Mulatto By Langston Hughes

As quoted by Albert Einstein, “the only source of knowledge is experience.” Our experiences in life are what shape us into who we are. Human experience is the one thing that everyone has in common. We all may have different experiences, but the fact that we all experience situations (death, birth, love, etc) makes the world go round. Without some of my experiences, I would look at the world in a different perspective. My experiences, whether it was my younger sister with special needs being born or my grandparents dying within 24 hours of one another, has shaped me into who I am. I’ve learned unconditional love and living in the moment from both of those experiences. A common belief that American writers share in common is the belief that they
Langston Hughes’ parents were both mostly black. However, it was discovered that his grandfather was part Cherokee and French. Hughes’ father was devastated by this new found discovery and was ashamed of who he was. Langston, on the other hand, embraced his new found race and culture. Hughes’ experience with dealing with his father and how he never fit in with a certain race can be seen in the poem “Mulatto.” Struggling with not fitting it can be seen when Hughes writes, “To little yellow bastard boys. Git on back there in the night, You ain’t white” (Hughes 1041). This is showing that even though perhaps these boys have white in their blood, they are only seen as being yellow. Mulatto is a term for mixed races. People who are considered mix tend to have a difficult time identifying with their races, and Hughes’ struggle can be seen above. He was struggling with where he fit in. Was he black, was he white? Should he identify as black or white? Many people struggle with their identity, and Hughes’ experiences can help get his point across as well as help others with their
Personal experience draws the reader into the story while portraying an overall bigger message. Personal experience is what makes us who we are, and if these writers are able to use this to convey another overall message, then they are doing a pretty good job. These writers use experience to enhance their writings. Using experience also shows readers that they are one in the same. They have had struggles, highs, lows, and everything in between just like ordinary people. By using personal experience it is easier to relate to your