Ma Rainey

 The poem I chose to analysis for this week assignment is: Ma Rainey by Sterling A. Brown. The story of Ma Rainey aka Gertrude "Ma" Rainey is fascinating due to being a popular Black woman blues singer in the early 20th century who was not afraid to express her sexuality, her unrefined lyrics and her powerful vocal ability. she was dubbed the "Mother of the blues" recording over 100 songs most notably Ma Rainey's black bottom which was highlighted in the Netflix movie by the same name detailing just one day in the life of Ma Rainey and her band at a recording studio in the 1930's at a time when Black people were only step away from slavery and being opinionated, black, a women and having money was uncommon and could even be punishable. 

Sterling A. Brown's poem however showed a different side of Ma Rainey and how the people she loved to perform for we equally excited to be in her presence. he spoke of how people came from near and far, by foot and train to hear her sing, to experience her captivating sound and the way she connected to her fans and how they loved her. Brown's account was in self prospective as if he were right there stating "I talked to a fellow, an' the fellow say, " She jes' catch hold of us, somekindaway". early 1900's in the south a time when education was sparse, black people where looking for a gimmer of hope and often that hope came by way of song.