Television
In this poem, television becomes a symbol of how the American population expects to be addressed. He refers to people who expect things to be brought to them, and will "skip out for beer during commercials." The speaker instead tells us that the revolution will not be on the tv, and will take place silently and subtly without media coverage.
Live revolution
At the end of the poem, the speaker tells us that "the revolution will be live," connecting to the imagery of television shows seen throughout. By this, he means that the revolution will not be able to be recorded or "re-run" again, but will take place live without people knowing about it.
Allusions
Allusions and cultural references are key motifs in this text and can be seen throughout. Everyone from Richard Nixon to Natalie Wood is mentioned, painting a picture of America in the 1970s, and also emphasizing how American media is whitewashed.
Real activism
Another motif in this poem is the difference between real activism and superficial activism. The author suggests that the revolution that matters will take place off our tv screens.
Media
Scott-Heron notes how the media can alter perceptions and hinder revolutions. Through the poem, he emphasizes how the media has been whitewashed, referring to mostly white media figures.
