Incident By Countee Cullen (Grades 7-9)

***TRIGGER WARNING - RACIALLY SENSITIVE LANGUAGE***

Words matter. What they are, how they are said, and what they mean, matters. In this poem, Countee Cullen uses a harsh and racist word, highlighting it's intent in order to give context to the impact of that single word. This poem is powerful example of the ability of poetry to share experience and encourge reflection.