The history of African American discrimination is a despicable part of the United States’ past. Inequality among Black Americans prompts these individuals to overcome the hardships. This endurance is valued by African Americans and people all around the world. However, the ability to strive and maintain positivity in a difficult or prejudiced situation proves to be tremendously challenging. When people give up in tough times, they deny their opportunity to succeed and grow stronger. This paper examines the techniques that manifest the struggles of racism and the importance of conquering obstacles in the following poems: Dream Deferred, I, Too and Mother to Son. Struggles of Racism: The Importance of Overcoming Hardships The former experiences of African American injustices are shameful American events. Unfair treatment triggers Black Americans to …show more content…
The narrator states that he is the darker brother who is forced by whites to eat in the kitchen. The significance of being a sibling with a darker complexion represents how all Americans are brothers who need to be treated equally and provided with the same chances. This is proclaimed as the American dream, but not everyone has equivalent prospects. Overview: I, Too (2009) clarified: “Hughes 's poem, however, suggests that not all Americans are given the same opportunity to achieve their dreams. Some--those with dark skin--are cast aside and kept from achieving the dream” (p. NA). The narrator does not abandon hope in times of discrimination; he only thrives. His optimism symbolizes the power of climbing in the face of troubles. This progressive viewpoint leads to success. Hughes (2007) explained: “They send me to eat in the kitchen. When company comes, but I laugh, and eat well, and grow strong. Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table. Nobody’ll dare say to me, ‘Eat in the kitchen’ ” (p.
As of late, racism has been a topic on everyone’s lips. Whether it’s because of police brutality in certain regions of the USA, or due to the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump. “I, Too” by Langston Hughes and “Dear White America” by Danez Smith both talk about this very serious topic. Although these two poems are from completely different time periods, both discuss the same matter, which is racism towards African Americans.
Berry, Faith. Langston Hughes Before and Beyond Harlem Connecticut: Lawrence Hill and Company Publishers, 1983
In the line “I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen” (Hughes 2-3) is denial of a particular person due to the pigmentation of their skin. The African American race had to suffer and be treated differently because of one small detail that was out of their control. Many individuals struggled with how they were treated during this time and others let such treatment make them stronger. As seen in the following lines “Nobody’ll dare say to me, “Eat in the kitchen, then.” Hughes illustrates that the narrator is in touch with being the same as everyone else. These lines show that he knows what he deserves and he will stand up for himself. Guilt of being a certain race is not hanging over the narrator’s head unlike many others who feel defeated. This poem stands for those who see themselves equally with the ones that look down upon them. “I, too, am America” is a testament of faith in his countrymen and women to recognize and appreciate the contribution of African-American citizens.” (Lewis) shows that America should be proud of the strong ethnic mix. Hughes possessed optimism for all human beings and took a lot of pride in showing that through his
Yet, he remains very optimistic in not letting his misfortune please what is considered the “white-man” in the poem. Langston Hughes’s state of affairs. They send me to eat in the kitchen. When company comes.
After slavery ended African Americans began to migrate north in efforts to escape the increasingly violent times in the south. White supremacy and Jim Crow laws made it all but impossible for a person of color to be anything close to equal to whites. During World War I many people were forced to serve leaving many American factories with a shortage of workers. African Americans took this opportunity to move to the North in efforts to have a better life. Harlem became the home of many artists, writers, and musicians. Those who found outlets in group expressions and self-determination as a means of achieving equality and civil rights. This time has been considered as the rebirth of the new negro, a term made popular by Alain Leroy Locke in his publication in 1925. Well known writer and artists such as County Cullen, James Johnson, Augusta Savage thrived in these times. But none were more prominent than Langston Hughes. He was the leading voice of the Harlem Renaissance and was one of the early writers who showed the
Next, we see that the speaker is the “darker brother.” This is an indication of Hughes’s style as the speaker admits he is “darker,” which conforms with Hughes’s intention to “express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame.” On the other hand, the speaker is still a brother: he is still a part of the family, which represents America. The word choice of “darker” also represents how blacks tended to be overshadowed by notions of white
..., which was demonstrated when the black child wanted the approval of the white child. However, Hughes’ speaker validates that we do not need admiration from others to feed to so-called appetite; which refers to self-satisfaction. These experiences affected the speakers in different ways; it impacted the speaker in “Incident” in a deconstructive way, whereas it impacted the speaker in “I, Too” in a constructive way.
This poem is written from the perspective of an African-American from a foreign country, who has come to America for the promise of equality, only to find out that at this time equality for blacks does not exist. It is written for fellow black men, in an effort to make them understand that the American dream is not something to abandon hope in, but something to fight for. The struggle of putting up with the racist mistreatment is evident even in the first four lines:
“Harlem” by Langston Hughes opened the doors to African American art. Throughout history there has been a lot of issues with racial inequality. During the Harlem Renaissance, many African Americans wanted to prove they were just as intelligent, creative, and talented as white Americans. Langston Hughes was one of the people who played an influential part in the Harlem Renaissance; his poem “Harlem” painted a very vivid picture of his life and his outlook in the society he lived in.
The tone of the poem seemingly mocks the second-class citizenship (treatment) of African Americans during that time. Blacks were sent to eat in the kitchen whenever company was present at the house. And
Racism and discrimination are problems many African Americans had to face in the 1940s; Hughes uses this aspect as the major theme in his poem “Ballad of the Landlord.” It is apparent that the tenant is discriminated against by the landlord, the police and the newspaper. For example, the newspaper shows only one side of the issue especially in the headline: “MAN THREATENS LANDLORD” (31). The tenant’s reasons for threatening the landlord were valid, although not legal, because the landlord treated the tenant unfairly by not fixing the house the tenant was renting. The tenant was angry, as expected, because the landlord was being prejudice against the tenant and refusing to fix his living conditions. The landlord would possibly have fixed the house if the tenant were white, and all problems could have been avoided had race issues not be...
So, the poor, colored and those of different nationalities are denied chances to succeed in keeping the traditional values. Both poems address the widespread societal issue of racism that is so prevalent in America. Hughes and Alexie seem to agree that judgment of others is the disgrace of our nation. If the color of a man's skin did not have such a great value in our society, maybe then America could be everyone's. Not just the rich white men but the immigrants, the Africans, the Indians and the poor.
.Langston Hughes wrote the poem “Negro” in 1922. After emancipation, African Americans tried to locate a protected place to embrace music, liberal arts, and theater.African Americans found this in Harlem and used their artistic skills to press for racial equality. This poem is meant to illustrate the presence of blacks throughout history, highlight their global contributions, and illuminate their sufferings.
...urvive, and conquer life and society’s challenges. Hughes was an advocate and speaker for his community. He uses the memory of his past to instill pride in his African American community.
Langston Hughes once said in his poem, The Black Man Speaks, “I swear to the Lord / I still can't see / Why Democracy means / Everybody but me.” This quotation by Hughes is able to perfectly depict inequality which was just one of many struggles African Americans faced during Hughes’ time. Although literary critics felt that Langston Hughes portrayed an unattractive view of black life, the poems demonstrate reality. Hughes’ poetry contains many issues that typically plagued blacks at the time including racial abuse, lack of opportunity, and segregation.