Analysis Langston Huges "Ballad of the Landlord"

Land of the Oppressed: An Explication “Ballad of the Landlord”

By Langston Hughes

Traditionally a ballad is a love song but Hughes turns this ballad in to a poem with rhythm

and rhyme The Poem highlights a black man’s experience in an oppressed society. Although this

tenant has valid complaints about the conditions of his house/apt; he is thrown in jail without

cause. A great detail of the timeline and era the poem was written/created in

He begins with a relevant complaint and reminder, this complaint is a week old; The

Tenant is characterized by nonstandard English, (slang). Suggesting the man is poorly educated.

“My roof has sprung a leak / Don’t you remember I told you about it / Way last week”?

lines (2-4). He pleads it as a matter of a safety precaution on the landlord’s behalf as well as his.

“These steps is broken down / When you come up yourself / It’s a wonder you don’t fall down.”

Lines (6-8). When the landlord comes to collect the rent money, it’s as if he has deaf ears to the

tenants complaints. The tenant’s voice becomes direct but still relaxed and calm.

“Ten Bucks you say is due? / Well, that’s ten bucks more’n I’ll pay you / Till you fix this house

up new.” Lines (10-12) The tenant is being reasonable and willing to pay double the amount. He

evan overemphasizes Ten Bucks three times.

At this point of the conversation the tenant is starting to have feelings of intimidation and

frustration by the landlords threats of eviction. Lines (13-16).

The tone and exclamation point suggest the tenant and landlord are having a heated argument

now. “Um-huh! You talking high and mighty. / Talk on-till you get through. / You aint gonna be

able to say a word / If I land my fist on you.” The tenant now has unleashed pure anger,

threatening the landlord with physical violence. (Lines 19-20).

The poem has shifted now the landlord is shouting and calling for the police to come to arrest

this man. The landlord is making outrageous accusations that the man is trying to takeover and

overthrow the government. “Police! Police! Come and get this man! He’s trying to ruin the

government And overturn the land!” (Lines 21-240). The accusations all being ridiculous and

fabricated lies. The tenant was only counter-reacting to the landlords threats, there is no real

crime committed here. Instead of listening and being reasonable with the tenant to fix the

problems, the landlord ignores the tenants complaints which in reality is unlawful. As ridiculous

as the accusations are the landlord knows the police and law will take his side. “Copper’s

Whistle! Patrol Bell! Arrest.”

The police arrive and without reasoning or questioning the tenant is arrested and taken to jail.

Signaling the man is powerless and words are unheard by the authorities as well.

Newspaper headlines; “MAN THREATENS LANDLORD; TENANT HELD NO BAIL;

JUDGE GIVES NEGRO 90 DAYS IN COUNTY JAIL” (lines 31-33). He goes from being a

man, a tenant and lastly a Negro emphasizing his unimportance in society. Typical of the era this

poem was created in. After all, this was a time during the Jim Crow Laws, which were state and

local laws in the United States, (1876-1965) that enforced segregation in public facilities.

Separate but Equal, but in reality led to treatment and accommodations that were inferior to

those provided for white Americans. Systematically disadvantaging African Americans in

education, economics and society.

Langston Hughes effectively without a doubt gives us insight thru this ballad/poem, of what

is was like to be an African American, living in the 1940’s United States, oppressed,

discriminated and dominated in every aspect of life, in a white society.

Although this black tenant/man had legitimate and legal reason to complain about his living

conditions, he was treated less than a man, less than a citizen, without civil rights by the

landlord, the police and the judicial system. Justifying the need for the Civil Rights Movement

in the 1960’s United States.