Back to Roosevelts annotation

The persona was referring to how Roosevelt started the fair employment movement which allowed the blacks to have better job rights. This is repeated later on in the song but replacing Roosevelts name with Martin Luther kings who was one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assignation in 1968.The reference in the song it to show that they would be disappointed that racism is still prominent so many years later

This may be referring to how the rights of a black are not equal to that of a whites but no one seems to be doing anything about it which follows on to the next line.

This is the use of rhyming. The persona may be trying to intertwine these two words into a single meaning. The word Trepidation means fearful or agony, while speculation is a thought. Together the persona may be indicating the scenarios that he feels may happen that will cause him harm.\

This is a metaphor to show how there are a lot of black men where being put in to jail for various crime ( even if it may not be that serious). black mail with the spelling of m-a-i-l refers to how people are getting into situations they don't want to be in, which could reflect on the black community at the time.

This stanza is mainly showing on what he is dealing with in his life as it refers to something specific about him on how it states " I have a wife and two children" he is struggling being a victim of hate for being black and his reputation being tarnished ( Your "rapin" me of my pride. The stanza start with a sentences that reflects that he is talking about himself and how he wants to be free from the hate.

Again Rhyming is used. In this stanza, I believe that the persona is implying on how no matter what he will remain strong and will not be fazed by anything.

The literary device used is a metaphor. The use of the word “Rapin’” shows how his pride is being taken away from him with strong force. this shows he is being shamed and debilitated.

I believe that this means the situation that people are getting themselves into cause aggravation for the blacks and whites and they blame each other causing.

This is a metaphor that The persona may be using to show how he was being racially profiled.

Jew me carries the meaning of being cheated swindled or defrauded. In the case of this song it most likely refers to the discrimination the persona has faced for being black.

The use of dog food is a metaphor to call someone nothing. Nothing can mean useless or worthless and saying everybody before it the persona may be referring to the whites who are in control and with power to help the blacks yet were doing nothing to help them.

The literary device used is Rhyming. In this line the use of "skin head" is referring to a gang in United states of America: First formed in Texas: is a group of anti blacks. and Dead Head which, in American Slang, means slow or stupid. As he had connected these two phrases with rhyming, the persona may be implying that the "skin heads" are unintelligent because of there irrational actions towards the blacks.

These stanzas are all well linked by rhymes, this gives the song a smooth continues flow through out the song.

The literary device used for this and through out the song is repetition. As this song was made to shed light on the topic of racism, The persona may be using the repetition to enforce on how "they" ( referring to the government and police; which were mainly made up of white people then) have no concern or care towards the African-American community at that time. Thus meaning they will be treated unlawfully. It is can also be interpreted as a way to educate the blacks on how the government area against them and need to be careful.