15+ Meaningful Poems about Equality

(15 to start, 75+ to explore)

These poems are fervent calls for justice and equality. They confront societal prejudices, challenging discrimination based on race, gender, sexuality, or other characteristics. Through passionate language and evocative metaphors, these verses advocate for inclusivity, acceptance, and the inherent dignity of all individuals.

They often inspire action, urging society to dismantle systemic barriers and embrace true equality.

Poems about Equality Visual Representation

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For a’ That and a’ That

by Robert Burns

‘For a’ That and a’ That’ by Robert Burns describes man’s true worth as not being defined by wealth, position, or possessions.

The poem advocates for equality by championing the intrinsic worth of individuals over societal distinctions. It promotes a society where everyone is valued and respected, regardless of socioeconomic status. It inspires readers with its call for a world where merit and character hold greater significance than external status markers like wealth or title. By emphasizing qualities such as knowledge, hard work, and honesty as the accurate measure of worth, the poem imagines a utopian society based on fairness and equality, where all individuals are treated as equals and valued for their contributions.

Is there, for honest poverty,

That hings his head, an' a' that?

The coward slave, we pass him by,

We dare be poor for a' that!

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Who Said It Was Simple

by Audre Lorde

‘Who Said It Was Simple’ by Audre Lorde is a powerful poem about the inequalities in various civil rights movements during the poet’s lifetime.

The poem addresses the lack of equality experienced by women and black individuals due to societal oppression. It emphasizes the importance of striving for equality in society.

There are so many roots to the tree of anger

that sometimes the branches shatter

before they bear.

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A Small Needful Fact

by Ross Gay

‘A Small Needful Fact’ by Ross Gay is a powerful poem that presents an image of hope and beauty after a loss. The poem addresses the legacy of Eric Garner and how one might still find his presence in the world.

The poem stresses the importance of recognizing the worth of every life, regardless of their race or ethnicity, emphasizing the need for equality in society.

Is that Eric Garner worked

for some time for the Parks and Rec.

Horticultural Department, which means,

perhaps, that with his very large hands,

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I, Too, Sing America

by Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes’ ‘I, Too, Sing America’ delves into the experience of a Black man navigating American society, emphasizing his equal claim to the American identity.

The poem is a powerful call for equality, envisioning a future where racial divides are dismantled. Hughes uses metaphors like the “table” to highlight inclusion, making equality an achievable aspiration rather than a distant dream. However, the lack of direct confrontation with systemic barriers tempers its critique.

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

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For My People

by Margaret Walker

‘For My People’ by Margaret Walker is a poem celebrating African American culture while highlighting several hardships African Americans have faced. The poem urges African Americans in the generations to come to not allow themselves to face the same hardships their ancestors did in the form of systemic racism, sickness, and a general deprivation of rights.

Stanza nine is the most obvious cry for equality in this poem. When Walker speaks of a world that will "hold all the people," she means a cause for an egalitarian society, where all people are treated equally regardless of race.

Let a new earth rise. Let another world be born. Let a

bloody peace be written in the sky. Let a second

generation full of courage issue forth; let a people

loving freedom come to growth...

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The Present Crisis

by James Russell Lowell

‘The Present Crisis’ by James Russell Lowell is an anthem against slavery and, by extension, other racially-induced crimes. Penned in 1845 as a protest against the permission of slavery in Texas, this long poem now serves as a voice for all people of color who continue to face discrimination today.

By protesting against slavery, Lowell ultimately fights for equality. In a stanza, he mentions that people, no matter their race, share a lot more in common than they think and that one race should not be seen as superior.

Slavery, the earth-born Cyclops, fellest of the giant brood,

Sons of brutish Force and Darkness, who have drenched the earth with blood,

Famished in his self-made desert, blinded by our purer day,

Gropes in yet unblasted regions for his miserable prey;—

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Telephone Conversation

by Wole Soyinka

‘Telephone Conversation’ is a poem written by Wole Soyinka, a renowned African writer in English. The poem exposes the presence of racial discrimination at the individual level in society even after the passing of laws against it.

The absence of equality is stark in this poem. The landlady's questions deny the speaker equal consideration as a potential tenant, reducing him to a stereotype. The speaker's attempts to infuse nuance into his identity are met with ignorance, further underlining the inequality he faces.

The price seemed reasonable, location

Indifferent. The landlady swore she lived

Off premises. Nothing remained

But self-confession. "Madam," I warned,

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America

by Walt Whitman

‘America’ by Walt Whitman is a short but impactful poem that expresses the poet’s pride and joy for his fellow countrymen.

One of the core topics of this poem is the notion of equality between all people, something that many of Walt Whitman's poems expressed. A fierce abolitionist, he opposed slavery and advocated for its end. He was also supportive of gender equality as well. This poem reveals those ideals to be a core reason why he saw such potential in America.

Centre of equal daughters, equal sons,

All, all alike endear’d, grown, ungrown, young or old,

Strong, ample, fair, enduring, capable, rich,

Perennial with the Earth, with Freedom, Law and Love,

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Harlem (A Dream Deferred)

by Langston Hughes

‘Harlem (A Dream Deferred)’ is a powerful poem by Langston Hughes, written in response to the challenges he faced as a black man in a white-dominated world. It questions the fate of deferred dreams among Harlem residents.

This is a poem that speaks to the struggle for equality and social justice. Hughes suggests that the dreams of African Americans are often deferred because of systemic inequality and discrimination and that true equality can only be achieved when these barriers are removed.

Does it dry up

like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore—

And then run?

#10

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I Dream a World

by Langston Hughes

‘I Dream A World’ by Langston Hughes is a powerful, short poem that outlines the poet’s vision of a utopian world. There, no one is judged on the color of their skin and all people have access to the same freedoms.

Equality stands out as a central topic, where the speaker imagines a future where all people enjoy the same rights and opportunities. This vision emphasizes the importance of recognizing every individual’s worth, regardless of their background. By promoting equality, the poem encourages readers to reflect on their own actions and beliefs. This topic inspires a commitment to fostering a society where everyone can thrive and live in harmony without fear.

I dream a world where man

No other man will scorn,

Where love will bless the earth

And peace its paths adorn

#11

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She Had Some Horses

by Joy Harjo

‘She Had Some Horses’ by Joy Harjo illustrates the plurality of differences among people.

Harjo's poem arrives at equality by using the same symbol (horses) to represent many different things. In this way, she emphasizes the sameness of people while contrasting them via their uniqueness and their perceived differences.

She had some horses.

She had horses who were bodies of sand.

She had horses who were maps drawn of blood.

She had horses who were skins of ocean water.

#12

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Slavery

by Hannah More

‘Slavery’ by Hannah More is a pro-abolitionist poem. It attempts to inspire Britain at the peak of slave trade to condemn the very act. The poem makes a case for the abolition of slavery by exposing Britain’s immorality and appealing to the public’s humanity.

More fights for equality and freedom throughout the poem. She points out the inequality in British society and the hypocrisy of it while taking a stance that everyone, including black slaves, should be treated equally. Being treated equally to More meant, as she reiterates in her poem, setting the slaves free.

Let Malice strip them of each other plea,

They still are men, and men should still be free.

Insulted Reason loathes the inverted trade —

Loathes, as she views the human purchase made;

#13

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C.R.E.A.M.

by Danez Smith

’C.R.E.A.M.’ by Danez Smith is a complex, moving poem that depicts a speaker’s personal life and speaks on the American racial wealth gap.

The poem exposes the stark inequality that exists between different racial and socioeconomic groups in America, particularly in terms of access to opportunities and resources.

after Morgan Parker, after Wu-Tang

in the morning I think about money

green horned lord of my waking

forest in which I stumbled toward no salvation

#14

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For You O Democracy

by Walt Whitman

‘For You O Democracy’ by Walt Whitman dedicates itself to the establishment of a land and people worthy of the noble ideals of democracy itself.

One of the topics that Walt Whitman's poem touches on is the notion of equality. In reality, this is a rather ambiguous statement, and one made all the more complicated by the poet's inconsistent views on who deserved such democratic consideration. But taken at face value, the poem's speaker earnestly advocates for unity and camaraderie.

Come, I will make the continent indissoluble,

I will make the most splendid race the sun ever shone upon,

I will make divine magnetic lands,

With the love of comrades,

#15

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A Curse For A Nation

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

‘A Curse for a Nation’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning explores societal injustices and moral decay through varied stanza structures and rhyming schemes.

The poem perceives equality as an ideal undermined by societal injustices and moral decay. The speaker critiques systems that perpetuate inequality and oppress the vulnerable, highlighting the importance of justice and fairness. This portrayal underscores the theme of equality as a fundamental principle worth striving for, prompting reflection on the societal structures that perpetuate discrimination and inequity.

I heard an angel speak last night,

And he said 'Write!

Write a Nation's curse for me,

And send it over the Western Sea.'

Home » Collection » Poems about Equality

15+ Meaningful Poems about Equality

(15 to start, 75+ to explore)

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15+ Meaningful Poems about Equality

(15 to start, 75+ to explore)

by Robert Burns

by Audre Lorde

by Ross Gay

by Langston Hughes

by Margaret Walker

by James Russell Lowell

by Wole Soyinka

by Walt Whitman

by Langston Hughes

by Langston Hughes

by Joy Harjo

by Hannah More

by Danez Smith

by Walt Whitman

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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