English 202 Homage to My Hips Essay

Tiana Davis

Traci Clark

English 202

April 7th, 2019

Critical Essay 2

        Society can sometimes have certain opinions on a person's weight and body shape. Society can also have a negative influence on how people may view themselves because of their weight and body shape. Lucille Clifton embraces her thick figure, instead of letting society dictate the way she should feel about herself. In her poem "Homage to my hips", she is not ashamed of her big hips and accepts them for what they are. Clifton shows pride because she knows they are big, strong and mighty and she uses this attribute of her body to show the power of the hips. In "Homage to my hips", Clifton reveals the size of her hips, what her hips can do and the power her hips hold.

        Lucille Clifton makes reference to the size of her hips in the first line of the poem. Clifton states, “These hips are big hips" (1. 1). Clifton give the reader an image of her hips right away. Giving this image of her hips puts the reader in tune of her point of view. She is proud of her big hips and doesn't speak negatively about them in any way. Clifton states, "they need space to/move around in./ they don't fit into/little petty spaces" (1. 2-4). The reader can get the image of Clifton speaking with confidence, knowing that her hips are not small. She knows her hips will not fit into small spaces or small jeans as the average woman. She also realizes that she will need extra space to move around and she is ok with that. Clifton is loving the shape she has and encourages women to love themselves the way they are also.

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        To society being thin can be associated with beauty, popularity, being strong and disciplined. Being heavier can be associated with laziness, weakness, lack of will-power and ugliness. "Homage to my hips" gives a different perspective and lets women know that no matter what size they are they are beautiful. Clifton states, "these hips have never been enslaved/ they go where they want to go/ they do what they want to do" (1. 8-10). The writer shows that she can't be held back by other people's opinion about her hips. Clifton expresses her big hips as being free to go the same places other women go and do the same activities other women do. She doesn't allow her big hips to hold her back from enjoying the fullness of life. Big hips may not be what society suggest, but that doesn't hold back the writer from anything. Clifton doesn't allow her hips to make her feel weak. They make her feel strong, mighty and free with no limitations. Lucille Clifton wants women to celebrate their bodies and womanhood. Also, to take ownership of their bodies and to love themselves. Society can put a toll on a person’s self-esteem and make them feel less than what they are.

        Finally, Clifton speaks on how her hips have power. She gives the reader an insight on the empowerment of a woman's hips. Clifton states, "these hips are mighty hips" (1. 11). She views her hips as being strong and mighty with the ability to do anything. Clifton also states, "these hips are magic hips./ I have known them/ to put a spell on a man and/ spin him like a top!" (1. 12-15) In these lines Clifton proves how powerful her hips are. They have the ability to win a man over. Men are seen as strong, powerful and mighty, but Clifton shows that with her hips she can be just as strong, powerful and mighty. She gives the reader the image of a man becoming weak and hypnotized by her hips and she is able to manipulate him. Lucille Clifton shows how she can be seductive with one attribute of her body, her hips. Women have the power to control men with their hips.

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        This poem reveals the beauty and the work of poetic language and imagery. It captures the symbolism of the body and illustrates who is in charge. Lucile Clifton is obviously proud of her body and tries to turn it into an advantage. She tries to reveal the body's power and express selfhood. Clifton seems as if she teases men with her hips. As mentioned earlier, her hips are strong, mighty, and can do anything anywhere. Her boasting shows pride in herself. She has the confidence to do anything she puts her mind to. Clifton doesn’t show fear of having large hips because she believes she is beautifully and wonderfully made. Instead of holding in the feelings about her hips, she lets the world know and because of this more women can feel free in their own skin. Women can also embrace one another’s beauty instead of tearing each other down. In comparison to men, she is no lesser. Clifton seems a bit cocky, but her hips are big, free, strong and seductive. This poem is short, but gives great imagery and description. Clifton uplifted women in her time, especially in the African American community. For her to be an African American writer writing about her big hips, and being free and not enslaved really hit home for the African American women personally. Lucille Clifton reveals the power of her hips and creates imagery with a mere fifteen lines. Clifton is not ashamed that she has a curvy figure, she even emphasizes that those hips are not tiny. She breaks the social trend of a skinny woman who wears a size 2. She empowers women to know that all hips are beautiful and have a power. Also, that women can be proud of the way they are. They don't have to change to be viewed as beautiful by others. As long as they have the confidence within themselves and know that they are wonderfully made they can do anything. Reading this poem gives visualization of Clifton telling people that everything is possible as long as you make it possible. The hips aren’t just a body part that Clifton chose to write about. The hips are special, not just a part of a body but strong, mighty and magical.