22 Poetry for Students

before. Public cynicism was generally high, with

the fiasco of the Vietnam War and the Watergate

scandal in the White House undermining faith in

government. In a 1975 survey, 69% of Americans

said they believed that over the past decade lead-

ers had consistently lied to the people.

The 1970s were, furthermore, a time of severe

economic problems for the United States. This

brought a conservative backlash as well as urban

riots and white flight to the suburbs. While the

struggles of the civil rights movement of the 1960s

had led to significant legislative changes, it failed

to translate into greater economic equality for peo-

ple of color in the 1970s. Feminism was perhaps

the most vital social movement of the decade, but

it too failed to bring economic equality for women.

In the 1970s, the American underclass was in-

creasingly black and female.

East Harlem

In contrast to its general historical setting, the

poem is set in a very particular geographical place,

East Harlem. At the time when Rukeyser wrote the

poem she was working with the Writers’ and

Teachers’ Collaborative, which was located in East

Harlem. The poem is likely based on an autobio-

graphical anecdote. Rukeyser was born in New

York and never ranged far from her hometown.

Ballad of Orange and Grape

Compare

&

Contrast

• 1973:The last American troops are withdrawn
  from Vietnam, ending a period of great social
  unrest associated with anti-war activism.
  1990:Iraq invades Kuwait under the command
  of President Saddam Hussein. The U.S. re-
  sponds by working through the United Nations
  and sending troops to Saudi Arabia. Amidst
  protest from other governments, the U.S. and al-
  lies attack Iraq and liberate Kuwait. Public sen-
  timent in America is strongly in favor of the dis-
  play of U.S. military might. Hussein remains in
  power.


• 1973:In a decision known asRoe v. Wadethe
  U.S. Supreme Court declares unconstitutional
  state laws that prohibit abortion up until the sixth
  month of pregnancy. Feminists hail the decision
  as one of the most significant strides for
  women’s rights of the century.

1990s:After decades of being legal, abortion re-

mains one of the most controversial and divi-

sive issues in American politics. In some parts

of the country there are no health care providers

who will perform abortions. The number of

abortions performed is in decline.

• 1973: President Richard Nixon denies any
  knowledge of the illegal events surrounding the

Watergate scandal, in which members of his

administration have been indicted. Televised

hearings rivet public attention. A year later,

among calls for his impeachment, Nixon

resigns.

1999:President Bill Clinton, after initially deny-

ing an extra-marital affair with a young intern,

admits to some sexual contact with her. Because

he stated in a separate case that they had had no

sexual relations, he is impeached by Congress

for lying under oath. Impeachment means to ac-

cuse and try a government official. Clinton un-

dergoes an impeachment trial in the U.S. Sen-

ate, but the charges fail to achieve the necessary

two-thirds majority of votes needed to remove

the president from office.

• 1973:Already facing economic troubles, Amer-
  icans confront an energy crisis that leads to high
  prices and rationing. Combined cutbacks in gas,
  home heating, and transportation fuel lead to the
  loss of an additional 100,000 U.S. jobs.

2000:Amidst a period of unprecedented eco-

nomic prosperity in the United States, the price

of petroleum products surges. Home heating

fuel and gasoline prices nearly double in some

parts of the country.