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Critical Race Theory

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The Analysis of “The Ballad of the Landlord” Utilizing Critical Race Theory
“The Ballad of the Landlord” is a poem by Langston Hughes, published in 1940, that tells the story of a tenant and a landlord in a run-down tenement building in Harlem. The poem is a powerful commentary on the racist attitudes and policies that were prevalent in the United States at the time. “The Ballad of the Landlord” can be analyzed from a critical race theory perspective to better understand its underlying themes.
Critical race theory is a framework for understanding how race and racism operate in society, and how they intersect with other forms of oppression such as class, gender, and sexuality. It argues that racism is not simply a matter of individual prejudice …show more content…

The poem begins with the tenant asking the landlord to make repairs at his house--”My roof has sprung a leak” and “These steps is broken down”, but the landlord refuses and becomes violent, threatening to call the police if the tenant does not pay his rent (Hughes 2,6) . This interaction reveals the power dynamics at play in the relationship between the tenant, who is black and poor, and the landlord, who is white and wealthy.
The landlord's behavior, “What? You gonna get eviction orders?” can be seen as an example of systemic racism, in which people of color are denied access to resources and opportunities because of their race (Hughes 13). The fact that the landlord refuses to make necessary repairs to the tenant's apartment is a manifestation of this systemic racism, as it demonstrates how landlords in poor, black neighborhoods often neglect their properties and their …show more content…

history. The police have often been used as a tool of oppression against black and brown communities, and the landlord's threat to call them reinforces this idea. It also reveals the power that the landlord has over the tenant, as the landlord is able to use the police as a means of enforcing his will.
The tenant's response to the landlord's threats can also be analyzed from a critical race theory perspective. The tenant says, "You ain't gonna be able to say a word/If I land my fist on you," indicating that he is willing to use violence to defend himself and his rights (Hughes 19-20). This response can be seen as a form of resistance against the systemic racism and classism that he is facing. It also reflects the idea of self-defense that is central to many critical race theory frameworks, which argues that people of color have a right to defend themselves against the violence and oppression that they

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