Why You Reckon Literary Analysis Have you ever tried to imagine what it would be like to be the inferior race during the time of the 1920’s, and being so hungry your only option was to hold the superior race for ransom in order to survive? The race gap is so pervasive that the humanity in blacks and whites is not seen, therefore criminal activity or treating others indecently is believed to be acceptable during this time period. Langston Hughes’ story “Why You Reckon” treatment of the white characters portrays the tarnished relationship between the two races during the 1920’s through the setting and dialogue between the characters.
The author emphasizes the startling social and economic disparity between the races, as one of his black characters says about white people, “Do you think they care anything about you?” He says this because in his shoes, he feels as if they are looked down upon just because of the color of his skin. These two African American characters are starving and
…show more content…
They see rich white people spending luxuriously, while they are struggling to eat and stay warm. One says, “These here rich folks comes up to Harlem spending forty of fifty bucks in the night clubs and speakeasies and don’t care nothin' bout you and me out here in the street, do they?” The black character is resentful towards white people because they are receiving more than they deserve, without offering to those who are struggling to even satisfy their hunger. White people are so conditioned to be senseless about this, as they are only focused on themselves. The white man they targeted has a wallet, a gold watch, a cigarette lighter, a key ring, a beautiful lady’s bag, and overcoat. Their response to the white man’s possessions was, “Wearin’ diamonds up here to Harlem, and me starving?” This is further evidence of the racial disparity and desensitizing of