To state something means to state it cearly of directly

you didnt put   question but this passage would be a origin story made to explain life and death and who controls each one

- "the answers are a and b.  

when cullen speaks of planting while others reap, and standing "abject and mute," he is speaking about the racial injustices present in american society. as these injustices have changed over time, the american identity  has also shifted. those changes are, in turn, reflected in american literature."