America Be America Again Langston Hughes, an Term Paper

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America Be America Again

Langston Hughes, an African-American poet and social writer, was one of the world's most important interpreters of the African-American experience in the United States during the decade prior to World War II and the subsequent civil rights movement. Hughes publishes a variety of famous works, including the though-provoking poem, let America Be America Again." In this poem, Hughes shows a strong awareness of the American dream yet talks about it as if it were a thing of the past, even to those who had once believed in it and even profited from it. Hughes cleverly uses a method of physical disconnection to demonstrate how Negroes, at the time, never experienced the American Dream. "It was never America to me." Hughes' writing style is very influenced by his race and culture, showing hints if jazz and blues in the poem.

Many critics say that Hughes' poem is written in the tone of a black sermon, as if he were preaching to his audience (Wagner, p. 311). Others say that the poem is written in a conversational style, in which Hughes enables the speaker and audience to interact with one another. Still, the rhythm and rhymes contribute to the overall effectiveness of the poem, in which Hughes conveys his thoughts, emotions and beliefs about America in the 1930's.

According to Hughes, in his poem "Let America Be America Again," the American Dream had failed many Americans living in the 1930's, during a time of depression and harsh times. The poet nostalgically discusses the intentions of the American Dream, and paints a picture of how the country could return to its idealistic state. The speaker asks the listener to identify where they fit in regarding the American Dream: "Say who are you that mumbles in the dark'?" This cues the listener to reveal who they are and speak on behalf of Americans who are not yet free nor equal.

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The listener reveals with passion who they are: the poor white people, the oppressed Negro, the suffering red man, the immigrant, the young man, the farmers, factory workers, and poor people who built America and made it what it has become. However, despite their many contributions and sacrifices for this land, they still refer to America as "A dream-- / Still beckoning to me!."

Hughes uses specific language to reveal his own heritage when describing the different types of Americans. He uses neutral wording in most of his descriptions yet employs oppressive terminology when describing the Negroes, which reveals his particular sympathy for the African-Americans. Throughout the poem, he uses many phrases that reveal his heritage, including "I am the Negro bearing slavery's scars" and "torn from Black Africa's strand I came." Hughes even places the Negro below the poor and underprivileged as he describes the Negro as "servant to you all."

Hughes feels strongly about the past history of African-Americans, and holds a strong belief that this race is more important than America allows them to be. He refers to the souls of his ancestors He believes in their soul and seems to be unable to reconcile the oppression and hard times they faced, much of which was inflicted upon them by America, a country that promised equality and opportunity for everyone. In this light, his poem was strongly influenced by race, as he tackled the idea that the American Dream was only applicable to white people.

However, despite his negative depiction of the inequality of the American Dream, Hughes' poem has a positive undertone, as he reveals his greater beliefs, which are centered around his hopes for America in the….....

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