The poem “Let America be America Again” by Langston Hughes is dedicated to the America that never was. Hughes narrates the poem, taking on multiple identities to represent a small portion of the groups that America has lied to. Hughes manages to recreate a broken American Dream, sold to the minority of rich white men only, which in turn becomes fool’s gold for the actual minorities of America. However, Hughes neglects to reflect the marginalized women of America and projects a falsified dream upon Native Americans, while still providing commentary on the hypocrisy of “freedom” in America. This is seen by the lack of female voices, a common dream extended to the Red Man, and the concept of equality. To examine a text one must look at both …show more content…
In the opening lines Hughes writes, “Let it be the pioneer on the plain, seeking a home where he himself is free”, which sets the tone for the rest of the poem to indicate that this dream is only for men. The narrator cares little for women’s freedom and make it’s a point to identify the dream as a male centered objective. This can be vindictive towards women’s place in society or it could be reflecting the fact that when the American Dream was originally conceived, women were not complicit in the dream, except to play the part of wives and birth-givers. Inclusion of all men is further stressed in the line, “the land where every man is free”, this creates an air of forced equality, but the double edged sword is that instead of including everyone or all people, the word chosen is “man.” This exclusion of women establishes a wall between the sexes where women are not included in the vision of the American Dream or freedom. It is not an all-encompassing freedom, but rather a discriminatory stance that builds off the absence of women voices to profit the progression of men. Furthermore, the …show more content…
The intent is to provide another example of a falsified America, but the generalized dream provided does not apply for Native Americans. Their wish would be for their land, people, and traditions to return from which colonization destroyed, whereas, the given dream seeks to build upon colonization and improve a land of inequality. The dream advocated for exists mainly for immigrants (whether they willingly or unwillingly immigrated), but Native Americans will never be participant in that dream. As Hughes writes, “America was America to me”, he is right in the literal sense that prior to colonization the Red Man did not refer to the land as America. The America that this dream exists for is one that was built off the genocide of the Red Man and his people. The very existence of this dream thrives off the literal death of Native Americans and their traditions. Additionally, the line “I am the man who sailed those early seas” is a direct correlation to an immigrant’s dream which had derailed the very life and order of Native Americans, not to mention their dreams. By including the beginning of the American Dream, the immigration of thousands for an idea of freedom, it is also documenting the moment of colonization of Native American land. Thus, when the narrator issues the call to arms, “We must take back our land again” it is not a direct call for bloody revolution of Native American’s
In the chapter entitled, “American Dreams,” In Creating America, Joyce Moser and Ann Watters write:
This poem is often compared to Walt Whitman’s I Hear America Singing because of the similarities of the two poems. In this poem, Hughes argues that the African American race is equal to whites. Hughes even declares that one day the African American race will be equal to whites. Hughes proclaims, “Besides, They’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed-I, too, am America.” Hughes was very bold and daring when he wrote these lines in this poem. He is implying that the white people will regret what they have done to blacks. That they will be ashamed of how they treated them. Undoubtedly, this poem expresses Hughes cultural identity.
...ity of painful experiences endured by our American ancestors, shattering a student’s perception of the struggles he himself is spared. Through the author’s use of symbols, a particular writing style, and the presence of a mental attitude, he convinces readers of the immense struggles of the migrants, effectively educating all who read his message. All of these writing tools add more depth to the overall understanding of the events and attitudes occurring at the time. The Grapes of Wrath inherently defines the true meaning of the American Dream. This once was an evil concept in the 30s that created hope where there was none and naturally left a scar in America's history across the government and it's people. Instead, the American dream is a dream of unity, hope, perseverance, equality, and kindness among all humans that was realized only in the darkest of times.
Poems are expression of the human soul, and even though, is not everyone’s cup of tea when the individual finds that special poem it moves their soul one with the poet. There are many poets in the world, but the one that grab my attention the most was no other than Langston Hughes. It would be impossible for me to cover all the poems he wrote, but the one that grab my attention the most is called “Let America Be America Again.” It first appeared in “1938 pamphlet by Hughes entitled A New Song. Which was published by a socialist organization named the International Worker Order” (MLM) and later change back to its original name. I have never felt such an energy coming out of a poem like this one which is the reason that I instantly felt in love with it.
The poem opens a thought of the American Dream, about what he wants America to be, and his hope for the country. The beginning line of the poem entails that America has to be the same America it once was, to me it’s a lie. America back then practiced slavery and oppression, it destroyed the lands of people to build their own homes. The ideal of an “America” was all a dream. It’s what they wanted for their America to be. We as people should be able to rise up and redefine the American equality and take back our land. The poem serves a powerful message of equality. The theme of this poem is against injustice and inequalities that exist in America and that can corrupt the American dream. All characters in the novels we read for the semester i.e. The African, Quick skills, and Tucker, have a lot of similarities with the poem, “Let America Be America Again”. They led their people to freedom by fighting against slavery and restrictions. The African escaped from his master. The African vowed to be free and never be enslaved again. Quickskill came to liberate the fellow slaves, who were enslaved in his master 's plantation. Tucker realized that he had some worth, and wanted freedom for his family. All three of these characters laid their lives on the line for their fellow men. They would rather prefer to die with dignity rather than become a white man’s property. They wanted
He brings to mind all those who suffered and fought for the freedom known as the American Dream. He prompts an emotional response from the reader to show how those early settlers, the slaves, the farmers, the factory workers, the common laborer, all those who gave a part of themselves for this land felt as they fought for the “mighty dream” (???) of America. Even though there is still the hope of that dream, it is unobtainable for many. No matter how hard they work, no matter how determined they are, they will never be more than what they are as long as there are those in power who constantly step on and dominate in order to obtain and keep the power they desperately desire. But the heart of America is strong and must fight to keep the dream alive because without hope, the American people have nothing to live for. It does not matter where one comes from or what one does. The American Dream is for everyone, is what keeps America alive, and is in the heartbeat of every American citizen. “We, the people, must redeem” or land “and make America again”
The American Dream addressed in Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God through the character Janie Crawford, the dream of finding true love. In her search for love she experienced different aspects of love through her three different marriages. Her biggest influence was her old grandmother. She lived life based off of her grandmother’s perceptions of how a black women should live. Janie’s grandmother dream was the dream of many women in their town which was to be married, have a home, and land as stated in the novel, "Heah you is wid de onliest organ in town, amongst colored folks, in yo' parlor. Got a house bought and paid for and sixty acres uh land right on de big road and...Lawd have mussy! Dat's de very prong all us black
...struggle for dignity as a black person in the early/mid twentieth century. “Democracy” is a slightly stern and direct request to take action and fight for civil rights. “Theme for English B” is a compassionate and low-key personal anecdote that reiterates the unpracticed concept that “all men are created equal”. Despite the difference in tone and subject, all four poems relate to the central theme that dignity is something that white men may take for granted, but Langston Hughes, as a black man and a writer, sees and feels dignity as fight and a struggle that he faced and that the black community as whole faces every day.
The ‘American Dream’ means different things to each individual. What the ‘American Dream’ means to me is that I’m an American citizen who is free to do as I please under certain circumstances of course. I understand that many people have troubles trying to achieve this ‘American Dream’ though. If you look at the illegal immigrant problem, they have problems achieving this American Dream. I know that to get into the United States of America, you have to take a test, along with years of being in the system until you’re picked. You also cannot be a criminal and either you come here to work or you come here to stay; it costs quite a bit as well to achieve this dream. In my opinion it makes me mad when people come here illegally and claim that they
To which these symbols push this driving theme of what the American dream looks like for black people at the time in comparison to those who were white and to some extent within a position of power. Through the protagonist’s unexpected night while only wanting to give a speech to the wealth white men in his town he is subjected to a naked white woman, to which a young black man is not allowed. He is then forced to fight other young black men till the last man standing, only to be taunted with the illusion that gaining wealth would be anything less the painful. The idea of “The American dream” is based on who you are and what you look like. The rich white men are already in the position of power all. The American dream is understated by the fact that it is so obtainable or obtained from where they sit. On the other hand, the young black men must fight tooth and nail and even then, the things that are considered the “American dream” is not within reach. This is shown to the reader by giving the first person point of view narration, this gives you a more personal walk through of the environment. The extensive use of literary symbols used by Ellison makes this a unique read, that of which you would not be able to see all his metaphorical imagery with only one read. Upon further review of the text you start to see the underlining theme of this battle
The American Dream was a tremendous theme during the late 19th through mid-20th century. The dream was an idea of becoming rich, spending money, and more than all, the achievement of happiness. Many people took advantage of this door for greater opportunities. Unfortunately, not everyone got to achieve this ideal dream, although some that were lucky did. Due to this circumstances, writers like Kate Chopin, F. Scott. Fitzgerald, and Arthur Miller were inspired during this decade. Part of their writings focused in search of how family 's lives were being affected in society by this dream. Their main subject portrayed how many American families were broken apart through the pressure of society norms. The three selections, “The Storm,” “Babylon
Alexis de Tocqueville and Langston Hughes both have their own ideas about what America is, was, and should be. Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America praises American democracy in which everyone is included. This inclusion allows for democracy that everyone can be a part of and feel like they are contributing. On the contrary, Langston Hughes’s “Let America Be America Again” depicts an excluding America that does not treat everyone equivalently. Hughes portrays America as a misrepresentation that does not uphold the ideals that it is so famous for. The two works contrast in many ways but do have some similarities. Although their ideas are different, politics is still a choice. Tocqueville describes politics as a choice that everyone should make as it benefits them all while Hughes describes politics as a choice that some do not have the power to take part in. The differing sentiments between Democracy in America and “Let America Be America Again” stem
In a poem by the name of Chicago, the poem is very negative and the way they describe this city is very cruel. “And they tell me you are crooked and I answer: Yes, it is true I have seen the gunman kill and go free to kill again.” and those words are out of anger and shows how cruel the world is. The American Dream is about positive and happy lives and this pom definitely defies the meaning of the American Dream. The negative parts of American Dream come out in this poem, “They tell me you are wicked and I believe them, for I have seen your painted woman under the gas lamps luring the farm boys.” The poem is very negative and un supportive about the American Dream. Although many say that the American Dream is not possible, it is very possible. The book, The Corn Planting, shows the American Dream in the more Humbling way. This family based their whole life on their one son, and it comes to prove that the American Dream does not have to be all about money, it can vary to anything that would make a person happy. Depending on the person, the American Dream can be about anything, in the book The Corn Planting , when their son died, “they started to plant corn, I believe they were hoping for a new life to be regrown. The American Dream isn't always about being successful for everyone but alot for yourself. The family always was successful towards each other and they were a very humble loving family.” (question 4). Their American Dream was achieve because of the happiness they felt when their son was here. When someone argues saying that the American Dream isn't possible, I don't listen because the American Dream is all in how you make
The American Dream, it’s something as old as America itself and continues to live on. However, what is the “American Dream” exactly? It’s something that has changed over and over, and has been disputed over for centuries. First, it was to become the perfect society and person through God as defined by the Puritans (the first settlers in America), the it shifted to being the peak of moral and intellectual perfection with the Rationalists, who were revolutionaries such as Benjamin Franklin. The Transcendentalists are a group undefined by an era in time, for they were present in all stages of America’s history, and continue to be present. They had more modern views such as self reliance, and individualism; a continual theme we see today in what people describe as the American Dream. Besides that however, one wouldn’t see much resemblance to our country’s past ideals. Today the American Dream is all about money. As a nation we idolize people who have seemingly overcome huge life obstacles by themselves in rags-to-riches stories, and then we question why we can’t do the same. We ask ours...
What is the American Dream, and who are the people most likely to pursue its often elusive fulfillment? Indeed, the American Dream has come to represent the attainment of myriad of goals that are specific to each individual. While one person might consider a purchased home with a white picket fence her version of the American Dream, another might regard it as the financial ability to operate his own business. Clearly, there is no cut and dried definition of the American Dream as long as any two people hold a different meaning. What it does universally represent, however, it the opportunity for people to seek out their individual and collective desires under a political umbrella of democracy.