Langston Hughes’ “Theme for English B�? Essay Example

Langston Hughes’ “Theme for English B” is an inspiring poem. His 1949 poem shed light on how African Americans felt during this era. His writes about a 22 year old African American college student that was instructed but his instructor to go home and write a page. Langston then proceeds to talk about where the student is from and how he is the only colored student in his class. The student talks about what he likes and that he isn’t any different from other races. He explains how writing a piece will influence others, as others influenced him. He’s worries how people feel because of his color; will his color influence others decisions. Taking the life of a young African American student and having this fictional character represent all colored people, expressing his way of how people seen them as. Langston’s character makes an indirect statement that we’re all the same. Langston makes you feel as if you are in the characters shoes when describing whether you’re white or colored, everyone is the same. “The instructor said, Go home and write a page tonight. And let that page come out of you-Then, it will be true” (1-5). The student’s instructor wanted him to write a piece that’s comes from his voice and express how he feels with true statements. The student explains in his passage that he lives in Harlem and “I am the only colored student in my class” (9). He describes where he was born and where he moved to. Harlem is predominately Hispanic and African American, and he goes to a college of only whites’, right on the hill above Harlem. “The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem…and I come to the Y…where I take the elevator up to my room, sit down and write this page:” (11-15). Living in an era where blacks were still looked down upon, he shares his frustrations on this paper. Langston continues this poem by having the student describe what he likes and likes to do. “Well, I like to eat, sleep drink and be in love. I like to work, read, learn, and understand