Analysis Of Muriel Rukeyser's 'Ballad Of Orange And Grape'

Langston Hughes’ poetry frequently cites the “American Dream” from the perspective of those who were disenfranchised in American, such as the Native Americans, African Americans, poor farmers, and oppressed immigrants. The American Dream was defined by James Truslow Adams as, “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement” (Langston Hughes). Hughes’ poetry portrays the glories of equality, liberty, and the “American Dream” as the disenfranchised were trapped beneath oppression, poverty, and prejudice. Whose dreams are smothered and buried in a life characterized by the anguish of survival.

Jonathan Kozol’s Fire in the Ashes is an honest depiction of the hardships and triumphs of families in the South Bronx, New York. In this book, Kozol introduces us to several Hispanic and Black families that he originally met in the Mott Haven/Martinique Hotel in the 1980’s and allows us to view their trajectory in the proceeding 25 years. By allowing the reader a look into the lives of these families, he provides us with a realistic depiction of the disadvantages families living in poverty encounter despite interventions from charity organizations and philanthropic donors. Kozol identifies that without “systematic justice and systematic equity in public education” (Kozol, 2013, pg 304) students in these impoverished neighborhoods will continue to lack the same economic opportunities that may potentially lead them out of the welfare system. Kozol emphasizes lack of stable housing, and unequal educational opportunities, as primarily conditions to perpetuating poverty. Despite the challenges that the families endure, Kozol is able to show that they are resilient.

By learning about the poverty in not only the city of Buffalo, but also the rest of the country, it inspires me to step up and be engaged in my community even more. We have learned so much about how things like the education you receive and what neighborhood you grow up in can heavily affect your future. In one of the readings from week 4, when the author is discussing poverty, he says, “What I see is the failure of society. I see a society that let that happen, that is not doing what it should. And it’s very sad” (Pilkington 25).

The poem “Let America Be America Again” (658) is written by a famous writer by the name of Langston Hughes who is knowledgeable in American literature. Hughes writes this specific piece about the suffrages of what African Americans have encountered and uses a combination of ethos, pathos, and logos to express his thoughts. In the book Arguing About Literature: A Brief Guide by John Schilb and John Clifford gives a brief credibility description of Hughes to let readers knows he knows what he is talking about. He also uses history and emotion, both powerful strategies, to create a connection through his writing. Although he views majority of victims of poverty as African Americans, Hughes mentions others for those outside of the African American race can relate to this poem. In history and today’s society, people of all discrimination suffer powerlessness with lack of opportunity, equality, freedom, and fairness for immigration.

Poetic techniques displayed through the ideas, poetic features and style of the poet, reveal concepts which transcend time and place. In Gwen Harwood’s poem “the violets” her ability to interweave past and present emphasises the importance of memory in preserving ones journey though the universal experiences of growth, maturity and mortality. Similarly the poem “Mother who gave me life” demonstrates the memory of motherhood as a timeless quintessential part of the human condition. And lastly In Harwood’s “father and Child”, the connection between the father and son/daughter highlights that transformation throughout childhood is inevitable. Through the content and the language, the ways in which human experiences reveal concepts which

The author, Ann Petry used Miss Rinner as an example of how people in poverty struggle against the system. Bub’s teacher, Miss Rinner, was a white woman who was prejudice against black people and poverty itself; she

The short but inspirational poem "Harlem" by Langston Hughes addresses what happens to aspirations that are postponed or lost. The brief, mind provoking questions posed throughout the poem allow the readers to reflect--on the effects of delaying our dreams. In addition, the questions give indications about Hughes' views on deferred dreams.

Push tells the traumatic story of Claireece Precious Jones, an obese and illiterate sixteen year old who lives in Harlem with her abusive mother. Claireece is pregnant with her second, child as the result of an incestuous rape by her father, who is also the father of her first child. As a result of her pregnancy; Precious is sent to an alternative school. Precious is an ambitious and hopeful young lady who dreams of a better life for herself and her children, but she does not have the proper supports in place to help her achieve her dreams. With the support of her teacher at Each one Teach One, Precious gains the supports that she’s been missing her entire life and for the first time in her life she is able to imagine a life beyond her daunting circumstances. Within this paper, I will examine the inadequacies of the schools to deal with student’s problems and learning disabilities, the inadequacies of

If words are powerful enough, they can easily change people’s point of view or get them to start thinking about change. Many people can become inspired by the use of these words and how people interpret them. During the Civil Rights Movement, many inspirational rallies and speeches were made to try to advocate for change. The text “How the Children of Birmingham Changed the Civil-Rights Movement” and “The Many Lives of Hazel Bryan” have helped prove how words can inspire change.

Poetry is a creative art expressed through words and created through passion, prior experience and multiple outer influences. Gary Soto is a famous poet who blossomed in the late 20th century. Soto used different variations of poetry tools to create expressive poems based on his own life experience. While Soto wrote many different poems, the poems “Oranges” and “Small Town With One Road” stand out and can be deeply analyzed. Both poems are strongly emphasized with his past experiences in life. Gary Soto writes poems about hope, diversity and harshness of life, because he relates to his own personal experience while conveying his meaning through the poems.

(Simmons, 22)” Students can connect the injustices presented in the novel, such as, starvation, slavery, and wastefulness to social injustices that they know occurred in the past or see taking place in the world today. Once students connected to these injustices, Simmons believes it is important to harness this passion. To do this she suggest that teachers have their students participate in social action projects. Although, these types of projects can appear to pull from the original literary goals, Simmons reminds readers that students will increase language arts skills through “research, technology use, public speaking, reflection, and

BREAKING NEWS: Riots in Ferguson. Unemployment rates at an all time high. Immigration problems out of control. Listening to the news, people hear many politicians, newscasters, and reporters talking about the different problems that the world is facing. From the nuclear weapon debate in Iran, to should Donald Trump be president, to drugs rampant in both big cities and small towns, all of these issues are surrounded by the rapidly growing and concerning topic of social inequality. For hundreds upon thousands of years, social inequity has been ever present throughout time, and has become a serious problem all over the world. These days, it has a major effect on teenagers. However, authors can make an impact on readers, and many forms

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, “Let America Be America Again,” Hughes presents his experience of American life in a powerful contrast to the experience

In Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson,” she encourages Sylvia to look society in the eye and change what is expected of her. She exposes the inequality present within the United States’s society through the perspective of young African American children. Often, many are unwilling to acknowledge that they are a victim of poverty, leaving them in a state of ignorance, that will not promote any change. The story revolves around Sylvia, a young black girl, who finally has her eyes opened to her disadvantaged economic status. Real learning often occurs after a state of discomfort and confusion. Bambara takes Sylvia through a journey enlightening her through an uncomfortable juxtaposition of Harlem and Manhattan, her and her friends, and who she actually is and who she wants to be.

After studying American author, Walt Whitman, it is clear that he has had a long lasting impact on society and the lives of authors and artists who came after him. Through works like Democratic Vistas and Song of Myself, Whitman gave American society tools to promote creative expression and the essence of democracy. However, Whitman’s methods had to be adopted over time to touch/bring attention to different social issues. Two authors who were able to branch off of Whitman’s works and ideas were Isadora Duncan and James Baldwin. By analyzing these two important characters of history, we will be able explore two different social issues in two different eras and how Duncan and Baldwin refined Whitman’s approach in order to make a statement in society. It’s significant to identify the importance of these artists because this process is still relevant in today’s society, adapting from Whitman in order to get points across and make a difference.