J ames Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet‚ social activist‚ novelist‚ playwright‚ and columnist from Joplin‚ Missouri. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form called jazz poetry. He was first recognized as an important literary figure during the 1920s‚ a period known as the Harlem Renaissance. This short poem is one of Hughes’s most famous works; it is likely the most common Langston Hughes poem taught in American schools. Hughes wrote "Harlem" in 1951‚ and
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Langston Hughes’s writing showcases a variety of themes and moods‚ and his distinguished career led his biographer‚ Arnold Rampersad‚ to describe him as "perhaps the most representative black American writer." Many of his poems illustrate his role as a spokesman for African American society and the working poor. In others‚ he relates his ideas on the importance of heritage and the past. Hughes accomplishes this with a straightforward‚ easily understandable writing style that clearly conveys his
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First‚ Hughes uses repetition in the poem. He repeats‚ “I’se still climbing” at the beginning‚ and towards the end. By repeating this‚ the mother is ensuring herself that her son understands that life is tough‚ and her still fighting her way through life supports her claim of “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair”. This repetition creates the raw style. Even though many challenging events passed between these two lines‚ from the beginning to the end‚ such as “going through the dark”‚ the son‚
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Langston Hughes: The Art of Words to Express Want For Freedom A writer can convey a whole set of ideas and moods within their art‚ whether it is joy‚ sadness‚ defiance‚ or anger. During the Harlem Renaissance‚ many African-American writers‚ such as W.E.B. Du Bois‚ Jean Toomer‚ and Langston Hughes used words and writings to convey their feelings in different styles of literature. Such literature varied from short stories to novels‚ poems to essays‚ and so on. Langston Hughes especially (during
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"Thank You M’am" by Langston Hughes is a realistic fiction short story about a scrawny boy named Roger and a black lady named Mrs. Jones. After Roger attempts to steal Mrs. Jones money to buy shoes she handles the matter herself by kicking him to the ground. She then takes him to her house‚ cleans him up‚ feeds him‚ and teaches him right from wrong. Langston Hughes‚ the author of "Thank You M’am"‚ teaches us that you should give people second chances. You can tell the second chance Mrs. Jones gave
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“Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes His tone in the poem also contributes to the meaning. His tone seems almost confessional‚ like the poet is talking about his own experience in America. Hughes points out all the flaws in the ideas of equal opportunity and freedom in his poem. Then periodically he speaks to the reader outright with lines such as‚ "O‚ yes‚ I say it plain‚ America never was America to me‚ And yet I swear this oath-- America will be!" Speaking outright to the reader
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weren’t treated with the same respect they are treated now. People used to have very negative views about colored people‚ therefore the discrimination towards African American began. In the poems “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks and “Harlem” by Langston Hughes the two authors wrote about the racism that people of color had to experience. These two poems were written by authors that were part of the
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society. However‚ it was difficult to discover who they truly were when they were bound to mental and social isolation. Despite the societal hindrances‚ they went on their own crusade to escape societal seclusion. This ideology gave birth to Langston Hughes’ poem ‘’Theme for English B‚’’ the morals the McBride family lived by‚ and ultimately the Harlem Renaissance itself. In ‘’Theme for English B‚’’ the speaker feels a definite sense of seclusion and loneliness‚ which is implied both within and
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being main inspirations‚ motivated Hughes to take new and creative approaches such as folk and jazz poetry. Langston Hughes was a voice that got across the unfair treatment and limited opportunities that many African Americans experienced throughout their lifetime. The Harlem Renaissance was a period in which African Americans prospered with great achievements. The process of these achievements involved variety and the will to be experimental. Langston Hughes was inspired by the efforts of these
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to her childhood. In the story Thank You Ma’am‚ by Langston Hughes‚ a fictional story about a boy named Roger was poor and he wanted some shoes. While Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones was walking on the street‚ Roger ran and tried to snatch her purse. The outcome was not what Roger had hoped. And hopefully he learned a lesson. Lot’s of innocent people get caught doing the wrong thing and in the fictional story Thank You Ma’am‚ by Langston Hughes‚ the theme is to show the reader that there is always
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