Let America Be America Again By Langston Hughes

In “Let America be America Again”, Langston Hughes speaks on his opinions of the American Dream. Throughout the poem, Hughes compares his hopes and dreams for America with the reality of life for those outside of certain cultural, religious, and societal groups. This is a dramatic and diverse poem, fluctuating from peaceful moments to angry explosions. The author starts by mentioning of the key vision of America, where there is the hope for liberty and equality. Yet for the oppressed races, American life has been one of persecution. Writing now in the first person, the author empathizes with all struggling Americans, "I am the farmer/ the worker/ the Negro/ I am the people." With the gift of optimism, the writer urges "We, the people, must reclaim the land/ and make America again!"
“Let America be America Again” starts with the author’s wish for America to be the America it once was. But he remarks sarcastically, this idea of America is incorrect. The early colonists brought over slavery and power, destroying the native people and land to build their own homes. The idea of "America" occurs only in dreams, says Hughes. Still, he begs, "Let America be the dream that dreamers dreamed/ Let it be that
The speaker recognizes that many immigrants came to America in hopes of being successful and accepted. Hughes rejoices the dreamers who "dreamt a dream so strong, so brave, so true”, especially the refugees from Ireland, Poland, England, and even African slaves who came to America because they had no other choice. However, for most, even after building the groundwork for America, its wealth continues to be out of reach. The narrator again questions: 'The free?’… not in a land where masses have been killed and most are struggling just to get by. All these people whose sweat and blood, their faith and pain into making America, to these people, Hughes appeals to build the America they dream