Racism Exposed In The South, By Langston Hughes

During a time of racial oppression, Langston Hughes was a voice for African Americans suffering from discrimination. His many poems and short stories shined a light on the hardships of being black in America. His poem, “The South,” demonstrates his love/hate relationship with the South and how he wished to be accepted there. His use of personifying the South makes the poem even more influential to the American public. Hughes shows the injustices of racism through the literary devices he uses to portray the North and the South, and his writing drew attention to the problem. Racism was a huge issue during the time Langston Hughes wrote about the South. Hughes writes how he feels about the South, “And I, who am black, would love her/ But she spits in

Even though the South has mistreated African Americans, Hughes still expresses love towards it. In an analytical article of his work, author Margaret A. Reid states, “Regardless of how the South has mistreated the Negro, the persona expresses an unrequited love for her” (Reid). Hughes wishes the South would accept him because he feels he has many things he could offer to it. Because he is black, the South looks down upon him, and does not want what he has to give. This treatment caused many African Americans to move to the North in hopes of finding relief from discrimination. He writes, “So now I seek the North-/ the cold faced North/ for she, they say, is a kinder mistress, and in her house my children may escape the spell of the South” (Hughes). Those in the South viewed the North as an escape from racism. They thought their lives would be better if they moved to the North. What they did not know is that the North was not much different than the South. Hughes uses the last