Langston Hughes Let America Be America Again Poem Analysis

In the fight for equality, people of color often feel isolated and separated from those whose privilege reinforces their oppression. However, there are and always have been white people who see the inequalities that are practiced in society and speak out against them in hopes of reaching equality for all. Langston Hughes used his voice in poetry to express his experience as a black man in the United States during the Civil Rights Movement, and his is a household name. There is no doubt that his words have power. The reader expects to feel his experience and gain empathy and understanding through his poetry. In his poem, â€Å"Let America Be America Again,† Hughes presents his experience of American life in a powerful contrast to the experience†¦show more content†¦The Chili Peppers demonstrate a similar tone. They develop this tone with imagery. They write: Ive got a soul that cannot sleep At night when something just aint right Blood red, but without sight Exploding egos in the night Mix like sticks of dynamite Red black or white, this is my fight (Chili Peppers 1-6) First, they use the image of the restless soul. This evokes the feeling of frustration. They take it further with images of â€Å"Exploding egos† that â€Å"Mix like sticks of dynamite.† Although they cannot truly understand the struggle, their moral or ethical nature does not agree with the injustice that is suffered by others, and this is exhibited in their lyrics. Hughes also addresses the deceptive picture of America that has been painted by those who refuse to admit the reality of oppression through figurative language. He writes: O, let my land be a land where Liberty Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath, But opportunity is real, and life is free, Equality is in the air we breathe. (Hughes 11-14) Hughes personifies liberty but dresses her in a wreath crown with fake patriotism. The land he seeks would be rid of this deception. Americans boast of liberty and freedom, but it is not for all because equality is not â€Å"in the air we breathe.† Hughes’ use of personification brings the idea of liberty down to a human level and makes it more realistic. This use of figurative language calls for a realistic view of the situation. TheShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Literary Work Let America Be America Again By Langston Hughes1324 Words   |  6 PagesEnglish 102 Historical analysis of the literary work â€Å"Let America be America Again† by Langston Hughes Man has always been interested in analyzing issues in the history of the world. People tend to appreciate it when grand historical events are described in works of literature. Consequently, writers and poets, try to capture every single step of societal and personal experiences in their works. One of such writers is Langston Hughes whose poem â€Å"Let America be America Again† speaks to certainRead MoreLangston Hughes : A Modernist1222 Words   |  5 PagesSappington 13 Apr. 2017 Langston Hughes: A Modernist Credited as being the most recognizable figure of the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes played a vital role in the Modernist literary movement and the movement to revitalize African American culture in the early 20th century. Hughes’s poems reflect his personal struggle and the collective struggle of African Americans during this cultural revival. Langston Hughes’s life contained key influences on his work. As a child, Hughes witnessed a divorceRead MoreLet America be America again analysis856 Words   |  4 Pages Let America be America Again Analysis In Langston Hughes poem â€Å"Let America be America Again† he talks about how America should return to the way that it was perceived to be in the dreams before America was truly America. Throughout the poem he uses various methods to evoke the patriotic images and dreams that he feels America should and will eventually be. Hughes states that America is supposed to be a place of equality for everyone including both white and colored people. During this periodRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Langston Hughes961 Words   |  4 PagesComing Quick (A Literary Analysis of Langston Hughes’ Poems) The nineteenth and twentieth centuries were impressive times for the growing of several different cultures. One of the main cultures that grew through those time periods was that of the black community. Those with darker skin color were pushed to their limits and they were still able to persevere. One writer in particular truly made a influence not only on his culture but on the rest of America, too. Langston Hughes was an astonishing influenceRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of The Ideology And Reality Of Equality987 Words   |  4 PagesLiterary Analysis of the Ideology and reality of equality in the works of Langston Hughes Langston Hughes was an African American writer and poet. Langston Hughes wrote about what it was like living as a Negro, as a black man, as any person of color in America. He wanted to portray the dignity, soulfulness, and resilience of his people. In his writings, he tends to believe that people aren’t wholly good and they are not wholly evil or bad either. He writes with such a conviction and an almostRead MoreAnalysis Of Langston Hughes s Poem I, Too978 Words   |  4 Pages Langston Hughes America, the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available to every American. This is what everyone was told, what the Declaration of Independence states. But, Langston Hughes a black American poet in the Harlem Renaissance period saw the truth. Being an African American in the United States during the early 1900’s was difficult. Many lived a life full of hardships; segregation, prejudice and economic hardships, viewed as second-class citizensRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Langston Hughes s The American Dream 3454 Words   |  14 Pages‘America’ is a complex, layered idea; one that becomes all the more complex when the deeply embedded construct of race comes into play. As a black man born into a time of overt racial prejudice, Langston Hughes was all too familiar with the double consciousness that came with life as an American minority. This roller coaster is the subject of the vast majority of his literary work and has conti nued to be a major presence and inspiration for literary work everywhere today. Hughes shows a deep loyaltyRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Langston Hughes s The American Dream 3454 Words   |  14 Pages‘America’ is a complex, layered idea; one that becomes all the more complex when the deeply embedded construct of race comes into play. As a black man born into a time of overt racial prejudice, Langston Hughes was all too familiar with the double consciousness that came with life as an American minority. This roller coaster is the subject of the vast majority of his literary work and has continued to be a major presence and inspiration for literary work everywhere today. Hughes shows a deep loyaltyRead MoreComparative Analysis Of African Americ Annotated Bibliography878 Words   |  4 PagesComparative Analysis of African American: An Annotated Bibliography Angelou, Maya. â€Å"Africa†. The Norton Introduction to Literature 11th ed. New York: 2013 print Norton Mays, Kelly Wheatley, Phillis. â€Å"On Being Brought from Africa to America† The Norton Introduction to Literature. 11th ed. Ed. Spencer Richardson-Jones. New York: Norton, 2013 The main point of this poem is Maya Angelou talking about her homeland, Africa. The narrator starts to describe the land of Africa by using Angelou’s bodyRead MoreChildrens Literature13219 Words   |  53 Pagesand John Locke: Late 1600s 8 3. Beginning of Children’s Literature: Late 1700s 10 4. Fairy and Folk Tales 12 The Golden Age of Children’s Literature: Late 1800s 12 5. Victorian Childrens Literature 16 6. Contemporary Childrens Literature 18 6. Analysis of Harry Potters’ series 21 7. Conclusion 30 8. Summary 31 Children’s Literature Definitions 31 The Ancient World [ancient Rome; 50 BCE to 500 CE] 31 The Middle Ages [500 to 1500 CE] 31 The European Renaissance [1500-1650 CE] 32 The 17th Century