The Depth of Social Criticism in the Little Black Boyand...

Both poems â€Å"The Little Black Boy† and â€Å"Chimney Sweeper† by William Blake expose the depth of social criticism under different circumstances. The poem â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper† has a much stronger reflection on the responsibility of religion and society to take blame for their actions in perpetuating the cycle of slavery. The children being sold into the inhuman conditions of chimney sweeping can’t get out of the dangerous line of work without assistance from adults who instead aid their suffering to continue working as a chimney sweeper. The poem â€Å"The Little Black Boy† has a much different angle to the circumstances of society. The mental barriers constructed by the boy suggest that he has more difficulty accepting his own appearance than most other people do. He believes his physical appearance defines him, and decides to show his difference through actions. The poem â€Å"Chimney Sweeper† by William Blake has a significant s ocial criticism because the situation of the chimney sweepers is easily relatable to the struggle all African Americans faced at least once during the existence of the United States to being slaves. The nature of the reality of the situation for the sweepers is shown through the description of their life and labor. The boy is described as â€Å"A little black thing among the snow†. This description shows the dehumanization these boys are shown. The people viewing them only see their color and not a child working his life sweeping chimneys for no pay. To