Racism By Langston Hughes Analysis

One of the most prevalent and recurrent controversies in society today is racism. Because of discrimination, the opinion of many is ultimately disregarded because their lack of voice. Three literary works are vivid illustrations of this voice amidst tribulation are Negro by Langston Hughes, Ballad of Birmingham by Dudley Randall, and Birmingham Sunday by Langston Hughes. Racism and the civil rights movements play are large role in these three poems as the authors utilize this setting to illustrate perseverance and identity. Racism in my opinion can be stated as many different meanings, but my meaning for racism is when an individual of a different race exhibits apathy towards another person. In the setting of these literary works racism is
For example in Negro by Langston Hughes, he states that he was once a slave, a worker, a singer and also a victim (Hughes line1, line5, line8, line10, line14, line17). During this period many African Americans were slaves and also treated like animals. In the ballad, Ballad of Birmingham by Dudley Randall and Birmingham Sunday are very similar in the element Ballad of Birmingham. He refers to a mother and a child and how the mother is protecting the child from marching in the Civil Rights marches. The poem's theme carries the message that no place could be a cover against racial prejudice, particularly once the government does not provide equal protection. According to cnn.com the bombing occurred in 1963, a year before passage of the Civil Rights Act, that outlawed discrimination supported race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The act illuminated the Jim Crow laws that upheld segregation in the south. The mother of the little girl in the poem Ballad of Birmingham within the verse form is afraid to permit her daughter to attend a civil rights rally as a result of peaceful Birmingham protests had been suppressed with police violence. The church, historically an area of harmony, is seen as a stronger destination. However, the mother discovers that, throughout the Sixties, even churches
For example in the poem Negro by Langston Hughes, Hughes states that the color of the individuals skin is “Black as the night is black” which is a simile. Also Hughes states that “Black like the depths of my Africa” which is also a simile. Langston uses these metaphors to show the color of an African Americans skin color and also uses them to describe where African Americans are from. In the ballad, Ballad of Birmingham by Dudley Randall, the author says, “ She combed and brushed her night-dark hair” which is a metaphor. The author uses this metaphor to describe the mother combing the daughter’s hair to describe the color. This author describes the way the little girl looks before she goes to church before she is killed by a bomb. Birmingham Sunday by Langston Hughes has many forms of literary elements but the main element that stood out to me would be personification “ By songs upon the breeze “ and “As yet unfelt among magnolia trees”(Langston line 26, line 27). In this poem the author is stating that the songs will awaken the girls by giving them peace. This poem is telling a very crucial story of many young children who thought they were safe at church but ended up being