Inequality In Langston Hughes Theme For English B.

A society so stuck in the past will never be willing to change or welcome new ways of life. In the persona poem by Langston Hughes, “Theme for English B,” a twenty-two-year-old colored man goes to college above Harlem where he is tasked by his professor to write a paper about who he is, which brings the speaker to question his identity in the world. Similarly, Richard Blanco, in his poem “Queer Theory,” illustrates a grandmother speaking to her grandson and expressing her thoughts about strictly following the ways of what is “masculine” in society. While both Blanco and Hughes in their writings convey the ideas of a persona and criticize social expectation in a separated world, Hughes’ usage of literary devices and syntax creates a more compelling

The nation continues to strive towards the idea of equality for everyone, but for many in history, the idea was never a reality for them. Langston Hughes and Richard Blanco give first-hand experience and thoughts behind the ideas of inequality in their persona poems. Langston Hughes’ persona poem “Theme for English B” relays the story of a man of color attending college above Harlem where he is the only colored student in his class. He is assigned by his professor to write a paper about who he is but, throughout the poem, he questions his identity and his place in a segregated world. He ends the poem with the conclusion of his assignment and his final thoughts on finding who he is as an American in society. During this time, segregation was a big and important thing going on. Many black people were seen as less than or inferior to white people while getting separate treatments. This poem illustrates how a person of

This poem showcases a grandmother demanding her grandson to follow societal gender roles instead of his desires, while the audience is put in the place of the grandson, feeling the demands as well. Many people during the writing of this poem, and even still today, are shamed or hated for their sexualities or how they live their life. This poem explains to readers a grandmother trying to shelter her grandson from those people in society by telling him to follow the societal norms of what is masculine. The grandson or audience is told to do more masculine things such as playing with Hot Wheels or laser guns instead of dolls or Play-Doh to keep him from the criticism of others. Both poems address different types of division from societal standards and separation in the world, however, Hughes is able to create a more compelling and strong story in the minds of the readers. Hughes throughout his poem provides a more compelling visual and a greater understanding for the readers with the usage of syntax, structure, and literary devices such as symbolism to contemplate his place in society with