How Did Langston Hughes Dehumanize African Americans

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.

From 1918 to about 1935 is when there was a blossoming of African-American culture in music, art, poems, novels, and other creative arts. After the Civil War many African-Americans migrated to north in Harlem, NY and there they were able to express their freedom of creativity in writing, music, and art where they challenged racism. There were several famous people who were well known such as Louis Armstrong a trumpet player who set a lot of African-American firsts such as the first African-American jazz musician to write an autobiography, and features billing in major Hollywood movies and others. Jacob Lawrence was a painter who bought experiences to life using art and thought as a professor in University of Washington. There are many other

In Langston Hughes poem “Theme for English B” he states he is black and “You are white- yet a part of me, as I am a part of you. That’s American”. We are all American and we are all one. We all have similar desires not identical but similar in nature. We want to be free to be what and who we want to be without being held back by others who wish to hold us back in order to advance themselves. In his poem “As I grew older” he writes about oppression, “And then the wall rose, Rose slowly, Slowly, Between me and my dream”, The wall rising is the oppression brought about by the racism he faced here in America.

Langston Hughes, a famous poet from the Harlem Renaissance era, depicted the everyday struggles for blacks in America through his beloved poems. Two of his most iconic poems, “Harlem” and “I, Too”, showed some similarities as well as differences as they relate to African American life in their own unique way. “Harlem” reveals how African Americans struggle to follow their dreams through strange imagery, while “I, Too” shows how African Americans are treated less than equal, but provides a joyful tone as Hughes is optimistic for a better future. “I, too, Sing America” begins with the line “I am the darker brother,” which instantly gives the impression that the poem is in relation to his skin color. He continues into the next few lines by

The poem “Oppression” by Langston Hughes is a short poem but the meaning and theme is clear and strong. Langston wrote a poem that both expressed oppression and emancipation. Oppression means being unjustly held down by force or authority. The first example from the poem is in the second part where it states, “In some lands dark night and cold steel prevail.” When I think of this quote I think of poor or abandoned people who live outside and who don’t have a home, and they deal with the cold nights and cold steel of benches or playgrounds they sleep on. It can also be a feeling of being emotionally beaten or held down. My second example from the poem is in the first 5 lines, it says “Now dreams are not available to the dreamers, Nor songs to

In the poem, “I, Too”, by Langston Hughes, the general topic deals with issues concerning racism and oppression within America, and how it will no longer be tolerated. Upon reading this poem, if you are taking it at face-value, it seems that it doesn’t mean very much. It appears that is a bland poem, lacking deeper meaning. Specifically, it is a man talking about he is not allowed to dine with other people and that he must eat by himself.

From the way industrializations were created to a simple trip home. For many years African Americans had to endure the cruel torment of racists. In the poem “I, too, sing America.” by Langston Hughes,he has hope one day he won't have to “eat in the kitchen.” For being dark skinned Langston was forced to hide in the kitchen like many others.

This piece was written before the Civil Rights Movement. “I, Too” is also about living through segregation and discrimination. Langston Hughes expressed his hope that eventually, those who discriminated against him will be ashamed and ultimately he will be seen as equal. He says, “Besides,/ They’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed-” (15-17). Hughes’ words are profoundly optimistic considering how prevalent racism and segregation were during this time.

In Langston Hughes' poem "I, too" he is trying to explain to Walt Whitman that a lot of people he describes in his poem sometimes a racist or discriminate other hardworking Americans during their free time, based on how other people's appearance and skin color. When the speaker says, "I am the darker brother, they send me to eat in the kitchen when company comes," (Hughes 449), he is just describing the fact that he is a hardworking American man just like them, but isn't allowed to eat with the other white workers. And this all because he is forced to eat somewhere by the restaurant or the workers themselves just because of he doesn't look like them. This is an unjust act and Hughes wanted to point that out. After that the speaker immediately

The feeling of being oppressed has affected many people around the world. In the poem “Oppression”, the poet Langston Hughes has put his views on oppression and emancipation through the words of his poem. Firstly, Hughes shows his view on oppression by sharing that things that seem to be the usual or the natural don’t always be so. Oppression can change the most usual and natural matter ever. He shows this by writing, “Now dreams Are not available To the dreamers, Nor songs To the singers.

If we as humans die in whatever situation arises, let it not be like an animal, inhumane, without a name and unjust. “If we must die, O let us nobly die”, and eventhough the person might be by far outnumbered, beaten and maimed not to sit there and take the punishment. That there last breaths is one of victory because the person never stopped fighting back. Erasing the idea of passive resistance which made such people like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. known for. Although the poem had a universal appeal, McKay published this poem through one of the fiercest times for African Americans. There were severe racial problems with Blacks and Whites through out sparking violence. In 1919 they’re where countless race riots in Harlem and all over the United States. This poem could have even fanned the flame that the race riots started. This poem itself moved people to stand up for themselves and I don’t doubt that it did. This poem can easily be read today and appeal to today’s society. It seems that there will always be an oppressed group, that is something we can’t escape from. If the poem “If We Must Die” were read today, I feel it would move countless people into action. Especially now where there are a lot of problems with the New York City police department. The Police department’s using tactics of racial profiling, countless shootings, and deaths of young African American and Latino men. No matter what decade we live in, same rules seem to apply. Their will

Through figurative language, Hughes’ diction evokes how inequality pervades the black community and demonstrates how they should respond to this issue. The repeated phrase “I, too,” emphasizes the speaker’s insistence on being included in America or as the poem indicates, “at the table”. In this case, the table represents bounty, camaraderie and community, all of which are missing in the speaker’s everyday life. That said, the “too” also represents being second, implying the speaker’s inferiority within society. Furthermore, it highlights two separate entities, black and white communities, that are divided rather than being one cohesive group. Hughes’ use of personal pronouns refers to a collective group, specifically the black community. Essentially, the black community desire to “sing America”, as they view themselves as the “darker [brothers]”. In other words, the white and black community are differentiated solely by their race, yet both claim to be patriotic citizens of the same country. This commonality should be the unifying agent between these communities to join as a family; however, the speaker discusses the resistance he confronts, as “they send [him] to eat in the kitchen.” The distinction of “they” depicts their authority over the speaker’s actions, insinuating his position as a domestic servant. In doing so, the cycle of inequality

In the summer of 1919, whites all across America committed riots and hate crimes, resulting in extreme racial mistreatment of African American. The poem “If We Must Die” by Claude McKay demands attention to the ongoing racial abuse to black population of the time. The Harlem Renaissance aided McKay in the development of his pride for the African American culture as well as his rage towards whites who disrespect the black congregation. The poem illustrates an inspiring need for change between the white community and African American population. This piece of literature portrays a theme of honor after death and infers the idea that dying an honorable death results in respect.

In conclusion, the poem “If we must die” brings about a sense of hate to an evil that is making people miserable. All people are created equal and therefore have equal rights however racism becomes a major hindrance towards achieving the universal goal of equality and brotherhood. Harlem Renaissance was all about to promote black identity, culture and arts and McKay has done it through this poem. He has set an example of courage, bravery and honor for the oppressed black

In his poem “I, too, sing America,” Langston Hughes has positively predict that there will be no racial segregation, inequality, injustice, and discrimination in society for African Americans in the near future. Whereas it is also true that African Americans have suffered a lot during the twentieth century.