Ode to Choi

Oliver Callahan

Professor Helms

Global Literature

10/1/21

Modern Apocalypses – Project 1

Transcript

Before the apocalypse, there was the apocalypse of silence. Silence from those who are not persecuted. Not oppressed based on factors they cannot control or circumstances they were born into. Silence rooted in complacency and content.

Before the apocalypse, there was a sea of red hats and tiki torches fed by the rivers of hate, contempt, and prejudice.

Before the apocalypse there was the apocalypse of the wall, of caged children separated from their families, and of claw marks on the sides of C-17’s left by the desperate.

Before the apocalypse there was the apocalypse of smoke, of the SUV, of birds soaked in oil, and of the rising coastlines.

Before the apocalypse was the apocalypse of disrupted cultures, traditions stamped out by the feet of colonialism.

400 years ago there was the apocalypse of the first boat. And 400 years later as the story is told we see the apocalypse of denial, and illusion. The unwillingness to accept the foundation of American society, and furthermore, the unwillingness to acknowledge what needs to change.

After that, the apocalypse of the knee on the neck, of the no-knock warrant, of rubber bullets and of tear gas. Of the fire hose and bean bags and riot shields and batons.

Before the apocalypse, there was the apocalypse of sensationalized media perpetuating stereotypes. Leading into the apocalypses of the bat story, and of the nativist outbreak narrative.

Before the apocalypse there was the apocalypse of government encroaching on freedom.

Bills to limit what is taught in school.

Bills to limit a woman’s choice

Bills to close our borders.

Bills to suppress the rights and voices of racial and sexual minorities

Bills that directly combat the American ideals of freedom.

Every day there is an apocalypse somewhere. And every day as the world ends in some way we continue on. Let us remember that for every apocalypse there is a reason. Let not the sound of the apocalypse go unheard, instead we must listen and learn.

For the apocalypse of our roots leads into the apocalypses of tomorrow.

Explanation

For this project I was (heavily) inspired by Franny Choi’s poem The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On. I liked how she presented the idea of an apocalypse, and I thought I could make a modern political spin on the poem. I spoke a lot on the problems that we’re having as a country at the moment, such as racial injustices, police brutality, and foreign policy. Environmental issues as well because I thought it fit within the subject matter, especially considering that minorities are most affected by climate change.

I made a reference to Travis Lau and his experiences during covid-19. And tried to speak to Equiano’s experiences with colonialism as well. I also tried to touch on the polarization of social media and it’s relationship with politics.

In summary, I took a look at events that have happened in our country in the past couple of years, and I cannot help but think that they are anything but apocalyptic for anyone affected.

I ended my passage trying to emphasize the importance of paying attention to the apocalypses and where they come from, in order to make an effort to prevent them in the future.

Sources for videos and images

.https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/12/us/white-nationalists-tiki-torch-march-trnd/index.html

.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VBYt_FBsqI

.https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/17/separation-border-children-cages-south-texas-warehouse-holding-facility

.https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/21/us/haze-wildfire-smoke.html

.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6qMrYr7kxk

.https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/may/16/one-day-disappear-tuvalu-sinking-islands-rising-seas-climate-change

.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cB6RirM3ZY

.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_Lion#/media/File:AfricansatJamestown1619.jpg

.https://www.vox.com/identities/2019/8/19/20812238/1619-project-slavery-conservatives

.https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lawcha.org%2F2014%2F12%2F29%2Fstop-kidding-police-created-control-working-class-poor-people%2F&psig=AOvVaw3XDQlhUPmYceuBxEKPFe9O&ust=1633206607361000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjhxqFwoTCKDXyfCGqvMCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf5vpzMIgyU