Theme for English B The Harlem Renaissance, America during the 1920s, was still a time of great difficulty -- even though many people today depict the 20s as a grandiose fun time. There was racism, from whites to people of color. It usually wasn’t the other way around, as white people have had the upper hand for the majority of history in the last hundred years. Langston Hughes understands racism, and has most likely experienced it because it is people like him who are often discriminated against throughoutand have been very much in history. He writes the poem, “Theme for English B,” which does not focus on the acts of racism but instead how he feels. As Hughes writeswrote, we all are part of one another, it is the simple way of …show more content…
Although Hughes knew that he and his professor were very different in appearance and freedom, he also knew that they were really almost the same despite their differences (20-35). “Sometimes perhaps you don not want to be a part of me. Nor do I want to be part of you. But we are, that is true!” (lines 29-30) Hughes writes, and this illustrates how we cannot deny that all are part of each other and it must be accepted.There have alway been complications between people, often these conflicts arose from one person being offended by the other’s skin complexion. This has been a problem that is still faced in todays word. Though some may think it will never change and that this will be a permanent problem, that is not true. Humans learn to hate certain people, and are influenced by their surroundings in which they grow up in. This is something that can be fixed entirely in a country if everyone would just try to overcome their differences. People may not like it but everyone is the same if the situation is looked at from the bigger picture. If everyone was what they feel, hear and taste, all humans would be much closer. There would be no racism because people would not be viewed as a race but something else instead. Hughes writes in lines twelve to nineteen what he sees himself as. A reader can see him as being a sleepy, loving man who enjoys food based
Racism is a powerful word some people are still facing. Racism is when people judge because of skin color, looks, and many more. People are are involved with this are struggling. Having a difficult time to feel comfortable from the rejection, judgement, and being ignored. It has caused in a huge impact for the last decades. Race is the center of attention and people want to be heard. Free of speech is what helped people’s lives from hearing what’s going on in people’s lives. African Americans are one of the top race that white people have against with. African Americans express how they feel through materials by speaking up. In this paper I will argue that the impact of Racism people express how they feel through free of speech.
Thesis statement: Hughes wrote this when Jim Crow laws were still imposing an bitter segregated society in the South. There were still lynchings of innocent African Americans, there was no Civil Rights Movement, there was no Civil Rights legislation yet, and Blacks couldn't eat at lunch counters in the South. Harlem, however, was not at all like the South in terms of blatant, legal segregation. However, racism was very much in place in many places in America. Blacks were second class citizens, their children attended schools that were ill-equipped, and the dreams of Black citizens were not being realized in this period.
Through his poem “Theme for English B”, Langston Hughes expresses his will to exterminate discrimination by proving that despite different skin colors, Americans all share similarities and learn from each other. Langston wrote the poem in 1900, when black Americans were not considered Americans. He talks about a black student being assigned to write a paper about himself. The audience is thus the student’s professor – the representation of the white Americans. Since the professor said: “let that page come out of you---Then, it will be true.”, the student began wondering “if it’s that simple”. He then describes himself to explain why it isn’t simple: he is “twenty-two”, “the only colored in class”, and lives in the poor community Harlem.
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.
My background as a tenacious student and a minority has allowed me to connect to the poem in ways that I could very much relate to. I have personally lived through the motions of life that he refers to in “Theme for English b”.Langston Hughes’s poem is more about the differences he knows other people see in him or rather on him, and what they are missing. By doing this, Hughes make it clear that the color of his skin plays a crucial role in the way that people think he is like. He finishes by boldly stating what he had been
We are affected in many ways based on race and social status. It is how we over come these challenges, that makes us who we are. The question is what is wrong with black? I read an essay by Langston Hughes in which he breaks down the use of the word black. This essay provides the idea of how the word black creates a negative impression of African Americans. I found this essay rather interesting and biased in some cases, but it is an essay I feel everyone should read. In this essay he uses explains what the word black really means and the negative connotation that is sometimes attached to it. He stated how(709-710)”white folks have done used that word to mean something bad so often until now when the N.A.A.C.P. asks for civil rights for
Langston Hughes was known for his poems of black activity in America since the 1920’s to the 1960’s, which was the time of the Harlem Renaissance. “My writing has been largely concerned with the depicting of Negro life in America.” Throughout Langston’s life he has seen and experienced racism. He used these experiences to give him ideas of things he could write about. Back then white people were the majority in Harlem, but then once the blacks started to come they dispersed. “We younger Negro artists who create now intend to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame. If white people are pleased, we are glad. If they are not, it doesn't matter. We know we are beautiful. And ugly too.” Langston knew that blacks should express themselves no matter what color they are and not be ashamed of it. Some white people may like that they are expressing themselves, on the other hand, some white people may not accept that the
Hughes also takes the view of culture but he examines it from the view of blacks that are not stuck in the ghetto but have stable backgrounds. Hughes takes the view that blacks are actually hindering themselves. He says that there is a huge obstacle standing in the way of every black person. He actually makes a reference about artist but it can be viewed as any black person. He says the obstacle is, “this urge within the race toward whiteness, the desire to pour racial individuality into the mold of American standardization, and to be as little Negro and as much American as possible.” (Hughes, Langston) His example is a poet. This poet subconsciously wants to be white because he feels it will make him a better poet. This poet comes from a strong background in the middle class. According to Hughes, they attend church; the father has a steady job; the mother works on occasion; and the children attend mixed schools. However, the problem comes with how the parents treat their children. The mother says things like, “Don’t be like niggers” when the children are bad. In turn the father says things like, “Look how well a white man does things.” So in this home and many others, black is not praised or celebrated it is taught to be ashamed of. They are taught to want to be white. It is staggering what blacks do to themselves because of this. Fist Hughes says the more predominant don’t
Langston Hughes is famous for his many great poems and was a very talented man. He wrote a poem in college called “Theme for English B”. In Langston Hughes’s poem, he uses imagery of racial differences and a bold tone to undermine the teacher’s authority. He also to expresses the universal idea that intolerance often comes out of individual assumption. Langston’s confusion of the topic of the paper causes him to write the entire paper about the paper.
During Hughes’ era, he experienced college as a black man in a group of white students. He was left out because he is black and he has similarities. For me, I was questioning on why I was hated by a group of students who were the same race as me. They told me that I 'm not black enough. I was confused and frustrated
It was not until high school that I occasionally got the feeling of being “less-than” or “genetically unrefined.” I have always held my head high and stood by my opinions. Despite being strong willed, I do have a very open mind. I will never stop asking people about their opinions on hot topics so that I may gain a more rounded sense of how things work in the world of which I live. I have never understood why some people feel that they are naturally superior to others. I know that people are born different, but everyone came into the world the same way and our fates will ultimately be the same. This is why I was so moved by Langston Hughes’ Poem, Theme for English B. I particularly like the lines reading, “Sometimes perhaps you don’t want to be a part of me. Nor do I want to be a part of you. But we are, that’s true!” (Hughes 43) In these three phrase, Hughes does an impeccable job of summarizing our world today. People often do not want to be associated with someone of a race different than their own, but ultimately, we are all connected and live in this one world. We can never be separated, no matter how much we try. I think this is a beautiful
Langston Hughes declares “Negroes - Sweet and Docile, Meek, Humble, and Kind: Beware the day - They change their minds”. Originally, society has been involved in racial stereotypical events. During Hughes’s era individuals with darker skin tone were focal points of racism and segregation. The racism associated with African-Americans was a general experience that persisted even after the abolishment of slavery. One effective means of alleviating racial stereotyping was relating African-Americans to Caucasians within the equality of being American citizens. Langston Hughes, in his short poem The Negro Speaks of Rivers, generalizes not just being American, but the experiences throughout history. Hughes’ poem shows relative cultural and historical events to promote an integrated lineage among all races. Hughes work ethic, style, technique and achievement lead to him being an innovative writer.
Langston Hughes is a famous poet known mostly for his contribution to the Harlem Renaissance. He wrote many inspirational poems that are still read and used for educational purposes. Many of his poems were inspired by his life and his story. One of his many poems entitled “Theme for English B” talks about how his teacher instructed him to write a page about himself and it will be true. In a “Theme for English B”, Hughes uses tone, and characterization to display a relationship between race and writing.
“Breakfast in Virginia” is a short story written in 1963 by Langston Hughes, an American poet, and author, a time where racism still existed. The story is about two black soldiers who had been traveling on a long and hard journey. They were starving, so they went to the train’s dining car. An elderly white man, whose son was also a soldier, invited the two boys to join him. A steward walked over and said that the two soldiers were not allowed to sit there. The white man, who was ashamed, not of the steward, but of the system the steward was required to follow, invited the boys to have breakfast with him in his room, where he talked about how much he admired the bravery of soldiers. He treated the two as his equals, not anything less. Hughes
American Racism Exposed in Langston Hughes' "Let America Be America Again" and Sherman Alexie's, "Capital Punishment"