Starting from the late 1700’s until the mid 1900’s was a difficult time for the African American community. People were dying for no specific reason, there were no jobs’ and the life conditions were very harsh. The Analyzing of two different poems A Black Man Talks of Reaping by Arna Bontemps and A Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes helps us better understand the difficulties in Harlem during the 19th century. The comparison of the similarities and differences between both creates a solid and experienced idea for the reader to understand. The fact that in one poem the author ‘speaks’ and the other one the author ‘talks’ can prove different experiences that these authors have lived trough. Both poems use specific examples and comparisons to give a global image of Harlem in the 1900’s.…
The poem entitled “English B”, by Langston Hughes begins with the speaker’s English teacher instructing the class to do a writing assignment, claiming that any piece written from the heart will automatically be true. As the speaker is walking home he wonders if the assignment is as easy and simple to write about oneself and it…
Langston Hughes was considered one of the principal and prominent voices of Harlem Renaissance during the 1920s and 1930s. His poetry encompasses heterogeneity of subject matters and motifs concerning working African-Americans who were excluded and deprived of power. His choice of theme was accentuated and manifested through the convergence of African-American vernacular and blues forms. My attempt is to analyze the implications of the most significant poems by first introducing the author, examining the relevance of the poems and then, contrast them with Richard Wright’s antagonistic perspective.…
Langston Hughes’ “Theme for English B” use different styles to emphasize their rationales of social tolerance among races, the pieces closely relate to each other in view of the fact that both authors are fighting for the development of racial equality throughout the…
Have you ever felt out of place from those around you? In “Theme for English B”, Langston Hughes discusses how the speaker goes about this paper assignment. He questions the definition of simple. He wonders if the truth is the same between him, his classmates and his professor. Will the papers be the same between himself and all the other white students in class? This paper assignment has the speaker realize that there is more in common between himself and the other students than just race.…
In the poems, “Let America Be America Again” and “Negro” by Langston Hughes, the voice of the narrator appear to be bold and pitiful. The tones of both poems are anger and bitterness from the minority groups in America towards the majority group. The themes of each poem vary in ways but they are also similar pertaining to the way that African Americans do not have equal opportunities in America just like the other minority groups living in America. In “Let America Be America Again”, Langston Hughes illustrates that America is not the land of the free like it is advertised. In “Negro”, Hughes also castigate America but from the point of the view of an African American.…
Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1, 1902 and died in New York City, New York on May 22, 1967. His father’s name was James Nathaniel and his mother’s name was Carrie Mercer Langston Hughes. His parents separated not to long after he was born. His father later moved to Cuba and later permanently lived in Mexico, where he lived the rest of his life working as an attorney and landowner. He eventually traveled to Mexico to visit his father who moved when his parents separated from each but luckily for Langston, within a few years of his visit to Mexico, he would find himself at the center of a cultural flowering in New York City's historically black neighborhood that is famously known as Harlem. Hughes's poetry…
B. The tone of the essay, Fifth Avenue, Uptown: A letter from Harlem by James Baldwin and the tone of the poem, Theme for English B by Langston Hughes are similar. They are similar for both authors show that there is hope for equality through the tone of each text. In the poem, Theme for English B, Hughes says “You are white -- / yet a part of me, as I am a part of you. / That’s American.” Hughes expresses that although he may be the only black person in his class, he is still American like the rest of the…
Many leaders in today’s society possess characteristics that determine how they are either chosen or self-made. These characteristics could range from being a charismatic, transformational, motivational, or influential leader. Each has its own meaning, but it is possible for leaders to possess more than one characteristic. Being a charismatic leader consists of having a charming and colorful personality. As the text reads, “In the study of leadership, charisma is a special quality of leaders whose purposes, powers, and extraordinary determination differentiate them from others."…
The Harlem Renaissance was a huge cultural movement for the culture of African Americans. Embracing the various aspects of art, many sought to envision what linked black peoples’ relationship to their heritage and to each other. Langston Hughes was one of the many founders of such a cultural movement. Hughes was very unique when it came to his use of jazz rhythms and dialect in portraying the life of urban blacks through his poetry, stories, and plays. By examining 2 poems by Langston Hughes, this essay will demonstrate how he criticized racism in Harlem, New York.…
life is fine by langston Hughes is a fairly long narrative poem when an abac rhyme scheme.in this poem Hughes uses extended metaphor to compare life in the 1940's to suicide and racism. in life is fine Hughes spoke about suicide and racism for young black males and black people in general. Hughes uses an extended metaphor to effectively compare life in the 1940's to racism:"ill be dogged my sweet baby,if you gonna see me die".we have all felt like someone didn't like you because the way you are or who you are.by reading those lines you might think that he's talking about a girlfriend or his wife but it might be just he talks or maybe it might be about a loves he has about some of the opposite race that doesn't love him back because of…
Personally for me , I felt more similarly to the Langston Hughes essay. The era the essay is written from might be another reason since it is more modern and easier to relate. Compared to the Gates essay it was easier to wrap my head around it. I was able to dissect the essay and see the true meaning you could say. The wording Huge used was also more modern and easier to understand.…
After approaching the "Harlem Branch Y," and returning to his apartment, the speaker begins his paper. He reflects on his life as an average twenty-two year old student. He begins to ignore race and tries to focus on his individuality. He likes "a pipe for a Christmas present or records-Bessie, bop, or Bach." This sentence provides a perfect example of alliteration. Keeping in mind to "let that page come out of you--/Then, it will be true", the speaker is honest with himself and tries not to hide behind the "white" page. He identifies with his culture and lets the reader "see and hear, Harlem". This poem shows the speaker's "true" feelings towards society, how some white people "don't want to be a part of me". He reflects on the present state of blacks in America, racism, and most importantly the oppression he feels as a black student stating that "white" people are "somewhat more free". I believe Hughes wrote this poem as a protest against racism. Through his speaker, Hughes desperately pleads with his readers to strive for a unified America free of…
“The Harlem Renaissance was a literary, artistic, and intellectual movement that kindled a new black cultural identity” (The Harlem Renaissance). In the Harlem Renaissance poem, Theme for English B by Langston Hughes, he uses imagery, rhyme, and alliteration to effectively demonstrate African – American struggle for equality. This poem was written during a time when colored people struggled a lot, and it shows that people may learn from each other no matter their ethnicity. In the Langston Hughes poem, he argues, be confident and know who you are, being a different color does not mean that a person is any different or does not think the same.…
Langston Hughes, a well known American poet, was born and raised in mild poverty and faced many struggles during his childhood and early adulthood. Due to the circumstances surrounding his life, Hughes developed a strong emotional connection to anyone facing struggles, particularly youth growing up in poor areas of American cities, such as New York City's Harlem area. After realizing these connections, Hughes was able to successfully address the difficulties of life and the struggles of the people, through the piece "Harlem”. The use of a distinct voice, beginning with such a strong title, compels the audience to continue through the poem, where we are exposed to strong use of voice, tone, symbolism, word choice, and poetic structure.…