My People By Langston Hughes Analysis

Much like when the poem ‘my people by Langston Hughes was written, the 20th century definition of black beauty has become – or maybe has not changed- distorted by images of colonial acceptance and oppression. Hence the term ‘white wash’ comes to mind, secluded defined by urbandictionary.com as “Someone who is looked at as leaving behind or neglecting their culture and assimilating to a white, western culture.” My interpretation of Mr. Hughes poem is that he seeks to justify that his people, African Americans to be specific, are just as beautiful as any other race, both aesthetically and morally. I’m sure if you were to conduct an interview amongst people of color they would readily tell you that they have been exposed to some sort of racism before. Though I have never personally exposed to such sort of direct torment, I feel the effects of indirect racism every day. Let me elaborate,
I personally do not believe in the term of ‘good hair’ in that context. Good hair for me is thick, lustrous, bouncy and overall healthy strands of keratin. For someone to automatically put me on a pedestal for something I absolutely have no control over like my curl pattern is outrageous. Furthermore, it forms the ideology that other girls whose hair has a tighter curl pattern than mine are not beautiful. This division and classification amongst our race is hurtful and much like Mr. Hughes, I think the race in its entirety is beautiful just like the night sky. Each of our eyes dazzle like a star twinkling in the distance. The hearts of his people are as radiant and bright as the sun, each one of these characteristics just the same or even better than the race. Also, I think that MR. Hughes uses the naturally elements of the world to draw comparison between his people because of their own natural ever essence and