Imitation #3 (1970s) Gil Scott Heron "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"

"The revolution will not be televised. 

The revolution will not be brought to you by Xerox 

In 4 parts without commercial interruptions. 

The revolution will not show you pictures of Nixon 

blowing a bugle and leading a charge by John 

Mitchell, General Abrams and Spiro Agnew to eat 

hog maws confiscated from a Harlem sanctuary. 

The revolution will not be televised."

               This poem written by Gil Scott Heron is called "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". It is written during the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War, which was happening during the time period when this poem was written, the 1970s. Heron states the revolution will not be televised, so it is not accepted by everyone otherwise it would get the recognition it deserved and would be televised. He states that the revolution will not be brought to you by Xerox, which is a photocopying manufacturer. So by saying this Heron is saying that you will not be brought any change, you will need to go out and make a change. He also states by saying this that you can not just follow everyone else, if you want to make a change you can not simply be a "photocopy" you need to be an "original". You will have to think and stand up for what you want, not what anyone else says or thinks. Heron then states that Nixon, referring to president Nixon who was president of the United States from 1969-1974, will not be shown as the leader of this revolution. And he will neither be followed by John Mitchell, U.S Attorney General, or General Creighton Abrams, who was one of the commanders of the U.S army during the Vietnam War. The vice president, Spiro Agnew, will not lead the charge either who was Nixon's vice president. Heron then refers to hog maws which is a traditional African American food. I think this reference of the hog maws getting "confiscated" from the "Harlem sanctuary" refers to the African Americans getting mistreated just because of their skin color. There is no rhyme scheme in this poem, there is repetition of the word revolution. This poem represents lyrical poetry.