Racial Identity and Oppression
The poem directly addresses the Black community's awareness of Justice's hypocrisy and the hidden wounds of racial oppression.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The speaker, representing a collective Black voice, reflects on the flawed nature of Justice.
Key passages
“That Justice is a blind goddess / Is a thing to which we black are wise. / Her bandage hides two festering sores / That once, perhaps, were eyes.”
Black people know that Justice is not truly blind; her blindfold conceals two infected wounds that might have once been seeing eyes.
The poem uses the metaphor of a blindfold to expose the corruption and injury behind the ideal of impartial justice.
