Let America Be America Be America Again: Poem Analysis

Poems can be seen as an expression of the soul and mind, and even though, poems are not everyone’s favorite literary subject, when an individual’s find that special poem it can move their soul one with the poet. There are many poets in the world, but the one that draws my attention the most was no other than Langston Hughes. It would be impossible to cover all the poems he has written, but the one that seemed so relevant with society today would be “Let America Be America Again.” The eye-opening poem was published in the 1938 pamphlet by Hughes entitled A New Song. In Langston Hughes poem “Let America Be America Again” Hughes reflects his theme of protest and hope through the use of personification, symbolism, and various tones.

Hughes begins

Hughes begins the poem with a testament of what the American dream was to the pioneers trying to achieve a new successful life in this country, but Hughes quickly adds that "America never was America to me." (Line 5) Hughes tone in this line is very personal to him and his family and sad, the wanting of something he has never had. Hughes feels that he, and other minorities are not considered a part of America, and that they have been denied the rights of other Americans. Hughes tone becomes desperate as he hopes to be included in the "dream the dreamers dreamed” (Line 6). Hughes doesn't want the false hope of a country that pretends to be equal for all, rather he wants opportunity that is "real, and life is free." (Line 13) The lines "There's never been equality for me, not freedom in this 'homeland of the free” (Line 15-16) truly shows the level of being disconnected from the American dream along with other African-Americans, poor whites, Native Americans, and the immigrants who have not been allowed to strive in American society. In these lines, Hughes hopes that the reader receives his message that it is not just African- Americans who desire to be accepted, but all minorities who dream about being treated like Americans. In his article “Langston Hughes's counterpublic discourse”, Jeff Westover states " Langston Hughes adopts an oratorical voice in order to

In this poem, Hughes contrasts his hopes for America with the reality of life for those outside of the socially popular and economically dominant racial, religious, and social groups. Hughes evokes on the dreams of those who came to the America seeking a haven where they could would be safe from the persecution happening in their homelands - but those dreams of America have never come true. Hughes executes his theme of hope and protest through the use of personification, patriotic symbolism, and various tones throughout the