Summary Of A Dream Deferred By Langston Hughes

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During the 1920’s, African American writers and musicians began an artistic community where they were able to express themselves in Harlem during an era of social conflict (Bloom p.12). Known for his writing, James Mercer Langston Hughes was one of the first contributors of jazz poetry during the Harlem Renaissance. Hughes was an novelist, playwright, and an American Poet. In 1921, Langston Hughes published his first poem, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”. Very pleased with Hughes work, Nicholas Vachel Lindsay (an American poet) advertised his work, which led to the first publication of his book in 1926. From then, Hughes continued his journey through writing by publishing poems and plays. In the works, “As I Grew Older,” “Harlem,” and “Let
Hughes begins the poem with a rhetorical question “what happens to a dream deferred?” He then uses strong imagery to help his readers understand what can lead a dream to diminish, if it is postponed, “does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?” Hughes also refers to the dream exploding, which represents the limitations of how much people could bare when it came to discrimination within their communities. The overall tone to the poem is frustration; Hughes incorporates six metaphorical examples in every two lines. This repetitive tactic displays the limitation African Americans had in regards to the ideal perception of the American Dream. Hughes also repeats his usage of alliteration to allow the reader to focus on the words and message of the work. According to Gunter H.Lenz, “the "dream deferred" of blacks in Harlem (and in all the United States) is placed within the wider context of the American dream that still awaits its realization” (Lenz p.270). During the Harlem Renaissance the ultimate goal was to express oneself and to display self determination. These were the only ways to overcome social
Hughes written the poem in a first person point if view to display his emotions towards the whole issue. He discusses his perception of America not being what it suppose to be. Langston Hughes writes:“Let America be America again. Let it be the dream it used to be. Let it be the pioneer on the plain seeking a home where he himself is free”, which displays the potential hope he has for America. When he uses the word “ again” , “It speaks of the freedom and equality which America boasts, but never had” (Presley p.384). This explains why Hughes repeatedly said “America never was America to me”. The repetition puts emphasis on the message and it shows that Langston Hughes never felt the connection he should have with the American Dream. He also states, “There’s never been equality for me,Nor freedom in this “homeland of the free.” The quotation around “homeland of the free” helps the reader to understand his frustrating tone. In order to fully grab the reader’s attention Hughes used imagery, “I am the Negro bearing slavery 's scars,” in order to visualize and understand the pain that he felt during this time by not being able to be apart of the American Dream. Towards the end, Langston Hughes pleads with bringing back their “mighty dreams”, and returning to a sense of hope, “And yet I wear this oath-America will be”, ensuring that everyone’s dreams

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