# Introduction to Poetry #

           Poetry according to us is mainly the combination of sentence where ones have to read between the lines to get to the meaning. It is an art form used for its aesthetic qualities, notional and semantics content. Poetry is mainly of oral or literary works. It is compressed to convey emotions, ideas and use of device as assonance and repetition to achieve musical or in cantatory effects. Poetry also relies for their effect in imagery word association and the musical qualities of language used. 

Through poetry we can come across many significant themes or ideas by different poets for example feminism, imperialism and our preference theme which is racism. 

Racism is a practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature (for example, harm particular group of people) and which is often justified by recourse to racial stereotyping. What we understand by racism here is it evokes the feeling of hatred of each individual or the subjected race which leads to discrimination and hate crimes. 

We have chosen one famous author which is Rudyard Kipling. 

Kipling wrote a poem entitled "White Man's Burden" Briefly, the poem describe the conquest of Philippine by the western. Kipling presents the Eurocentric view of world, in which the non-western cultures are likely backward and it is the responsibility for the western to colonize and develop their culture. He come out with the idea that the rich have a moral duty and obligation to help the poor “better" willingly or forcefully.        

                

So, what does Islam reflect about racism? From the Quran Allah mentioned that:

"Oh man kind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes that you may know one another. Verily the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has taqwa. Verily Allah is all knowing, all aware". (49:13)

Islam does not differentiate a person by the color and status, but Islam view a person by their faith, Iman, piety, taqwa, and how they avoid doing evil things and get closer to Allah. Racism is totally not accepted in Islam as Allah said that: 

“whoever work righteous- whether male or female- while he (or she) is a truth believer (of Islamic monotheism) verily, to him we will give a good life (in this world with respect contentment and lawful provision) and we shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion. To the best of what they used to do. (16:97)

 

Prophet Muhammad clearly stated in his farewell sermon:

“Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood.”

“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over a white - except by piety and good action.”

Poetry Slam on Racism - Poetry as Social Change