Economic Inequality and Fate
The opening line of the poem creates a metaphorical image of economic inequality: “The many sow, but only the chosen reap.” Because Cullen is a Black man who was a leading member of the Harlem Renaissance, it is easy enough to interpret this image within the narrow constrictions of the inequality of slavery. As the speaker continues, however, it is clear that the theme of economic inequality is not intended to be relegated solely to any particular circumstance. The narrative proceeds through imagery to situate economic inequality with the thematic exploration the circumstances of birth to which the speaker assigns the term “heritage.” The pursuit of this theme becomes a commentary on how the economically inequitable heritage into which one is born is beyond anyone’s control as it is entirely a manifestation of fate. The message is that one should not waste time or effort decrying this heritage one inherits precisely because it cannot be controlled. Instead, one should work toward improving these circumstances assigned by birth.
God’s Gift
Having established that heritage at birth is not just beyond control but inequitable as a matter of definition, the speaker then addresses God as the “Father” of the poem. This address is almost a prayer of thanks as he first confesses that he recognizes the gift God has given to humanity as being more than a wish fulfilled without expectation of “travail.” The gift God has given is the free will to pursue a better heritage that that which was inherited by fate. The gift also comes with acceptance of the expectation that rising to a better heritage requires even harder work. It is described as wages earned through “grief” but based not on fate, but merit. The thematic center of the poem is the message that God has granted an exception to the circumstances of birth.
Politics and Spirituality
On a certain level, the spiritual message of the poem aligns almost perfectly with the political message of the American Dream: anyone can make it here if they are willing to work for it. The political and the spiritual actually, in fact, commingle thematically throughout the poem. That metaphor establishing economic inequality kicks off the poem with certain expectations that it may perhaps be a celebration of socialism as an antidote to the inherent inequality of capitalism. The imagery of worker sweat watering the fields where crops are raised also contains distinct overtones of images associated with socialist propaganda posters of the time. This theme reaches its climax in an image that somewhat surprisingly did not become a subject of controversy. In that all-important fourth stanza in which identity of the titular “Father” is fully revealed, God is identified as “One Who holds His servants worth their hire.” This description makes an explicit and direct juxtaposition between God treating “the many” with equal respect and the lack of respect shown by “the chosen” capitalist ownership class in their exploitative reaping of the fruits produced by those who actually do the work.
