Dear Duy, I’m writing this to you to tell you more about racism and discrimination in which you told me you are interested. The racism has been happening as a big issue in human history. The reason I choose these two poems to show you how racism has been happening in America, and the victim being discriminated against are African American. That two poems are “I, too” by Langston Huges and “The Negro’s friend” by Claude McKay. By analyzing these two poems and along with a speech on Ted talk by Bryan Stevenson, I hope to make it clear for you to understand about racism and discrimination in America from long time ago in history and still to now.
The first poem that I want to tell you is about “The Negro’s friend” by Claude McKay. He was a Jamaican writer and poet, who was a seminal figure in the Harlem Renaissance. In “The Negro’s Friend”, McKay shows his opinion about the Negro struggle through racism and segregation. He communicates with African American at the time and not include himself as black in third person voice throughout the poem. Never in this poem does he mention we or I when he is referring to the black struggle. He acts like an outsider to look at the whole black struggle situation then acknowledge the problem to give out the answer. He uses enjambment and end rhyme to let people take away the message which is about African American voice.
According to McKay, it is not enough and helpful to simply ask for no segregation as he says, “What waste of time to cry:
Discrimination has afflicted the American society since its inception in 1776. The inferiority of the African American race – a notion embedded within the mindset of the white populace has difficult to eradicate – despite the efforts of civil rights activists and lawmakers alike. Many individuals are of the opinion that discrimination and racism no longer exist and that these issues have long since been resolved during the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. However such is not the case. Discrimination is a complex issue – one that encompasses many aspects of society. The impact of discrimination of the African American race is addressed from two diverse perspectives in the essays: “Notes of a Native Son” by James Baldwin and “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King .
The division between whites and blacks was clearly prevalent and the United States of America was a racially discriminatory society reinforced by its racist laws. Hughes took the initiative to speak his mind via poetry, resulting in his piece “I, Too”. In this poem, Hughes clearly signifies one thing: Just because his skin color is different from whites, does not mean that they get to sing the National Anthem louder. Arguing that all American citizens are the same, disregarding their skin color, Hughes applies in this poem a master-slave relationship. The assumed white master shows disrespect to his servant by sending him away whenever visitors come over, because he is ordered to eat secluded from the company. However he seems to not be faze by this and actually finds it funny, supported by “But I laugh” (5). Furthermore, not only does he find amusement in this unpleasant situation, but the isolation has a positive effect on him “And grow strong” (7), implying that even though he submits to his master, his spirit will not be diminished.
The famous African American poet, Gwendolyn Brooks, grew up on the south-side of Chicago. She paved the way for many female African American woman today. In the The African American Experience textbook there is two amazing poems written by her. One is titled “The Sonnet-Ballad” and the other is titled “We Real Cool”. On the surface these two poems seem to have simple means, but if you dig under the surface there is more than meets the eye. Each poem has the three component that make a poem according to Stephen Henderson. Each poem has a theme, structure, and saturation. Each component is presented in a different way. Its presented in a way that makes the poem more affective in its message, and that is the reason why these poems are so
The audience of this poem are the people who want to learn about how America was during segregation. Teachers have taught us what they have been told to teach. However, Angelou has lived through this time and has experienced segregation. She is a credible
Langston Hughes uses both Harlem and The Negro Speaks of Rivers to evoke responses from his readers. Both of these poems are profound in and of themselves when simply read given the political and racial tensions at the time, but when read and digested, they can speak to any race, creed, or color. The use of figurative language in both of these poems is what makes them so easy to identify with. He uses blood, deep rivers, rotten meat, and other nouns to allow the reader to process what each of his or her own rotten meat or deep river is. Interestingly enough, when read passionately, the reader could get lost in his or her own story, but it is of upmost importance to remember that Hughes is chronicling the story of African American plight in such a way that allows anyone to identify with it. It is through this identification that allows anyone to develop pride and sensitivity for Hughes and his people.
In today’s society we face a lot of issues, but there is one issue that stands out to me most. Which these two poems address, that is injustice towards other race in America. In Langston Hughes “I Too” and “The Weary Blues” the trouble of unjust towards African Americans, weigh on the speaker’s mind. Each poem reflecting on the same issue just a little bit differently.
Race plays a big part in this poem. He speaks on Harlem and its culture and this environment but also about mutual interest with people
“The scars and stains of racism are still deeply embedded in the American society.” US Representative, John Lewis said this in his return to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial he spoke on 54 years ago, during the March on Washington. Racism has been around since the beginning of time, but it is not human nature. Racism is something that is taught, and given the amount of time that has passed since To Kill A Mockingbird and the March on Washington, one would think that racism wouldn’t be a serious issue any more. Although race relations have improved along with other social issues from the time of To Kill Mockingbird, racism and discrimination are major problems in today’s society.
The health triangle is an organizer which generally divides our everyday activities into three main aspects. It stresses the importance of maintaining a balance of good physical, mental, and social health in order to obtain an ideally healthy and happy life. Each individual’s triangle is different and is customized to their own lifestyle and habits, however, as we grow up, many of us often devote our attention to one side, leading to health imbalances.
All three of the poems discussed in this essay relate to the struggles suffered by African Americans in the late 18th century to the early 19th century in many different ways. They had to live under harsh
During the 1920’s a new movement began to arise. This movement known as the Harlem Renaissance expressed the new African American culture. The new African American culture was expressed through the writing of books, poetry, essays, the playing of music, and through sculptures and paintings. Three poems and their poets express the new African American culture with ease. (Jordan 848-891) The poems also express the position of themselves and other African Americans during this time. “You and Your Whole Race”, “Yet Do I Marvel”, and “The Lynching” are the three poems whose themes are the same. The poets of these poems are, as in order, Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Claude Mckay.
As Milly adjusts to her new life away from her serial killer mother in the novel Good Me, Bad Me, the dark undercurrents of her past seep back in. Milly has already turned her mother in for the murder of nine young children when the novel starts, and the story of how Milly got to that point unfold as she begins to deal with everyday life after the horrors she’s experienced. Part of that everyday life is learning to fit in with her foster family, learning to fit in at school when her foster-sister Phoebe bullies her hard, and figuring out how to cope with trauma inflicted on her by her own mother while also being the only witness in her mother’s murder trial. It’s a lot for a fifteen-year-old to handle. Much of Milly’s internal dialogue is addressed to her mother and shows how she’s working
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,
One of the most common states people tend to fall into is depression. Depression is where someone has a low mood in which the emotion they are currently in will likely affect their thoughts and behavior. When someone is in that state, they are getting isolated. This means they are at the part where they are losing focus, as well as becoming stressed out. However, if life becomes worse, there is a high risk they are going to take away their own life. This does not happen to everyone who is in depression, but there are some that will end it all. When an individual is depressed, they often become isolated and as a result are more likely to commit suicide.
Langston Hughes was the leading voice of African American people in his time, speaking through his poetry to represent blacks. His Influence through his poems are seen widely not just by blacks but by those who enjoy poetry in other races and social classes. Hughes poems, Harlem, The Negro speaks of rivers, Theme for English B, and Negro are great examples of his output for the racial inequality between the blacks and whites. The relationship between whites and blacks are rooted in America's history for the good and the bad. Hughes poems bring the history at large and present them in a proud manner. The injustice that blacks face because of their history of once being in bondage is something they are constantly reminded and ridiculed for but must overcome and bring to light that the thoughts of slavery and inequality will be a lesson and something to remember for a different future where that kind of prejudice is not found so widely.