# Simon's Countrymen explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

## What happens

The chapter draws a parallel between Simon of Cyrene, who helped Jesus carry the cross, and the African American experience of bearing the cross of racial oppression. It critiques the hypocrisy of Christians who honor Christ yet despise and oppress Black people, and calls for Christian solidarity, love, and liberation.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Injustice and Class

The chapter condemns the racial hierarchy that treats African Americans as inferior, even within Christian society, and calls for an end to this oppression.

### Faith and Divine Justice

Faith in Christ is invoked as the basis for demanding justice, with the cross transformed from a symbol of shame to one of liberation and unity.

## Character check-ins

### Simon

Simon of Cyrene, who helped Jesus carry the cross, is honored as a symbol of compassion and is linked to the African diaspora.

### Christ

Christ is depicted as the suffering servant, crowned with thorns and burdened by the cross, whose sacrifice is central to the chapter's call for justice.

### The People

The 'dark-browed sons of Africa' are the oppressed group, bearing a 'cross of shame' in a Christian nation that fails to live up to its ideals.

## Key lines

> They took away his seamless robe, With thorns they crowned his head, As harshly, fiercely cried his foes: 'Barabbas in his stead.'

Jesus was stripped, crowned with thorns, and the crowd demanded the release of Barabbas instead of him.

_Opens the chapter with the Passion narrative, setting up the contrast between Christ's suffering and the call to help the oppressed._

> And yet within our favored land, Where Christian churches rise, The dark-browed sons of Africa Are hated and despised.

In America, a nation of Christian churches, Black people are still hated and looked down upon.

_Highlights the hypocrisy of American Christianity in the face of racial prejudice._

> Can they who speak of Christ as King, And glory in his name, Forget that Simon's countrymen Still bear a cross of shame?

How can Christians who honor Christ forget that Simon's descendants (Black people) still carry a burden of disgrace?

_Directly links Simon of Cyrene to African Americans, arguing that Christians must remember and act against racial oppression._

> That seamless robe shall yet enfold The children of the sun, Till rich and poor and bond and free In Christ shall all be one.

The robe of Christ will one day cover all people, uniting rich and poor, enslaved and free, in Christ.

_Ends with a vision of racial and social unity under Christ, echoing Galatians 3:28._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters/simon-s-countrymen
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters