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Why Is Langston Hughes's Mother To Son Still Relevant Today?

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Although we have come very far as a society since the end of slavery, there are many inequalities African Americans still experience. The Harlem Renaissance was known as a revival of black culture through music, dance, literature, and more. Despite this being a positive time for African Americans, they were still looked down upon and discriminated against. The poem “Mother to Son” written by Langston Hughes during this time period, shed light on the issues African Americans were facing despite the Harlem Renaissance being known as a time of prosperity for African Americans. This poem strongly relates to “Power” by Audre Lorde although they were written 60 years apart. This shows that although Americans are told we have come a long way since …show more content…

“Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes was written to represent a mother speaking to her son about the challenges of being Black. Despite the poem being written over 100 years ago, it is still very relevant today. The poem begins with the lines “Well, son, I’ll tell you: / Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair (lines 1-2).” This is an example of symbolism because the stairs are meant to represent the mother's life. He specifically mentions the mother's life not being a crystal stair to get the reader thinking about what a crystal can represent. When someone thinks of crystal, some describing words that may come to mind are expensive, clear, and made well. These are all characteristics Hughes wanted the reader to think about because they each represent a bigger issue that took place during that time …show more content…

This can also connect to the present time where African Americans experience systemic racism which can prevent them from achieving high levels of capital. During class, my peers were able to connect this to the other end of the spectrum which was White Americans who are able to experience an easier life. This is because most White Americans are born with a ‘silver spoon in their mouth’ meaning they have many advantages over Black people such as being born into a higher socioeconomic status. Although this may not be true for all White Americans, just being White alone gives you the advantage of White privilege which is another example of an inequality African Americans experience today. Moreover, when something is clear you are able to see what is coming from the other side. This is an advantage in terms of life being a “crystal stair” because you would be able to see what obstacles are coming your way. The other end of this would be opaque without knowing what life is going to throw at you making you unprepared which is usually the case with African Americans. As a result of systemic racism, African Americans have a lower chance of receiving high levels of education which is one of many examples of

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The two stories illustrate that African-Americans are not given an equal chance in terms of gaining opportunities for a successful life. However, it may be possible that one key factor among all can develop a whole problematic image on success and why White Americans think of the African-American society as to not having the capability for a chance towards success. At the time, the economy could have been at a huge disadvantage for the African-Americans because majority of them did not have the chance to rise up from it in terms of creating revenue for themselves. The whole world around them built this image and it is hard to come out of when no one can give opportunities for them to improve and grow. Harlon L. Dalton expresses how unfair the

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In this era of colorblindness, it is not acceptable to talk about race nor class. Conversations about class, Alexander argues, tend not to be talked about because one tends to see class as a reflection of one’s character. With that, the premise of American ideology is the idea that if one can work hard enough it is guaranteed that one will make it—AKA meritocracy. Hence, when one does not have the “proper discipline” nor “drive” to move from the lower to upper class—it is a reflection of one’s moral character. Alexander maintains that what is missed in this debate is that Blacks are not free to move up at all; yes they also do not have the same opportunities and are plagued by poverty, but they are prevented by institutions to move up.

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The Harlem Renaissance was a period in American history, which occurred in the 1920s in Harlem, New York. The cultural movement was an opportunity for African Americans to celebrate their heritage through intellectual and artistic works. Langston Hughes, a famous poet, was a product of the Harlem Renaissance. One notable piece of literature by Hughes is “Dream Deferred”. However, the discussion of African American culture isn’t limited to the 1920s.

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During the 1920’s while segregation existed between blacks and whites, The Harlem Renaissance also known as the New Negro Movement developed in Harlem New York City. The Harlem Renaissance allowed was very benficial to African Americans because it allowed them to express themeselves. ‘Harlem gave African American people a new sense of their own beauty and power” (Haskins,2). During the harlem Renassance African AMericans expressed themselves through different types of art such as music, poetry, dance,and paintings.

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It was a period of expression in which they took pride in their culture, this sense of group identity formed a basis for later progress for blacks in the United States. The Harlem Renaissance took down previous racial stereotypes, as well as exemplified that African Americans had much to offer and contributed greatly to the creation of American culture. B) James Weldon Johnson’s excerpt argued that African Americans during the Harlem Renaissance were establishing themselves as active and important forces in society whom were also accomplishing great artistic achievements. Langston Hughes, a leading African American poet of the Harlem Renaissance, wrote literature about the pain and pride

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(Cruz, 1999) Harlem Renaissance was a significant period in music history, this was the outbreak of jazz and the African roots movement and influencing the visual arts. Music played an important role in the slaves lives in cultivating knowledge and unity. Frederick Douglass’s, Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave, where he writes about the profound meanings of the songs that the slaves would sing, which would paint a picture of the turmoil and woe through the loud, deep and long tones in their voices. (Lemke, 1998)

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As claimed by Booker T. Washington, “keep in mind that we shall prosper in proportion as we learn to dignify and glorify common labour, and put brains and skill into the common occupations of life; shall prosper in proportion as we learn to draw the line between the superficial and the substantial, the ornamental gewgaws of life and the useful” (Paragraph 2). The African American people will and over time work to get to the top, and that they will prove to the white man that they do belong whether success of the field or in the new world they have finally allowed to be successful in. In this paragraph Mr. Washington uses a emotional point and turned it into motivation for Africans to work hard and try their best no matter what lay ahead. “It is at the bottom of life we must begin, and not at the top. Nor should we permit our grievances to overshadow our opportunities” (Paragraph

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As claimed by Booker T. Washington, “keep in mind that we shall prosper in proportion as we learn to dignify and glorify common labour, and put brains and skill into the common occupations of life; shall prosper in proportion as we learn to draw the line between the superficial and the substantial, the ornamental gewgaws of life and the useful” (Paragraph 2). The African American people will and over time work to get to the top, and that they will prove to the white man that they do belong whether success of the field or in the new world they have finally allowed to be successful in. In this paragraph Mr. Washington uses a emotional point and turned it into motivation for Africans to work hard and try their best no matter what lay ahead. “It is at the bottom of life we must begin, and not at the top. Nor should we permit our grievances to overshadow our opportunities” (Paragraph

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This essay brought Hurston’s name back into the public eye, and with hindsight the public found her work, their underlying themes, and even her work outside of writing truly a monument of the Harlem Renaissance. Hurston’s accolades include using the Harlem Renaissance to lead a successful feminist movement ahead of its time (5), and writing with both creativity and anthropology in mind to make her work have “life in it” to better portray literary elements (5). She was an activist to her final breath, fighting the Brown v Board decision in the 1950s, past both her and the Harlem Renaissance’s haydays. Hurston’s writing was able to portray black people with a soul, diverging from the norms and stereotypes the public had of African Americans, something very few could do. All of her wit and expertise allows her to be known today as one of the forefathers (mothers?) of the Harlem Renaissance, and embodies the cultural expression the Renaissance worked to

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The Harlem Renaissance is a time period that is not categorized as common knowledge. Most people don’t know the significance of it and how life changing it was for African Americans. While researching this topic, many reports, essays, journals, articles, and books were discovered that contained a plentiful amount of information proving its powerful influence. For instance, the Harlem Renaissance was a major historical event because African Americans were finally given an outlet to express themselves by creating unity and starting to develop the true African American culture. These accomplishments were especially significant because Blacks were starting to find their voice after they had been silenced.

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The Harlem Renaissance (c. 1918–37) was a turning point in American History for African Americans; their voices, stories and struggles were documented and heard through literature. There was a misconception or “dream” among the slaves that once they were freed they

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The writings during the Harlem Renaissance had many different themes and claims to provide, but, the most important one is that the community and collaboration during the Harlem Renaissance had a great impact on people in the past and still does today. During the Harlem Renaissance, there were many hardships that people had to face. One of them being segregation. Segregation took a toll on African Americans during this time but different works such as poems, music, and art were prominent parts in helping the people that were going through hard times and bringing people together. “The boy and the Bayonet,” by Paul Laurence Dunbar, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” By James Wheldon Johnson, and “I Leave The Glory Days,” By Nikki Grimes,” all clearly

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We've all heard the saying "White Privilege" used loosely in society. Well folks, it exists as a factual privilege given at birth to those of the Anglo-Saxon race of people, not only in America, but worldwide. Believe me folks, it comes with its perks and self proclaimed righteousness that creates its own preconceived path to success. On the other end of the spectrum, Charlamagne Tha God introduces "Black Privilege" in the book. Yes, it is indeed a privilege to be Black, African American.

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Even though I have had these disadvantages and probably many others, I am not going to let it stop me from being successful. I have made it this far so I can’t stop now. In this paper, I talked about my social location and identity, my life experiences and my privileges and disadvantages. The point of this paper is to allow me to reflect on who I am and at this point I think that I am a motivated, hardworking, young African American woman with a bright future ahead of

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In the poem “I, Too”, the author Langston Hughes illustrates the key aspect of racial discrimination faces against the African Americans to further appeals the people to challenge white supremacy. He conveys the idea that black Americans are as important in the society. Frist, Hughes utilizes the shift of tones to indicate the thrive of African American power. In the first stanza, the speaker shows the sense of nation pride through the use of patriotic tone. The first line of the poem, “I, too, sing America” states the speaker’s state of mind.

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