¶ … America Be America Again
Langston Hughes, an African-American poet and social writer, was one of the world's most important interpreters of the African-American experience in the United States during the decade prior to World War II and the subsequent civil rights movement. Hughes publishes a variety of famous works, including the though-provoking poem, let America Be America Again." In this poem, Hughes shows a strong awareness of the American dream yet talks about it as if it were a thing of the past, even to those who had once believed in it and even profited from it. Hughes cleverly uses a method of physical disconnection to demonstrate how Negroes, at the time, never experienced the American Dream. "It was never America to me." Hughes' writing style is very influenced by his race and culture, showing hints if jazz and blues in the poem.
Many critics say that Hughes' poem is written in the tone of a black sermon, as if he were preaching to his audience (Wagner, p. 311). Others say that the poem is written in a conversational style, in which Hughes enables the speaker and audience to interact with one another. Still, the rhythm and rhymes contribute to the overall effectiveness of the poem, in which Hughes conveys his thoughts, emotions and beliefs about America in the 1930's.
According to Hughes, in his poem "Let America Be America Again," the American Dream had failed many Americans living in the 1930's, during a time of depression and harsh times. The poet nostalgically discusses the intentions of the American Dream, and paints a picture of how the country could return to its idealistic state. The speaker asks the listener to identify where they fit in regarding the American Dream: "Say who are you that mumbles in the dark'?" This cues the listener to reveal who they are and speak on...
Langston Hughes' "Democracy" A number of ideas are expressed -- and buried -- in Langston Hughes' 1949 poem "Democracy." The poem is composed in open form and appears to take its cues from the musical jazz movement of the time period. Its lines are short, often punctuated by abbreviated verses and sudden rhymes that indicate a sense of urgency and immediacy, while vibrating with a strong and insistent timbre and tone.
Langston Hughes and James Baldwin Compare/Contrast Music plays a major role in much of the literature that came out of the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance was an American cultural movement that aimed to celebrate African-American culture through literature, art, and other intellectual and artistic means. One of the musical styles that was influential in literary works of Langston Hughes and James Baldwin was the blues. This musical style rose out
To combat the power of their oppressive circumstances, many would sing to chase away the blue. This tradition is captured in the " Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor" (22). The song is about oppression and an attempt to be happy regardless of setting. Heritage, history and hope merge together in this poem to explore what the African experience must have been like. Hughes' poetry is also
Langston Hughes felt that African-Americans should be able to live in freedom in the 20th Century. He saw African-Americans as a vibrant race, full of live, compassion, and love. He didn't approve of complacent people. Because Hughes was at the center of the Harlem Renaissance, he naturally felt that African-Americans should speak up and demand what they want. He felt that African-Americans should be proud of their heritage -- they
Hughes seems to indicate that cultural roots are so strong that each gets pulled indifferent directions. In "Poor little black fellow," a similar incident occurs with a white couple adopting their dead servant's black child (they call the child 'it'). Also here we see culture doing things to the Pemebertons that they didn't like and compelling them to act in certain ways. They had to go first class, their adopted
As a participant in the American history, the author feels that he was among those deceived by the empty promises of democracy and equality: "Yet I'm the one who dreamt our basic dream / in the Old World while still a serf of kings, / Who dreamt a dream so strong, so brave, so true, / That even yet its mighty daring sings / in every brick and stone,
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