Acknowledged for his multifaceted, creative poetry, Melvin B. Tolson was considered to be one of America’s leading Black poets. As a poet, Tolson was influenced by both modernism and the language and experiences of African Americans. Tolson was deeply influenced by his studies of the Harlem Renaissance. Tolson was a debate coach at the historically black Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, there he led a team of college students that pioneered interracial college debates against white institutions in the segregated South. Under Tolson’s direction, Wiley’s speech and debate team upheld a ten-year winning streak between 1929 to 1939. As some may know, this was depicted in the 2007 biopic The Great Debaters, starring Denzel Washington as Tolson and produced by Oprah Winfrey. After his successful coaching and teaching career at Wiley College, Tolson then accepted a position at Langston University. That same year, Tolson was appointed the Poet Laureate of Liberia, which inspired his second book of poetry. Tolson attracted increased attention with one of his most notable works Libretto for the Republic of Liberia, a poem which commemorates the African nation’s centennial. 

Aside from Tolson working within the modernist tradition to explore African-American issues, his concern with poetic form and his enduring optimism is what set him apart from many of his contemporaries. Though he wrote after the Harlem Renaissance, Tolson adhered to its ideals and he was hopeful for a better economic and political future for African-Americans. Critics say that Tolson has developed “a vision of Africa past, present, and future” with “prodigious eclecticism” and “force of language and rhythm”. This sentiment speaks volume to the great influenced he had on twentieth-century poetry and why his work remains relevant. 

Tolson’s poem, “Dark Symphony”, is arguably one of his best works and many can feel a connection to it. The poem offers more to readers than just discussion about being a modernist poem or a poem about racial inequality. In the poem, Tolson is celebrating the accomplishments of the African race throughout history and continuing into the modern era in a melodic way. Each section in the poem is broken up in the same way that symphonic music is displayed, beginning with Allegro Moderato which translates to “quick but not overly fast” and ending with part 6, Tempo di Marcia which means “a marching tempo”. In order to thoroughly understand the poem, it is important to know the musical terms of the poem. Specifically, it is important to understand the implication in this poem being that each title gives readers a set pace and mindset for each part of the symphony. 

Another aspect that is significant is the way in which the poem is structured and its length. The poem is actually longer because it expresses a lot of history and the way that it is written is both formal and informal in way that is musically accurate. Furthermore, in the poem Tolson questions white Americans and how he believes white culture continuously tries to forget that slavery happened at all. Beginning at part 4 of the poem Tolson articulates his concept of a “New Negro”, in part 4 is says, “The New Negro strides upon the continent/ In the seven-league boots…/ The New Negro…”. From those lines, I gathered that Tolson is describing someone who should be admired or looked at as the equal. Tolson then continues by describing the accomplishments of the New Negro and the Old Negro. The poem ends with the New Negro and how they will shape the world in the future.  When reading this poem, it is important to break down each part and look at each section of the Symphony in order to fully grasp Tolson concept.