Langston Hughes Essay

Langston Hughes Essay
James Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. His parents divorced when
he was very small, and his father (who found American racism made his desires to be a lawyer
impossible) left the family and emigrated to Mexico. Hughes' mother moved with her child to
Lawrence, Kansas, so she and he could live with his grandmother, Mary Langston.
Langston Hughes' mother moved to Topeka in 1907, leaving the five–year–old with his
grandmother. Langston came from a family of African–American activists. His mother's first
husband had been killed at Harper's Ferry. Her second husband, Charles Langston (Langston
Hughes' grandfather), had taken part in political activism on behalf of a slave. Charles Langston's
brother, John Mercer ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
E. B. Dubois, editor of the The Crisis, the journal that published "The Negro Speaks of
Rivers"; and Countee Cullen, a young Harlem poet.
In 1922 Hughes left Columbia University after having taken only a few classes. He moved to
Harlem, part of upper Manhattan near the Columbia campus, in November 1924. Harlem was
becoming famous for its rich environment for the flowering arts. In 1925 Hughes won first prize in a
magazine contest with "Weary Blues," which gained him the attention of many of the
writers we now think of as members of the Harlem Renaissance. Hughes published his first book of
poems, The Weary Blues, in 1926. The work, though early, is signature in many ways, including its
fusion of blues and jazz rhythms with people, especially the musicality of the ordinary daily speech
of the African–American dialects.
In 1926 he enrolled at Lincoln University (in a town called Lincoln University, Pennsylvania),
where he graduated in 1929, the same year he finished his first novel. After attempting to come to
terms with his father's materialism and leaving Harlem, feeling betrayed and misunderstood, Hughes
went first to Haiti and then, back in the United States as the Great Depression began to settle in, the
travelled through the American south, reading his poetry to people in churches and schools.
Following in the footsteps of his grandmother's family, he took his life in his hands by appearing at
the University of North
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Langston Hughes was a large influence on the African–American population of America. Some of
the ways he did this was how his poetry influenced Martin Luther King Jr. and the Harlem
Renaissance. These caused the civil rights movement that resulted in African–Americans getting the
rights that they deserved in the United States. Hughes was born in 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. His
parents divorced when he was young and his grandmother raised him. She got him into literature
and education; she was one of the most important influences on him. He moved around a lot when
he was young, due to his parents divorce, but remained a good student and graduated high school.
After this he traveled the world and worked in different places, all the things he ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
All of these things, subject matter, themes, style, literary devices, and influences play into the way
that Hughes writes his poetry and they can all be seen in the poem "Dream Variations". That is why
the poem is typical of Hughes' writing.
The poem is very typical of Hughes' subject matter and themes. This is because he usually writes
about racial subjects such as equality and the average life of an African–American. Going so far as
to say that most of his poems are racial in theme and treatment, derived from the life that he knows
("An Introduction to Langston Hughes."). This poem does have the racial topic of equality for a
couple of reasons. To begin with, the speaker talks about how people should see the world and the
other people in it. Key word, should, because he then goes onto say, "That is my dream!" (Hughes l.
9). This is one reason why "Dream Variations" has a theme centered on how everyone wants to be
treated equally. Because the speaker talks about how he wishes he was treated by the world. Along
with the theme of equality the poem's subject is the life of an average African–American. This is
because he speaks of how he wants to dance "Dance! Whirl! Whirl! Till the white day is done"
(Hughes ll. 12–13). Yet he cannot because he has to work, and he tries to make his work seem like
dancing but he is still very tired at the end of the day. This shows the average life of an African–
American because they had to work very hard in the early

Langston Hughes Harlem
Langston Hughes wrote "Harlem" in 1951, and it addresses one of his most common focuses: the
struggles of the "American Dream" for African Americans. The combination of the three supports
the main purpose of the poem, the freedom and equality of African Americans. This short poem is
one of Hughes's most famous works. In "Harlem" by Langston Hughes, there is an obvious, unique
style, symbolism, and word choice. These elements of "Harlem" greatly reflect on the hardships of
African Americans during the 1950s.
In the 1950s, America was heavily racially segregate and any African Americans during this time
were slaves. Hughes wrote "Harlem" three years before the Supreme Court case Brown vs. Board of
Education that declared laws for separate schools for black and white students to be unjust. This
made Hughes well aware of the challenges he faced as an African American man in America, and
the tone of this piece, reflects the pain he endured. The tone can be seen as sympathetic, angry,
confident, and resigned. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It is sympathetic because it talks a dream deferred, not gone, but just put off. The narrator uses
sympathy to imply that it is painful to see a dream not being fulfilled. "Harlem" conveys anger
through the ways that that the dream is dried, festered, and rotted. The narrator uses these foul
adjectives to describe the passionate anger towards the people that stand in his or her way of
fulfilling their dream. The narrator is then confident as they have a clue to that "Maybe it just
sags/like a heavy load" (Lines 9–10). It's not positive, truly, to think that the dream just sets there.
However, the narrator has confidence, as he or she knows the dream's whereabouts. Lastly, the
narrator shows that he or she resigned their dream by assuming it explodes. They have given up and
understand the dream can really never be

Langston Hughes Influence
A dream is a goal in life, not just dreams experienced during sleep. Most people use their dreams as
a way of setting future goals for themselves. Dreams can help to assist people in getting further in
life because it becomes a personal accomplishment. Langston Hughes's poem "Dream Deferred" is
speaking about what happens to dreams when they are put on hold. The poem leaves it up to the
reader to decide what dream is being questioned. This poem was created during a time of need, and
during a time of frustration for people of color. Civil rights and freedom were questioned, but
African American took the oppression they faced and created an event in history known as The
Harlem Renaissance. This paper will discuss how Langston Hughes' influences ... Show more
The Florida Bookshelf, a credible blog for literary criticism, has also taken account of this. The
writer, Jason W. Miller, discusses the idea that Hughes's poetry hovers behind Martin Luther King's
speech like, "Watermarks on bonded paper." Even more so that before King delivered his famous
speech, he wrote a personal letter to Hughes saying "I can no longer count the number of times and
places... in which I have read your poems" and this shows how influential Hughes really was to
King. Although it was not only King's, I Have a Dream speech, but several of his future sermons
that he delivered that traced back to his influence from Langston Hughes.
Not only did Hughes influence King's I Have a Dream speech, but in a speech MLK delivered on
April 5, 1959 named, "Shattered Dreams", he discussed disappointment, not hope. The focus of his
sermon came when he said, that very few people are privileged to live life with all of their dreams
realized and all of their hopes fulfilled. He asked the audience, "Who here this morning has not had
to face the agony of blasted hopes and shattered dreams?" Although it doesn't stand out at first
glance, King's reference to,"unfulfilled and shattered dreams" was an allusion to

Langston Hughes Silhouette
Many writers of the past and even today have attempted to openly talk of African American racial
biases, hatred and aggression issues. Langston Hughes was very successful in shinning the light in
this subject through his poem "Silhouette" which was written in 1949. Through his selective yet
literal choice of words Hughes created a powerful and haunting image of African American injustice
and atrocities.
The original context of "Silhouette" was an indirectly stated and strong outcry that persuaded the
reader to openly view the injustice towards blacks, in this case the event of hanging a black man.
The poem was really powerful in part because of the hostile era during the early and late 1940s
where being near white women was forbidden and for which several African Americans especially
in the South were lynched or brutally punished. This aspect grabbed the essential audience and
created the perfect atmosphere to deliver his message through the poem, because all ... Show more
In the poem, told in the point of view of a white man he talks to a white woman explaining to her
that a black man was hung, act done in "protection" of her womanhood "For the world to see... How
Dixie protects its white womanhood". He also justifies the brutal actions and tells her to "Be good"
which Hughes seems to do intentionally to be sarcastic because in a respectful and pleading manner
he tells the white lady not to tempt a black man because of the outcomes. As well, " do not swoon"
could be interpreted in many different ways but it seems to exonerate the white "gently lady" from
the actions taken against this man. The poem is very straightforward, literal and bold by explicitly
narrating and portraying the hanging of a black man for the protection of a white woman. Hughes is
blatant in his imagery, "they've hung a black man/In the dark of the moon" and "they've hung a
black/ To a road side

Advantages Of Langston Hughes
1. The African–American Dream: "Let America be America again. Let it be the dream it used to be."
(Hughes, "New Song" 9) According to the "Declaration of Independence" proclaimed in 1776 the
democracy of the United States rests upon the fundamentals of freedom, equality and the pursuit of
happiness. Imparting the precept that "all men are created equal", the "American Dream"emerges.
Often being described as a national ethos, it is spreading the belief that anyone has the opportunity
for prosperity and success, regardless of race or social class. The "Emancipation Proclamation" of
1863 emphasises these beliefs and promises everlasting freedom. Despite the official equalisation,
especially African–Americans could not avail themselves of their rights, still facing severe
restrictions and isolation in everyday life. At the beginning of the 20th century the desire for
freedom and self–representation among the African–American community grows and culminates in
the "Harlem Renaissance" – a cultural and intellectual movement, celebrating the African origin and
developing a new black self–confidence known as the "New Negro". As one of the most important
literary figures of this movement Langston ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The disadvantages and exploitation of black citizens in working life are now thematised and
criticised. Exemplary for this orientation is the poem "Elevator Boy". The speaker is a young black
person working in a Hotel just like Hughes did when he first arrived in Harlem in the 1920s
(Henderson 294). The poetic personna is noticeably unhappy with the situation as a liftboy, but he is
aware of the fact that it wouldn't be easy to find a new job, so he seems to come in terms with his
workplace. Nevertheless in the last line of the poem, he suddenly decides to quit his

Langston Hughes Oppression
"Oppression" by Langston Hughes illustrates the theme that oppression is a dark and powerful force
against natural order, but there is hope that the state of oppression will not last and freedom will
return. In this poem, the poet made two statements. The first statement concerning the current
situation of oppression, the tone is dark, describing the effects of oppression. In the second
statement, the poet adds a touch of hope, believing that one day, oppression will be overcome and
the light of hope and freedom will shine back. In the first statement, the poet describes: "Now
dreams Are not available To the dreamers, Nor songs To the singers." Hughes illustrates oppression
as a force that is against natural order. "Dreamless dreamers" and

Langston Hughes
In the poem "As I Grew Older", on lines 2–6 he writes, "I have almost forgotten my dream. / But it
was there then, / In front of me, / Bright like a sun – / My dream.". This exemplifies the theme of the
American Dream because it proves to readers that Langston, too was an African American fighting
through the wall that society had built against people of his kind. For Hughes, this so called "wall"
almost forced him to give up, or "forget" – but he knew that his dream was bright, and so he
continued to battle through. The culture during this time attempted to keep the minorities from
discovering their own dreams. Another event that shows this theme is when Hughes is describing his
dark hands (representing his race) breaking through the thick ... Show more content on
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The main idea of what 1920's America and the Dream that came along with it, was that everyone
was given the right to construct a higher quality of life and the aspiration to obtain material things.
From new job opportunities, better education for children, and other benefits, many people felt
discouraged at the lack of promises that were broken from America. While facing poverty and
discrimination, Langston Hughes is a prime example of an African American who was denied these
rights before his eyes at such a young age in life. His experiences from childhood elementary years
all the way to the college level allowed him to construct a talent of writing that helped to portray this
denial, and the hardships that it carried. He was a strong believer in change, and this is also shown
throughout his work. He continually encourages his readers, fans, and fellow writers to make a
difference. He knew there was going to be a way out of the darkness, and continually held onto his
own American Dream. Langston became a voice and mind for people of his kind as he helped to
influence the Harlem Renaissance movement. He innovated the theme of the American Dream and
change, which can also be seen in his world renowned

Hughes And Hurston Analysis
Authors have changed people and their views continually throughout time. Authors Zora Neal
Hurston and Langston Hughes both drastically effected peoples' views on African American people.
Their most profound time was during the Harlem Renaissance, where they wrote several novels and
poems about the lives of African Americans. These authors used their African American heritage and
life experiences to compose these works about their communities and widen many peoples' thoughts
and actions towards the African American race. The timing of these authors' stories, their very
diverse lives, and their literature skills all helped them to accomplish their goal of change for their
race and bring the races closer. Both authors emerged during the Harlem ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
This was a pivotal turning point for the former slaves to the white man. This renaissance finally
allowed many of the poor and rural black communities to have a collective voice and make a
significant change. Authors also helped by putting major books and poems out into America for
everyone to read and learn about how the black culture operated and thrived. These authors, such as
Hughes and Hurston, were single representations to put alongside the Harlem Renaissance that
allow others to have a picture of what the actual black life was all about. It was no longer about
slavery or persecution from the white people, but instead African Americans found a voice they used
to give them an even greater freedom. African Americans showed everyone that they were no longer
beneath those who forced them to tend their lands, but were instead equal and quite possibly could
be better than many of them. African Americans no longer lived in fear of each and every day, but
pushed themselves to the front pages of important newspaper, magazines, and everything else
imaginable. They published works and obtained awards just as the white men did, and created their
own music to express themselves just as the white man had once done. This

The period of the Harlem Renaissance was a time of great change and exploration for African
Americans . It was during this point in the early twentieth century that African Americans were
exploring their cultural and social roots. With the rapid expansion of a cohesive black community in
the area, it was only a matter of time before the finest minds in Black America converged to share
their ideas and unleash their creative essences upon a country that had for so long silenced them. In
the midst of this bohemian convergence, many notable figures arose who would give a new voice to
African Americans. With such great notables as Countee Cullen, Jean Toomer, Zora Neale, and
James Johnson, mainstream American now had a unique window into the ... Show more content on
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During the period, there was a progressive movement toward the assimilation of African Americans
into the mainstream culture. Many critics expressed their opinion that to believe in the creation of
any art with a distinctively black voice was a foolish idea. African Americans of the period did not
have a distinct cultural identity and were judged solely upon the expectations of the mainstream
white culture. With the occurrence of the Harlem Renaissance, black Americans were attempting to
open a door into the previously unknown world of the black experience. While many artists in the
past had attempted to create subject matter specifically dealing with the Negro, it failed to lack the
quality of the "Negro soul":
Created purposely for the delectation of the white folk whose self–aggrandizement they also sought
to sustain, these earlier works comprised mainly those Negro elements which experience had proved
to be pleasurable to the white ego. They were, essentially, attempts to recreate the white man's
concept of the black man.

Langston Hughes Analysis
Racial inequality through the eyes of Langston Hughes
According to Biography, James Mercer Langston Hughes is considered to be an African American
poet who is college educated and comes from a middle–class family (Langston Hughes Biography).
He attended college in New York City and became influential during the Harlem Renaissance
(Langston Hughes Biography). Although Hughes was a talented writer, he faced some challenges
early on and it was stated that his "early work was roundly criticized by many black intellectuals for
portraying what they thought to be an unattractive view of black life" (Langston Hughes. American
Poet). They believed that his work helps the spread the stereotypes of African Americans. "Hughes,
more than any other black poet or writer, recorded faithfully the nuances of black life and its
frustrations" (Langston Hughes. American Poet). Langston Hughes's poems "The Negro Mother",
"Let America be America Again" and "The Weary Blues" were influenced by his life during the
Harlem Renaissance and the racial inequality experienced in the late 1920s through the 1960s.
The speaker in the "The Negro Mother" is an African American woman who makes a promise to her
children that she will be with them always in spirit as they fight for the same rights as whites. She
says, "For I will be with you till no white brother / Dares keep down the children of the Negro
Mother" (49–50). She wanted her children to fight for equal rights regardless of the barriers and

Approach to Hughes', "Harlem" In the short poem, "Harlem" Langston Hughes writes of being
unable to achieve dreams. Written by Hughes in 1951, he expresses the inability for African
Americans to achieve the American Dream in society. What makes this one of Hughes' most famous
works, is not what he's writing about, but how he structures it. It begins with one seductive question,
with a very curious tone, but then ends his poem with violence and a threatening voice. Hughes'
intellectual use of structure through tone, similes, and spacing is what makes "Harlem" one for the
ages. "What happens to a dream deferred?" (Hughes 236) Hughes begins this poem with a proactive
yet innocuous question about dreams. It forces the reader to go outside the poem and contemplate
what they would do without hope. The question is unlike many of Hughes' opening lines. Following
the question Hughes writes the rest of the poem indented to suggest that he's thinking about what the
question means to him. It sets the reader in a dream state so to speak to try and get them into the
head of the speaker. The tone of this question is clear, it's harmless and innocent letting the reader
feel ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(Hughes 236) Unlike the rest of the poem, Hughes uses a metaphor for his final line, a very well
written one at that. Also, Hughes changes the final print to italics implying that instead of the
pondering reading style of everything previous this line is verbally spoken by the reader. The use of
the word, "explode" symbolizes that Hughes could be implying that violence can be the result of
years of oppression and all questions leading up to this final statement. It leaves the reader with a
sense of wonder, as if the reader lets this sour tasting line linger as they question, if they have done
everything to prevent this type of result. Hughes' use of structure is what defines how this poem is
read and what makes it so

Langston Hughes' poem "Harlem" or "Dream Deferred" is about what could happen when one lets
their dreams go, if even just temporarily. The poem starts, and is mostly comprised of, a question.
This invites the reader in and makes a connection; what does the reader think? Hughes gives a series
of ideas, all plausible, but never tells us for sure. One could say that different dreams have different
consequences. The two titles of the poem indicate that they are synonymous. Because of oppression
and segregation, African Americans could never act on their dreams, but the Harlem Renaissance
changed this. This cultural boom was home of many new and prosperous dreams. Langston Hughes
was a star during the Harlem Renaissance, and he could have meant that Harlem was where many
dreams were deferred or that it was where deferred dreams were picked up again. In another
perspective, the title "Harlem" could argue that for many, their dreams were not possible until they
came to Harlem, because of the disconnect between an unfortunately prejudiced society and the
booming culture of the renaissance. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Hughes compares a deferred dream to "a raisin in the sun", asking if it has lost its substance or
integrity (3).Or does the dream cause pain, like an open, infected wound? Langston Hughes also
suggests a dream that could permeate, like an awful smell, or harden and crust over. The most
striking imagery, in my opinion, is the dream that " just sags / like a heavy load" (10–11). This
dream is crushing and there is nothing to do but carry it and its regrets. The final idea is a dream that
explodes, violent against the fact that it was put aside. These similes all demand attention. These
dreams do not want to go unnoticed. They are not passive; each suggestion of a dream has its own

Langston Hughes Accomplishments
Langston Hughes Langston Hughes once said, "Sometimes I wish the public were equally aware of
the men of our race in the cultural fields. You for instance, have you ever bought a book by a negro
writer?" Langston Hughes was an African American poet, novelist, and playwright. He was known
for his insightful and colorful portrayal of black life in the sixties. Through his major achievements
in literature, Langston Hughes helped African Americans accept and appreciate their heritage.
Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. Hughes's early years were very
difficult due to the separation of his parents. Hughes began to write poetry at the age of 14. Later, he
tells he was inspired by American authors, Carl Sandburg and Walt Whitman. After being rejected
from various magazines, Hughes took up odd jobs around New York. IN 1925, Hughes met
American poet, Vachel Lindsay who was very impressed with Hughes's style of writing and decided
to promote his poetry. The poem, "The Weary Blues" won Hughes a scholarship at Lincoln
University in Pennsylvania. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Hughes wrote about his weariness, disappointment, and stoic resistance of the African American
society. The singer was able to channel his anger and sadness into his music. Hughes book became
so famous, he wrote a sequel called "Fine Clothes for a Jew." This was one of Hughes's most intense
and incisive poems. Here he addresses the cultural role of biracial children, better known as
'mulattos'. Langston himself had English blood from his grandparents, so he too was categorized as
a 'yellow person'. This poem shows that Hughes was not ashamed to be part

Author Langston Hughes, played a powerful role in reflecting the oppression of African Americans
in the states by giving them a sense a voice through his work. "Harlem", also known as "Dream
Deferred", is a prime example of how socially aware Hughes was and how Hughes fought to bring
the subjection of African Americans in the states out from under the shadows. Through "Harlem",
readers feel the influence of street language and vivid imagery that drips through, which is what
makes the eleven stanzas familiar and relatable to the people Hughes is representing. In this poem,
Hughes is specifically targeting deferred dreams, frustrations, conscious goals and what can happen
eventually if an individual fails to pursue these dreams and desires. "Harlem" starts off with the
question "what happens to a dream deferred?", which refers to conscious goals and aspirations. In
this poem, Hughes is focusing on deeper meaning of "dreams" rather than trivial daydreams, or
dreams left to be forgotten while only our minds are awake. These deferred dreams are the ones that
engrave in young minds and pave the way for future endeavors. The dream postponed in this poem
is one many share for the Black Americans, the right to life, equality and liberty. Due to Hughes
prominent and personal involvement with the Black Americans and ... Show more content on
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Hughes first answer is, "Does is dry up/ like a raisin in the sun?" which provides a vivid image that
symbolizes the now lifelessness of the deferred dream. For example, fruits represent colors and
liveliness, to dry one out means to remove the life from the fruit and let it shrivel. The fruit is now
colorless and has shrunk, it is minimal, much like what happens when dreams are deferred.
Depicting each stanza, along with the influence of street language and vivid imagery Hughes
provides, is necessary in understanding his perception and emotions embedded in this

Langston Hughes
In the poem "As I grew older" by Langston Hughes explains his struggle with his skin color. He
describes it living in the shadows and humongous walls coming up all over him. Despite him feeling
like he has no way to break free or to get away from the prejudice, Langston uses imagery to explain
how he used his bare hands to break the walls of prejudice. With the use of metaphors the author
gives us and insight how it felt to have prejudice everywhere he went and how he broke free. In
Langston's poem the reader learns what prejudice he faced and how he broke free using imagery and
metaphor he explain profoundly. Langston uses imagery to explain many things Hughes gives and
image in our minds to make sure we comprehend and we feel the same emotion

Dreams Langston Hughes
The deepness in all things is extraordinary. This is also the case in Langston Hughes,"Dreams" The
poem "Dreams" is about how important dreams are and how the reader should always have dreams
that do not go away or never are let go. This poem is an eight line two stanza poem that follows a
rhyme scheme of A–B–C–B. This poem makes the reader think of a harsh, cold land with no sign of
life. The poem "Dreams" also makes the reader feel chills and sadness. Mr. Hughes did a good job
on making the reader capture a specific landscape and view. The reader can vaguely understand
where Mr. Hughes was going when he started off the poem with "Hold fast to dreams/ For if dreams
die" but in the third and fourth line when Hughes said, "Life is a broken–winged

Langston Hughes Influences
Langston Hughes is best known for his poems "I, Too" and " The Weary Blues". He was a very
important writer during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920's. He has written at least 11 books, and
has had at least 13 poems published. Langston hughes was deemed the "Poet laureate of Harlem" for
his African literary movement of the 1920's and 1930's. Langston Hughes impacted the world with
his positive literature. (Source 1)
February 1, 1902 , Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri. His mom was a school teacher ,
and she introduced him to libraires, theater, and the opera. His father was a white man, who worked
in a law office, then became a stenographer at a mining company. In 1903 , the year after he was
born, his father abandoned his ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Hughes was only seventeen at the time. The poem uses rivers as a metaphor to connect to his
African forefathers. In 1922 he wrote the poem Mother to Son. In this poem a mother explains her
difficulties in life to her son. In 1925 he wrote the poem As I Grew Older. In the poems he talks
about how he once had a dream, but other obstacles took him away from his dream. In 1925 he
wrote The Weary Blues. This poem takes place in an Harlem bar called Lenox Avenue. He is
expressing his loneliness in a melancholy tone. In 1951 he wrote Dream Deferred. This poem
explains the dream of equal rights for African Americans. Dreams is an extremely short poem
written in free verse. It is two stanzas long, and the content dictates the form. He tells the readers to
hold on tightly to their dreams because without them, life is a "broken–winged/ That cannot fly."
The hobbled and downtrodden bird is a physical symbol of the discrimination and struggles that
African Americans faced during Hughes time. Dreams. However, have no physical limitations.
Dreams, though, Hughes is saying that even if one's dreams do not come true, a life without hope is
barren and sad. Most of Hughes's short stories will not do much to gain them a place in the literary
canon. Hughes himself discarded the last two. Weakest books of stories and omits many of the
strongest pieces in "The Ways of

Langston Hughes Analysis
Langston Hughes is an African American male poet, who constructed his poems during the Harlem
Renaissance period. Many of Hughes' poems are inspired by life events and portray the struggles
black Americans face in everyday society. Hughes' works tend to include the idea of one's true
identity as an American or the conjured idea of the "American Dream", the realization of oneself and
racism. His poems "Theme for English B" and "I, Too" are both pieces of work that perfectly
explain the racial inequality and imbalance within America's system. Hughes' poem, "Theme for
English B," written in 1951 begins with an instructor telling his students from his English B class to
go home and write a paper. The length of the paper should be one page and whatever theme the
student chooses for the paper must be written in a way that is true to them. The writers first response
to the assignment is curiosity, and the speaker wonders about the simplicity of the assignment by
saying "I wonder if it's that simple?" (Hughes l. 6). This line can be interpreted as the writer trying
to figure out how easy or difficult it may or may not be to write what is really true to him being a
Black male in America. The writer then states that he is "twenty–two, colored, and born in Winston
Salem" (l. 7). He continues to say where he attended school and how he went to three different
schools and how he ended up at a "college on a hill above Harlem" (l. 8). The writer follows up with
the fact that he is the only

Langston Hughes As A Poet
Prior to Langston Hughes being recognized as a poet, when Hughes was twelve, his grandmother
died forcing him to live with a family friend, Auntie Reed (Bryant). During the time of his stay with
Auntie Reed, he was working at a white hotel, cleaning and shinning brass spittoons and mirrors,
scoured toilets, scrubbed the halls and keep the lobby immaculate (Rampersad). The money he got
from he used to go to movies where he had his early experience with racial discrimination. In the
south laws kept blacks and whites separated but in Kansas if a business was privately owned, the
rules didn't apply. One day Hughes went to the movie theater where he had his first encounter with
racial discrimination; a sign saying blacks couldn't. (Bryant)
When Langston Hughes was entering the seventh grade in 1914 Langston was under the care of a
teacher the instituted a segregated seating in her class which made Langston angry thus ultimately
him speaking out having him expelled. When Hughes was thirteen summer of 1915 (Rampersad), ...
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In 1925, Langston Hughes was working as a busboy in Washington, D.C when he met Vachel
Lindsay, whom he shown his poems to. Lindsay was captivated enough to use his connections in
order to promote Hughes poetry; doing so gave Hughes a wider audience (Editors). Hughes's poem
"The Weary Blues" won in the Opportunity magazine literary completion and he received a
scholarship to attend Lincoln University. While attending the university, Hughes gain the attention
of Carl Van Vechten (Editors). Carl Van Vechten helped guide Hughes poem to Knopf, who becomes
Langston Hughes publisher and Hughes opened Van Vechten eyes on and provided access to a black
world of "life behind the veil" (Hughes, The Weary Blues). Then in 1926 Hughes wrote "The Negro
Artist and the Racial Mountain" which outlined what he believed to be a problem facing black
artists

Langston Hughes Deception
Hughes's two opening sentences presents a despondent tone, which conveys a sense of
disappointment that aroused in him. This feeling is apparent as after the dramatic first sentence, the
second sentence followed with a bitter contradiction, expressing discontent. Hughes asserts the idea
of deception from his first two sentences by establishing contrast between the two; the first sentence
explains that Hughes was saved from sin, however, the second sentence invalidates it. From the
paradox we can infer that either Hughes was deceived or enacted deception. In the essay, Hughes
suggests that he deceived both the congregation and his aunt by getting up to the altar, even though
he hadn't seen Jesus. However, in the final paragraph, Hughes also

Langston Hughes Landlord
The Poem Ballad of the Landlord was published in 1940 by one Langston Hughes who had the
intention of bringing to light the relationship existing between white landlords and black tenants.
Langston Hughes mockingly addresses the idea of communal equality that had taken hold of the
United States of America. This happens to the base upon which the poem revolves around; we get to
see the general overview of how Negros were treated by their fellow white counterparts.
Furthermore, the media seems out to distort the image of a poor man who unfortunately, gets to be
unfairly judged in a law court that is meant to protect his rights. Let us have a look at the kind
impact racism had on America. The poem exposes the unfairness that was currently present between
the two parties. The landlord is seen keen on collecting rent but does not mind the condition in
which his rented property is. Furthermore, the landlord does not want to agree to the tenant's terms
of first doing the repair before he pays the rent; instead he wants to take measures against him. This
was the type of unfairness that Hughes had intended to bring attention to, black people had to be ...
The tenant claims the steps have broken but the landlord does not fall on his way up. To worsen the
matters, the landlord asks 10 dollars off the tenant which he declines claiming the repairs have first
to be addressed. (Hughes 1958) The landlord apparently does not want to hear of this and wants to
go get an eviction order from the law courts. The tenant is left dismayed that the landlord wants to
throw his furniture out in the street. When the tenant talks of landing his fist first on him, the
landlord sits back and calls the police on him claiming he is trying to go against the laws of the land.
This a total act of unfairness, the landlord should have accepted full responsibility as the owner of
the

Langston Hughes Oppression
The time period of the Civil Rights movement of the early 1950s to late 1960s was a very dark,
emotional time for African Americans. The amount of oppression and discrimination African
Americans faced caused an upbringing of many writers and black activists fighting for equal rights.
Langston Hughes was and still is one of the most famous black writers during this time period and
created inspiration for African Americans to be a part of the Civil rights movement. Maya Angelou
was an extremely famous writer towards civil rights and equality for blacks, but took a little bit of a
different approach form Langston Hughes when it came to how the emotion of oppression was
expressed throughout the black community. Langston Hughes's poem "I, Too, Sing ... Show more
Angelou's writing has a great amount of emotion poured into it and is a larger poem than "I, Too,
Sing America". Many metaphors were placed throughout Angelou's poem to display her thoughts of
civil rights to the reader. "Still, I Rise" is a poem about overcoming oppression, no matter your
circumstances and being able to overcome adversity. This message can be applied to anyone's
lifestyle at any point of time. Not only was the poem written for anyone for or against the Civil
Rights movement, but Angelou also attracted and audience outside of that time period. "You may
shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness,
but still, like air, I will rise". This stanza written by Angelou shows that overcoming oppression is
not an easy task, but if your mind is set right then anything is possible to overcome, and during this
period, many African Americans felt a rise (like air) of their pride in their race and gave blacks the
thought to end discrimination of their

Ted Hughes Poem Harlem By Langston Hughes
Hughes' poem, "Harlem," is a short, eleven lined poem, with all but one line composed of questions.
The use of imposing questions throughout the poem is a way to keep the reader engaged and to be
still a sense of power in the reader by allowing him to develop his own answer. The main question
the speaker asks in the poem is "what happens to a dream deferred" (Line 1). The question is posed
in the first line of the poem in a single standing stanza, therefore the break between the first line and
the next stanza allows the reader to contemplate the question for a moment. Hughes then uses
powerful analogies such as, "dry up like a raisin in the sun" (Lines 2–3), "fester like a sore" (Line 3),
or "crust and sugar over like a syrupy sweet" (Lines

Harlem Langston Hughes
"Harlem", also known as "A Dream Deferred", is a poem by Langston Hughes published in 1951.
The four stanza, free verse poem is composed of six questions and one declarative sentence. This
poem reflects the post–World War II mood of many African Americans. The Great Depression and
the war were over, but for many African Americans their dreams, whatever particular form it took,
were still being deferred. Through this poem Langston Hughes examines the possible effects caused
by the dream, when they are constantly deferred. As Hughes explores what happens when dreams
are put on hold, the speaker uses a series of similes that compare the act of deferring dreams. To
catch the reader's attention, the writer also made sure that specific words and questions stood out. As
a result, the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
With the unique use of his stanza form, Hughes uses his first line in the poem to grabs the reader's
attention. As line one is the longest line and it is separated from the rest of the poem. Continuing
down further the first image in the poem is formed with the use of a simile. The narrator states
"Does it dry up / like a raisin in the sun?" (line 2–3). The simile likens the original dream to a fresh,
juicy, green grape and since the dream has been neglected for too long, it has probably dried up. The
second simile, "Or fester like a sore–– / And then run?", conveys a sense of infection and pain
suggesting that it eats at the skin, constantly aggravating it because the sore has not been obtained
(line 4–5). Comparing the dream to a sore of a body, the poet suggests that unfulfilled dreams
become part of them, like a longstanding injury that has gathered pus. The word "fester" connotes
something decay and "run" literally refers to pus. From this viewpoint of the speaker, this denotes to
the pain that one has when one's dreams always defers. A postponed dream is like a painful injury
that begins to be

Dreams, By Langston Hughes
Everyone has a dream no matter how high or low the person aims. Dreams can affect life in the
future or the present and help get through life with a goal to reach. Langston Hughes expressed this
affects in his poem ''Dreams.'' Langston Hughes showed a real life experience with imagery when a
person is struggling with life but his dream makes him get through the hard work and any problem
that he has. Hughes used imagery to show that life need a dream to have a reason to live. Everyone
in life has a dream that they want to do or what to be, but "For if dreams die life is like a broken
winged bird that cannot fly."(2–4) The imagery of a dream will affect life. hughes used the bird
imagery because it is saying that a that a bird has no reason to fly if it has a broken wing. If a person
has no dream then the life is meaningless because they have no goal for the future and they are
going to do something later on to live when they are going to dislike. Hughes shows life going to be
a struggle if an individual doesn't have a dream. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He is saying that life is a cold barren field. "Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren
field Frozen with snow."(5–8) Hughes is showing that life is long, cold and dead without a dream.
He is saying to hold onto your dreams and if it is let go then life is a land that is useless filled with
snow which is time passed with no dream that you have. The cold that he is describing is that how
distance life is to the goal line. Langston Hughes is displaying that a life will be empty and dead if a
dream is not present in a

Comparing Hughes And Langston Hughes
James Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and
columnist from Joplin, Missouri. Hughes is best known for his involvement in the Harlem
Renaissance movement. Dušan Charles Simić is a Serbian–American poet and was co–poetry editor
of the Paris Review hes is known for his 1974 postmodernism poem Watermelons. Using the two
poets along with Allen Ginsberg's 1955 poem Supermarket in California I will compare and contrast
the figurative language, poetic devices, and subject material used in each poems. In Hughes poem
Harlem a series of similes are used in the poem to compare a dream deferred to rotting, aging or
burdensome items. A dream deferred is compared to a raisin, a sore, rotten meat, a syrupy sweet, and
a heavy load. The actions linked to these items suggest what might happen to the dream, such as
rotting and dying or weighing down the conscience of the people. The poem ends with a single
metaphor with the line "Or does it explode?" (Hughes 10). The text is also italicized to emphasize
this metaphor even more. Harlem is a lyric poem with irregular rhyme and an irregular metrical
pattern that sums up the white oppression of blacks in America. ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The "rivers" mentioned are part of an extended metaphor that likens the soul of the black
community to the ancient, wise, and enduring great rivers of the earth. There is also repetition used
in lines one and eleven "I've known rivers" (Hughes 11). The poetic devices used in the poem, no
rhyming going on but Hughes is using all the right things to show the sound and movement as a
raging

Langston Hughes Inspiration
There are countless times as one grows up when you just stop for a second and reminisce on random
things. These memories serve for a very special purpose as the things you do in life shapes you into
the person you will become. Today, many authors and poets make use of their memories and
experiences in their work as a way to reflect back on their lives, raise awareness, or just simply to
tell a story. As a prominent contributor to the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes was an
inspirational poet who highlighted many aspects of the urban life of African–Americans through
reflections of his own life and experiences. As a writer, a poet and a prominent activist of the civil
rights movement, Langston Hughes was a man that was not only ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Through this mindset, Hughes set out to revolutionize poetry and created such expressive and
inspirational work just by reflecting on his own life. He also takes into account with the existing
racism at this time that was against him and anyone of color. By incorporating his life into his work,
it created a voice for those who were not able to speak up and as a result, life met art (The Harlem
Project).
Throughout his works, especially his poetry, Hughes also draws inspiration from music. He
describes the blues as '"sad funny songs – too sad to be funny and too funny to be sad"' as the songs
hold '"laughter and pain, hunger and heartache"' (Poetry Criticism). This point of view is noticeably
reflected onto his poems when some stanzas are in the "form of the typical blues song" (Poetry
Criticism). In other words, the stanza had two nearly identical lines followed by a third that contrasts
the first two and this is seen in Same in Blues where he uses the repetition of the word "baby" in the
first two lines. In his poetry, Hughes captures the voices, experience, emotions and spirit of the
African Americans during this time. His poems have also been influenced by the Afro–American
life essays written by W.E.B. DuBois and the black vernacular (DiYanni p.700–705). This is shown
in Fine Clothes to the Jew, as Hughes addresses the hardship and struggle of urban African
Americans in Harlem who left the deep south in hopes of achieving their American Dream.
However,

Langston Hughes Poetry
In 1964, Langston Hughes stated "Hang yourself, poet, in your own words. Otherwise, you are
dead." Hughes' use of this quote is immediately reflected throughout all his works. He stood out
amongst the most energetic essayists and scholars of the Harlem Renaissance, which was the
African American artistic growth in the 1920s that praised dark life and culture. "Hughes' innovative
expertise was impacted by his life in New York City's Harlem, an essentially African American
neighborhood (Rampersad 3)." This essay will explicate five of Hughes poems that scrutinize the
racial or social injustices for African Americans of his time and how they viewed the 'American
Dream'. These five poems are "Harlem", "Let America be America Again", "I, Too", ... Show more
In the poem, Open Letter to the South by Langston Hughes, it demonstrates a unique instance of the
disparity. In the poem, Langston Hughes discusses how whites and blacks should unite, regardless
of their skin color and their history. This theme is shaped in this poem by reiterating nonconcrete
ideas to demonstrate to the reader that there must be change for the people to be treated equally.
Hughes' use of alliteration to point out the more important words, and similes are used to give the
reader a better understanding of what he was attempting to demonstrate. There are various
circumstances where Hughes is redundant. The beginning of the poem states, " That the land might
be ours/And the mines and the factories and the office towers." (Lines 14 and 15). Then states, "
That the plants and the roads and the tools of power, / Be ours" (Line 17). Then Hughes supports the
ideas mentioned prior by reiterating, " Takes land, /Takes factories, / Takes office towers, / Takes
tools and banks and mines." (Lines 58–61). Hughes uses repetition to suggest these words are more
essential than the rest and he needs to make this part of the poem emerge. These lines get the poem's
message or theme through the reader's

Langston Hughes Biography
Introduction
James Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet and political activist who is attributed to
being one of the major writers in the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance was an artistic
movement that started in the 1920s, that celebrated black life and culture.
Coming from a long lineage of politically active individuals it was inevitable that Langston would
use his gift of writing to help change the world. Langston Hughes used his personal experiences of
growing up in different parts of the Midwest and an unorthodox childhood as a driving force for his
poetry. The topic of his poems ranged a variety of political and social topics that were used to
explain outcry against racial injustice and promoted equality (americaslibrary.gov). Throughout his
work, he was able to help shed light on black culture, humor, and spirituality but also describe the
black experience in America. With his long–lasting legacy, Langston Hughes has played an
important role in the advancement of black culture and civil rights. Background Information
Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri and was the second son of
James Nathaniel Hughes and Carrie Mercer Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes was the only child
of his parent's marriage, since two years before he was born his older sibling had died as an infant.
His parent's marriage was controversial for the time period since his mother was born to a politically
powerful and educated African American family at

Langston Hughes Equality
As we age we gain more knowledge, experience, and become wiser individuals. Your views on a
subject may change because of your new found knowledge or experience. A clear example of this is
Langston Hughes and his change in attitude towards racial equality in America as expressed through
three of his poems, "I, Too, Sing America", "Let America Be America Again", and "A Dream
Deferred". Langston Hughes' wrote this first poem, "I, Too, Sing America", when he was in his 20's
and still very young. The theme of this poem is that blacks will soon get equal rights. Hughes set a
confident and bold tone in this poem because it sounds like he is demanding equality. In the poem,
he starts by talking about how African Americans are discriminated against, then he states that
tomorrow he will be eating with the whites and they will be ashamed of themselves for ever
discriminating against blacks after the whites see their true beauty. Due to the tone, the speaker
seems young and charismatic. The speaker of the poem also plays a major role on the perspective,
because the speaker represents how Hughes felt about the subject. In the poem, the speaker is ...
The reoccurring theme in the poem is let America be the American dream. Throughout the poem,
Hughes contrasts his hopes for America with the reality of life of being a minority. He even talks
about immigrants that traveled to America with dreams of freedom but those dreams have never
come true. Compared to "I, Too, Sing America", the theme in this poem seems as if Hughes is losing
but still has hope for America. At the start of the poem, Hughes is begging for the American dream
to become reality. But by the end he starts talking about how we must take back America to make it
great again. The change in tone from negative to positive leads the reader to still believe in the
American dream and that change will

Langston Hughes
Open Letter of the South
The poem elaborates how Langston Hughes interacts with cultural identity within a dissociated
society. The major theme of the poem is the importance of equality, and the personal interacts with
the ideas of cultural identity for the encouragement of cohesion and conformity to promote
understanding between different racial groups. In the "Open Letter to South", persona encourages
equality among black and white culture in America through advocating for the changes in social
attitudes and relationship between the racial groups in the society. The paper is to elucidate how
Langston Hughes poetry proposes the importance of equality in American society.
Hughes disagrees with some ideologies pertaining culture differences ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Preliminary, the persona explains that "That the land might be ours, / office towers, factories and the
mines (14–15)." Hughes elucidates that "That the tools of power, plants and the roads (17)." Finally,
He repeats that "Takes office towers, /Takes factories, /Take land (58–61) / Takes tools and banks
and mines (Hughes 1)." Through repetition, the author demonstrates that separate, they are weaker,
but when united through equality, they make a difference. The author repeats this part explicitly
since it's the central message in the poem. In the beginning, the author mentions that those things
might be theirs, but at the end, he demonstrates how the items can be theirs together. As such,
equality helps in distributing power and strength to all people regardless of

Langston Hughes Dbq
Langston Hughes was a well known poet during the 1920s who was a main part of the Harlem
Renaissance. He wrote 60 books including poems, novels, short stories, plays, children's poetry,
musicals, operas, and autobiographies. Langston drew inspiration from his grandmother to write.
Langston Hughes wrote poems about inequality and a sense of hope about how things would
change.
Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. Langston donated many poem to
the literary magazine in Cleveland, Ohio's Central High School. Most of his poems referred to the
WW1 which was current. (source 2) He was influenced by realistic stories of French author Guy de
Mupassort also by the poetry of Walt Whitman, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Claude Mckay and ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(source 2) Two of Langston poetry was published in New York: "The Weary Blues" and "Fine
Clothes to the Jew," while he was exploring Africa and Europe. (source 2) He also stayed in Madrid
for many months while the city was under blockade by Nationalist forces of Francisco Franco.
(source 2) Langston became disillusioned with WW2, the Nazi–Soviet Pact and the Communist rate
control of artists. (source 2) Hughes published two books of poetry after the war: "Fields of
Wonder" and "One Way Ticket," the poems take in the discordance of bebop jazz. (source 2) He was
called before Joseph McCarthy's Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which was
attempting to cause out communists in the United States. (source 2) Langston published "Let
America Be America Again," a lament for the second–class status of non–whites and immigrant
minorities. (source 2) Hughes created a character named Jesse B. Simple better know as "Simple"
was the African American Everyman who reflected on problems to race, politics, and relationships.
(source 5) The character Jesse Simple distrusted and disliked whites, with exception of Eleanor
Roosevelt whom he honored. (source 2) Charlotte Mason a white woman, who supported Hughes,
and she also supported several other African American writers such as Zora Neale Hurston. (source
2) Langston collaborated with Zora Neale Hurston on the play "Mule Bone," but later he learned
that Hurston copyrighted the play in her name alone, and it ruined their friendship. (source 2) He
wrote at least 20 plays, numerous scripts for radio, television and film, and he also translated the
works of writers: Jacques Roumain, Nicolas Guilllen, and Federico Garcia Lorca. (source 5)
Langston was chosen the lyricist for the Broadway musical "Street Scene," in 1947. (source 2)
Langston Hughes died in 1967 after contracting a

Langston Hughes Obstacles
Despite the childhood and early life that Langston Hughes faced, he became one of the world's
greatest authors, poets, activists, and Harlem Renaissance leaders. His works reached such a prestige
as to give him awards from institutions such as the NAACP for African American Achievements and
a doctorate from Howard university. Facing oppression and problems as an early child, Langston
Hughes was born into world that was unlikely to set him on the bright path he created for his life.
He began his life on a unique path as he was multi racial being composed of African American,
Native American, and French. Born in 1902 in Joplin, Missouri, Hughes had a rare ethic background
living in a time where races were largely composed of one color. This ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
During the period of 1920 – 1930, the Harlem Renaissance had reached it's peak and had several
other authors, not just Hughes pouring culture into the mix. Post World War I America was crippled
economically, culturally, and politically. Minority races such as African American experienced
extreme poverty and cried out through the form of the Harlem Renaissance. At this time, the Harlem
Renaissance was providing global influence and had spread across the world no longer through just
literature but music, storytelling, and art. The global spotlight in the city of Harlem allowed Hughes
to gain a following and expand his audience across the United States and the globe. The poem
"Mother to Son" was not widely read and popular when it was first published, but the poem was
added to Langston Hughes' book The Weary Blues which was published in 1926 and became one of
the spearheads in the African American cultural identity

"Harlem" by Langston Hughes embodies the thoughts and feelings of a historic time period. A surge
of artistic expression among African–Americans led the way to a movement that is now known as
the Harlem Renaissance. Creative works depicting the social forecast of the day began to emerge.
"Harlem" was written during this fascinating time and flawlessly incorporates this renaissance
thinking into each line. In essence, the poem conveys a sense of grievance, yet also provides a hope
to break the bonds that hinder the black community. By using a varying meter and rhyme scheme
and also employing the use of simile and repetition, Hughes expertly portrays the attitudes of an
entire social class. "Harlem" has no specifically consistent meter or rhyme ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The words "does," "like," and "or" are repeated consistently. This allows the reader to acknowledge
the structure of each stanza but contributes to the audience's awareness of the subject of the poem (a
dream deferred) as well. It is also important to note alliteration found in some of the lines. In the
first two lines, Hughes uses an alliterating d and then an alliterating s in lines three through four and
six through nine. This draws attention to repetition and also adds to the cohesiveness of the poem.
By far, the most obvious and significant aspect of "Harlem" can be found by the implantation of
similes. Each simile used is imperative to understanding the true meaning behind the postponed or
ended dream that Hughes references. Hughes implies that many obstacles and challenges exist
which can defer a dream. For one, it may "dry up like a raisin in the sun." Perhaps a dream can lose
its livelihood and "dry up" to be soon forgotten. A dream can also "fester like a sore and then run."
The lines imply that a denied dream may constantly be on the mind and be a very uncomfortable
subject. Hughes writes a dream can "stink like rotten meat," which suggests a nauseating sense of

Who Is Langston Hughes?
Langston Hughes James Mercer Langston Hughes was born in 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. He grew up
mainly in Lawrence, Kansas but also lived in Illinois, Ohio and Mexico. Constantly having to travel
he wrote his poem that would make him famous, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers". Having different
expectations his parents slit up resulting in him living with his maternal grandmother.
(English.illinois.edu) (African American Biographies)
Langston Hughes's mother and grandmother both installed most of his dedication. They helped to
shape his life and also his attitudes. Both were very resourceful women who helped Langston
understand the importance of creativity. Hughes himself states that being driven early by his
loneliness to books and the wonders of the world is what started him to constantly writing. His
grandmother and mother pushed him to be the best that he could be. (African American
Biographies)
Hughes graduated from high school in 1920 and then lived with his father in Mexico. He decided to
move to New York to attend Columbia University. By this time Hughes had already had some work
published in newspapers as well as journals. Though, he eventually dropped out he went on to live
in Paris where he continued to develop and write poetry. Langston showed his work to Lindsay and
he was so impressed that he was ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He then received a scholarship to attend Lincoln University. While attending he was introduced to a
man named Carl Van along with many more novelist. They used their connections to help get
Hughes's first book. His novel, Not Without Laughter, provides an accurate picture of African
American life in Lawrence during the early twentieth century. Later, Hughes creates a popular
character of Jesse B Semple, a black urban American with an off– beat sense of humor and strong
sense of racial awareness. (African American Biographies states that this is in New York

Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes wrote a poem about a dream he once had in which he was not able to view the
dream until he broke through a barrier in front of him. This poem was called, " As I Grew Older."
Langston Hughes is telling us that barriers should not stop us from our dream. In the text, he
demonstrates many literary elements, including metaphors, imagery, and theme. Metaphors stand
out the most during this poem. Hughes uses many comparisons to convey a message in which he
compares light to his dreams and darkness to the barrier that covers up his dream. For example, he
says "break through the wall! Find my dream!," meaning that he is trying to break this barrier in
order to be allowed to see his dream again. Another metaphor that relates to his dream emerges
when he states, "Into a thousand lights of sun, into a thousand whirling dreams of sun!." He is using
this to interpret that if he breaks through he can be in touch with his dreams again and nothing will
stop him. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He states, " only the thick wall. Only the shadow," using the wall as a visual metaphor for what he is
facing in his life. Despite that, there is an overall metaphor for the entire poem. The story line of this
poem is about a man who had a dream, but was blocked from it. However, if you look deeper into
the text and think about it, it allows us to infer that in his time it was a struggle for minorities to not
only have the drive to chase their dreams but to find the hope and determination to reach their
dreams. We can infer this because he says, " I am black. I lie down in the shadow. No longer the
light of my dream before

'Oppression' By Langston Hughes
In the poem "Oppression", written by Langston Hughes, the author leads us to believe that in many
countries there is the oppression of minorities, the fear of punishment for free thinking and yet the
hope of freedom. Throughout the world people in many countries suffer from subjugation. "Now
dreams are not available to the dreamers..." (Hughes) refers to the suppression of free thinking and
aspirations in those lands. Not only does the author make this point about injustice, he uses the
metaphor "In some lands dark night" (Hughes) to then later reinforce the idea of suppression and
oppression. Much of the population would love to free themselves from such subjugation, but many
are frightened of the consequences. Countries like the Soviet

Langston Hughes Essay

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