Chapter summaries Call Us What We Carry Amanda Gorman

Call Us What We Carry Chapter 45: DC Putsch Summary and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Amanda Gorman’s poem “DC Putsch” opens with an epigraph from James Weldon Johnson’s 1919 article “The Riots: An N.A.A.C.P. Investigation” in The Crisis magazine. The poem’s title uses the German word for coup, directly evoking the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. By placing these two moments side by side, the poem draws a parallel between the racial violence of the Red Summer of 1919 and the attempted insurrection over a century later. The poem explores how these events are not isolated but part of a recurring pattern of political violence rooted in white supremacy. Gorman uses the historical investigation to frame the present, suggesting that the nation must confront its history to understand the present. The poem insists that documenting and remembering such violence is a necessary act of resistance.

Key Events

  • The poem references James Weldon Johnson’s NAACP investigation into the 1919 riots.
  • It alludes to the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection (the “DC Putsch”).
  • The poem contrasts these two moments of political violence, linking them through language and imagery.

Character Development

  • The Speaker: Acts as a witness who connects past and present violence, emphasizing continuity and the urgency of remembrance.
  • James Weldon Johnson: Appears as an investigative voice from the past, representing civil rights documentation and the fight for justice.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Cycles of Violence: The pairing of 1919 and 2021 suggests that white supremacist violence recurs when left unaddressed.
  • Historical Memory: The poem insists on remembering and investigating past riots as a duty.
  • The Capitol as Symbol: The seat of government becomes a site of assault, exposing the fragility of democratic institutions.
  • Language of Investigation: The epigraph from The Crisis frames the poem as a critical inquiry, blending journalism with poetry.
  • “Putsch” as Motif: The German term underscores the coup-like nature of the insurrection, rejecting euphemisms like “protest” or “riot.”

Why This Chapter Matters

“DC Putsch” is a pivotal poem that directly addresses the January 6 insurrection, grounding it in a longer history of racial terrorism. It forces readers to see the attack not as a one-time aberration but as part of a dangerous pattern. The use of primary source material from the NAACP highlights the role of Black journalists and activists in documenting violence. The poem challenges the notion of American exceptionalism and asks readers to reckon with uncomfortable truths about how political violence has been used to uphold white supremacy. By linking 1919 and 2021, Gorman argues that the nation must investigate its own history to break the cycle.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Gorman include an epigraph from James Weldon Johnson’s 1919 article “The Riots: An N.A.A.C.P. Investigation”?
    Answer: The epigraph situates the 2021 Capitol insurrection within the historical context of the Red Summer of 1919, when white mobs attacked Black communities. It suggests that political violence against democratic institutions and racial justice is not new; it has been investigated and documented by civil rights organizations like the NAACP. The poem implies that understanding the present requires acknowledging these earlier acts of domestic terrorism.

  2. What does the title “DC Putsch” suggest about the events of January 6, 2021?
    Answer: “Putsch” is a German word meaning a violent coup or revolt. By using this term, Gorman characterizes the Capitol attack not as a protest or riot but as an attempted coup d’état against the U.S. government. The “DC” locates the coup in the nation’s capital, emphasizing that the threat came from within the country, not from a foreign power. The title frames the insurrection as part of a global history of coup attempts and challenges the idea that the U.S. is immune to such threats.

  3. How does the poem’s structure—a single epigraph followed by verse—contribute to its meaning?
    Answer: The epigraph serves as a historical anchor, providing a primary source that documents previous violence. The verse that follows expands on that history or brings it into the present. This structure mimics the process of investigation: first gathering evidence (the article), then interpreting its meaning. The poem itself becomes a new investigation, using poetry to connect the dots between 1919 and 2021.

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