Continuing, black and white are contrasted again, but in a racial manner by the way of skin color. Based on history, white people and black people have had their differences, putting it in light terms, that have resulted in many stereotypes today and whenever this poem takes was written. During that time of turmoil, between races, there was a power struggle for whoever wanted to be on top, this is alluded to in lines 13-21. Within these lines comparison of white and black is at its strongest. “I am in his power,” and, “he is in my power,” coupled with what Olds writes about one taking/ living off the others’ life emphasizes the aggression that is suggested to be between them, but remains stagnate.
The poet is reflecting to themself in a coming of age manner. The poet seemed to be away from their hometown for a while, and upon returning they may have realized aspects of their community in a more intellectual and spiritual way (post learning and evolving in this world), a way they have never noticed before. Upon returning home, the poet says, “I returned to a country battlefield where colored troops fought and died.” (Trethewey 21) The poet is utilizing learned knowledge to analyze something that once seemed to be so innocent and
Authors tend to use political and or social statements to express themselves in literature. Paul Laurence Dunbar talks about the inequality and discrimination that African Americans were facing in his poem “Douglass.”
First ALot of african Americans didn't have a job or weren’t accepted in jobs. The whites could call a job and get a african american person fired. The poem written by Paul Laurence Dunbar i about how black were were getting treated differently. It was also about how black people had to wear mask because they felt like they had to hide their identity. Then the poem “Mother To Son” written by Langston hughes is about how life can get really challenging sometimes but you should never give up.
Langston Hughes poems “Harlem” and “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” are two poems that have a deeper meaning than a reader may notice. Hughes 's poem “Harlem” incorporates the use of similes to make a reader focus on the point Hughes is trying to make. In “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” Hughes shows how close he was to the rivers on a personal level. With those two main focuses highlighted throughout each poem, it creates an intriguing idea for a reader to comprehend. In these particular poems, Hughes’s use of an allusion, imagery, and symbolism in each poem paints a clear picture of what Hughes wants a reader to realize.
The poem I chose was “Note on Commercial Theater” by Langston Hughes. This addresses the issues of identity. Langston wrote about people taking away his “spirituals” and changing the music,plays, and other creations originating from african americans. In the poem Langston say one day somebody will talk and write about him and about his experience. I think this poem is about the hardship of working to create something meaningful then having a different person change it or adapt it.
He tries to get the listener to understand the reality of being an African-American, but the listener struggles to understand the oppression that African-Americans face. The main speaker begins the poem by saying, “Good
This poem being from 1951 verbalizes the internal struggle of a black college student. During this time period it was socially acceptable to think the color of a person’s skin could dictate a person’s interests. He internally battles with the idea of identifying with a white man and how his white professor will be forced to identify with him after reading his paper. The poem also depicts the struggles of all college students of any time period. While he specifically mentions his struggles as a black man some of these struggles are also reflections of how most students don’t identify with their professors.
In the poem “Theme for English B” by Langston Hughes many Literary elements are being used and there is a meaning behind the poem. within the poem. One of the elements is allusion. Hughes uses many allusions throughout the poem such as, Durham, Harlem, New York, Eighth Avenue, Bessie, and Bach. These allusions reference the schools Hughes went to and where he lives.
Langston Hughes poems “Harlem” and “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” are two poems that have a deeper meaning than a reader may notice. Hughes 's poem “Harlem” incorporates the use of similes to make a reader focus on the point Hughes is trying to make. In “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” Hughes shows how close he was to the rivers on a personal level. With those two main focuses highlighted throughout each poem, it creates an intriguing idea for a reader to comprehend. In these particular poems, Hughes’s use of an allusion, imagery, and symbolism in each poem paints a clear picture of what Hughes wants a reader to realize.
I like the initial statement “In my land are no distinctions” of the “Poem for the Youth White Man, “ because it sound hopeful and very sensitive, but then the lecture progressively began to sound rude and cruel. I think the author focuses on the issue of racism from the perspective of white man. It is really desolate that racism still exists; it is common to hear how the people identify others based on their race, the black man, the white woman and the brown man when they refer to Hispanic. Talking about racism, I comment something that happened to me a long time ago.
Reading about both of these authors talks about racism in different ways. It’s interesting how they were both based in Harlem. Poems to me are fascinating because it helps me imagine the situation and to understand what it’s supposed to be about. The poems are sad because african american people are putting themselves down when they actually shouldn't be. Many of these negroes are really good poetics, but the whites are criticizing them.
My favorite poem reading was "Negro" by Langston Hughes. As an African-American, this poem reflects the plight of the struggle of African-Americans from the past to the present. This poem resonated with me because I can remember my grandfather sitting back in his rocking chair saying before we were called African-Americans we were said to be a negro. This poem should be read not only by individuals with African roots but all nationalities because prejudice is still a part of American society. There is a sense in the poem of black people having an ear for music.
Meanwhile, the readers can learn something for each of the poems and apply it to their life. They can also noticed how Langston Hughes’s poems often contains hope and noted the possibility that both white and black people can live together in peace and harmony. And the poems also represent the average person of colors’ life and their struggles and frustrations towards the white community throughout the twentieth century. “Theme for English B” was written in 1949 by Hughes, which showcases the
Throughout much of his poetry, Langston Hughes wrestles with complex notations of African American dreams, racism, and discrimination during the Harlem Renaissance. Through various poems, Hughes uses rhetorical devices to state his point of view. He tends to use metaphors, similes, imagery, and connotation abundantly to illustrate in what he strongly believes. Discrimination and racism were very popular during the time when Langston Hughes began to develop and publish his poems, so therefore his poems are mostly based on racism and discrimination, and the desire of an African American to live the American dream. Langston Hughes poems served as a voice for all African Americans greatly throughout his living life, and even after his death.
