Langston Hughes As I Grew Older And Audre Lorde
Sometimes you don’t realize the truth about the other side of the world that people don’t talk about. Langston Hughes “As I Grew Older” and Audre Lorde “Who Said It Was Simple” most powerfully use figurative language to persuade others to fight against the injustice of sexism and discrimination. Poetry matters because it could express how people really feel about injustice. Poetry allows them to open up and show how they feel towards the problems in the world. It makes people realize that they need to change and stand up for what they believe in. Hughes was a famous African-American poet and a social activist who lived during the racial oppression and discrimination against the blacks. “As I Grew Older” starts off about a dream that the poet
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had a long time ago. Hughes declares, “In front of me, /Bright like a sun/ my dream” (lines 4-6).
In the poem it shows he has nearly forgotten his dream, but he can now see his dream ahead of him once more. Based on the line, ‘’Bright like a sun” it shows how his dream was going to be fulfilled until a wall prevented him from completing his dream. The author symbolizes how African Americans gave up their dreams due to discrimination the whites had towards the blacks. His dream was right in front of him, but the wall of obstacles he has to face will not let his dream come true. Hughes is describing how the wall represents his race which is keeping him from reaching his dream. The metaphor of darkness is what’s blocking him from his dream which shows how race doesn’t allow him to accomplish his dream. Based on Hughes eager tone he sends a clear message of how his race has taught him to fight harder for his dream. Hughes mentions, “No longer the light of my dream before me/above me/only the thick wall” (lines 15-17). He realizes that his race is setting him back, but because of his race he has to fighter harder to reach his dream. A wall of injustice has blocked the sunlight to accomplish his obstacles. Hughes uses the symbol of a shadow to show his race which is the reason why they keep him from
achieving his dream. He is describing how he feels defeated and helpless. The repetition of “my dream” shows that he really wanted to accomplish his dream not only for him but for others as well. The way he uses a juxtaposition of light vs. Dark to show how he still has hope of accomplishing his dream no matter the challenges he will face. He uses this figurative language to show readers no matter the challenge or consequence achieve your dream and fight against injustice. Hughes declares, “Find my dream! / Help me shatter this darkness” (lines 22-23). The author uses a shift to represents that he still has hope in accomplishing his goals. In the beginning of the poem he had a despondent tone but now he’s eager to accomplish his dream no matter the challenges he’ll go through. He wants to shatter this darkness and overcome his fear to fulfill his dream. Hughes uses this violent language to show that he feels no fear or doubt about what he must do. Hughes poem, “As I Grew Older” encourages others because he shows how no matter the obstacle or challenge never give up and just fight harder to achieve your goals. He shows how the injustice of racism has prevented him from his dream but his choice of deciding to take a risk shows, that he is not going down without a fight to reach his dream. Lorde’s “Who Said it was Simple”, describes the injustice of sexism and racism towards women. The title “Who Said it was Simple”, relates to the poem because it describes how fighting for equal rights isn’t simple due to everyone having a different opinion on what is right. Lorde uses a metaphor of “So many roots to the tree of anger” to show that she has a choleric tone towards the injustice of sexism. All the roots of the tree represents her unstoppable anger spreading. The noticeable imagery of aggression and temper encourages readers to realize the reality of sexism. This identifies the struggles and challenges women face due to them having very little rights. She shows how men have more rights than women, and how they have are being treated differently. Lorde declares, “An almost white counter man passes / a waiting brother to serve them first” (lines 8-9). Lorde mentions “An almost white counter man” to show that just by being white they have more rights than colored woman. Also they are treated better than people from different races. She shows how a white counter man passes a black man to serve the white feminists first. Lorde shows sexism and discrimination towards blacks was one of the reason why she has become angry. The way she shows sexism is how woman are being treated different due to their appearance and gender. Since white woman were seen as inferior to men they have gotten more rights and respect for being a woman. Also she describes the discrimination towards African Americans because due to the man being black he was not serve first due his race and the counter man being sexist. Also since the woman were white due to them being called “ladies” they had the privilege over the black man. Lorde wants to show that sexism is just as bad as racism which why she includes how the ladies were treated differently and were served first. Lorde describes how the ladies accepts the sexism because it isn’t as bad as racism. Further on she states, “And the ladies neither notice nor reject” (line 10), which shows that the ladies at the restaurant didn’t care about the black man being serve last. It shows her personal struggles on how she has to deal with seeing sexism, and shows it’s not simple going through sexism. Lorde talks about the personal struggles she has faced due to the sexist or racial prejudices. The ladies had accepted the sexism which shows they don’t mind being superior for being a woman. Lorde mentions, “But I who am bound by my mirror” (line 12). The mirror represents the way she looks like which shows how her appearance plays huge role in sexism. She can’t change anything so she is bound, or stuck how she is by them. Women had mostly seen their mirrors to look presentable for men in society. Lorde feels that she does not have the same equalities between men due to her being a women. Lorde is showing that she has multiple identities because she has experience sexism, and discrimination. The way she describes her identities are by color, gender, and sexual reasons. These are the struggles Lorde faces due to having multiple identities and experiencing the injustice of sexism and discrimination. This encourages readers to defy injustice because it make them see the reality and truth about people being treated differently. Lorde sends a clear message to fight against the injustice of sexism and racism by using a choleric tone to show readers that this is unacceptable.
Langston Hughes “As I Grew Older” and Audre Lorde “Who said it was simple still relates to the issues we face today due to sexism and discrimination is still seen today. This connects to our world today because there is still injustice of sexism and discrimination and people don’t speak up or do anything about it because of the consequences. The poems are a way to express the truth about how they feel about injustice. This makes people realize the other side of the world that people don’t talk about. It makes people’s minds see the truth and shows that injustice needs to stop before it gets worse. These poems could be an inspiration because the more people read these poem the more it changes the way people feel about injustice. For example in the twenty-twelve election eighty-one percent who voted for Mitt Romney were white. This is a good example on how whites still vote for whites. It is sad but true discrimination still exist and needs to stop before it gets worse. As well for sexism it still exists today, for example woman are most likely to do less time in prison then men. This is because due their gender they believe they aren’t as violent and criminal like as men. One of the reasons why women experience sexism because they accept it to take advantage of others. This is why Langston Hughes and Audre Lorde is trying to make readers realize the truth and reality of sexism and racism.
had a long time ago. Hughes declares, “In front of me, /Bright like a sun/ my dream” (lines 4-6).
In the poem it shows he has nearly forgotten his dream, but he can now see his dream ahead of him once more. Based on the line, ‘’Bright like a sun” it shows how his dream was going to be fulfilled until a wall prevented him from completing his dream. The author symbolizes how African Americans gave up their dreams due to discrimination the whites had towards the blacks. His dream was right in front of him, but the wall of obstacles he has to face will not let his dream come true. Hughes is describing how the wall represents his race which is keeping him from reaching his dream. The metaphor of darkness is what’s blocking him from his dream which shows how race doesn’t allow him to accomplish his dream. Based on Hughes eager tone he sends a clear message of how his race has taught him to fight harder for his dream. Hughes mentions, “No longer the light of my dream before me/above me/only the thick wall” (lines 15-17). He realizes that his race is setting him back, but because of his race he has to fighter harder to reach his dream. A wall of injustice has blocked the sunlight to accomplish his obstacles. Hughes uses the symbol of a shadow to show his race which is the reason why they keep him from
achieving his dream. He is describing how he feels defeated and helpless. The repetition of “my dream” shows that he really wanted to accomplish his dream not only for him but for others as well. The way he uses a juxtaposition of light vs. Dark to show how he still has hope of accomplishing his dream no matter the challenges he will face. He uses this figurative language to show readers no matter the challenge or consequence achieve your dream and fight against injustice. Hughes declares, “Find my dream! / Help me shatter this darkness” (lines 22-23). The author uses a shift to represents that he still has hope in accomplishing his goals. In the beginning of the poem he had a despondent tone but now he’s eager to accomplish his dream no matter the challenges he’ll go through. He wants to shatter this darkness and overcome his fear to fulfill his dream. Hughes uses this violent language to show that he feels no fear or doubt about what he must do. Hughes poem, “As I Grew Older” encourages others because he shows how no matter the obstacle or challenge never give up and just fight harder to achieve your goals. He shows how the injustice of racism has prevented him from his dream but his choice of deciding to take a risk shows, that he is not going down without a fight to reach his dream. Lorde’s “Who Said it was Simple”, describes the injustice of sexism and racism towards women. The title “Who Said it was Simple”, relates to the poem because it describes how fighting for equal rights isn’t simple due to everyone having a different opinion on what is right. Lorde uses a metaphor of “So many roots to the tree of anger” to show that she has a choleric tone towards the injustice of sexism. All the roots of the tree represents her unstoppable anger spreading. The noticeable imagery of aggression and temper encourages readers to realize the reality of sexism. This identifies the struggles and challenges women face due to them having very little rights. She shows how men have more rights than women, and how they have are being treated differently. Lorde declares, “An almost white counter man passes / a waiting brother to serve them first” (lines 8-9). Lorde mentions “An almost white counter man” to show that just by being white they have more rights than colored woman. Also they are treated better than people from different races. She shows how a white counter man passes a black man to serve the white feminists first. Lorde shows sexism and discrimination towards blacks was one of the reason why she has become angry. The way she shows sexism is how woman are being treated different due to their appearance and gender. Since white woman were seen as inferior to men they have gotten more rights and respect for being a woman. Also she describes the discrimination towards African Americans because due to the man being black he was not serve first due his race and the counter man being sexist. Also since the woman were white due to them being called “ladies” they had the privilege over the black man. Lorde wants to show that sexism is just as bad as racism which why she includes how the ladies were treated differently and were served first. Lorde describes how the ladies accepts the sexism because it isn’t as bad as racism. Further on she states, “And the ladies neither notice nor reject” (line 10), which shows that the ladies at the restaurant didn’t care about the black man being serve last. It shows her personal struggles on how she has to deal with seeing sexism, and shows it’s not simple going through sexism. Lorde talks about the personal struggles she has faced due to the sexist or racial prejudices. The ladies had accepted the sexism which shows they don’t mind being superior for being a woman. Lorde mentions, “But I who am bound by my mirror” (line 12). The mirror represents the way she looks like which shows how her appearance plays huge role in sexism. She can’t change anything so she is bound, or stuck how she is by them. Women had mostly seen their mirrors to look presentable for men in society. Lorde feels that she does not have the same equalities between men due to her being a women. Lorde is showing that she has multiple identities because she has experience sexism, and discrimination. The way she describes her identities are by color, gender, and sexual reasons. These are the struggles Lorde faces due to having multiple identities and experiencing the injustice of sexism and discrimination. This encourages readers to defy injustice because it make them see the reality and truth about people being treated differently. Lorde sends a clear message to fight against the injustice of sexism and racism by using a choleric tone to show readers that this is unacceptable.
Langston Hughes “As I Grew Older” and Audre Lorde “Who said it was simple still relates to the issues we face today due to sexism and discrimination is still seen today. This connects to our world today because there is still injustice of sexism and discrimination and people don’t speak up or do anything about it because of the consequences. The poems are a way to express the truth about how they feel about injustice. This makes people realize the other side of the world that people don’t talk about. It makes people’s minds see the truth and shows that injustice needs to stop before it gets worse. These poems could be an inspiration because the more people read these poem the more it changes the way people feel about injustice. For example in the twenty-twelve election eighty-one percent who voted for Mitt Romney were white. This is a good example on how whites still vote for whites. It is sad but true discrimination still exist and needs to stop before it gets worse. As well for sexism it still exists today, for example woman are most likely to do less time in prison then men. This is because due their gender they believe they aren’t as violent and criminal like as men. One of the reasons why women experience sexism because they accept it to take advantage of others. This is why Langston Hughes and Audre Lorde is trying to make readers realize the truth and reality of sexism and racism.